Hundreds of area high school and middle school students got a chance to explore careers and maybe even land a job at the fifth annual Find Your Path event.

The event was held on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at Mexico High School. It’s estimated that more than 900 high school students from Mexico and the Hart Career Center, Centralia and North Callaway along with Mexico eighth graders participated in the event that attracted 52 employers from the area. Some employers have been known to hire directly from the event. Some employers also offered apprenticeships with the company.

“The success stories are numerous and student and faculty feedback has been very favorable,” Mexico Chamber of Commerce Director Dana Keller said in a statement to the Ledger after the event had concluded. “Most evident is that the employers seem to know no boundaries when it comes to supporting, encouraging, and interesting students in career paths.”

Among the different companies represented there were presentations in business management and technology, arts and communications, natural resources and agriculture, human services, health services and industrial and engineering technology.

Students were given a sheet of paper with the different paths to help them decide. Once they decided which direction to go students went to the different stations to hear presentations and then interview the potential employers to gain more knowledge.

Questions students asked potential employers included what skills were needed for that particular field, what they most liked about the career and what classes they should be taking in high school to prepare.

Keller said the Chamber, Mexico Public Schools and Partners for Employment and Education Coalition (PEEC) all got together six years ago to come up with ideas to give students more opportunities at a more in-depth look at what certain career paths might look like. 

“Currently, the biggest struggle the Mexico community faces regarding growing the economy is the need for a larger and more qualified workforce,” Keller said. “Fortunately, community leaders and employers began working collectively in 2017 on problem solving and the Find Your Path event was one of the first steps.”

Keller said some local companies have hired directly from the event. Other ideas and efforts to strengthen the workforce include manufacturing tours students went on last month along with other community-wide workshops, training and certifications.