Mission High School Career Rodeo provides a road map to the future

By B.L. Azure

The Montana Job Service informed MHS students about how to use their services when seeking employment. (B.L. Azure photo)

ST. IGNATIUS — The annual Mission High School Career Rodeo gives students a taste of what’s available job- and education-wise in the adult world. And what options whet the palates of the students the most? According to MHS teacher Terry Cable, it was the culinary arts.

“The purpose of the Career Rodeo is to expose the students to their career and schooling options,” Cable said. We work really hard at that - the options - that includes college, and entry level careers with apprenticeships and on the job training.”

Cable said high school students vote on the careers they want presentations early in the school year and the top - and doable - picks are invited to the Career Rodeo.

Lance Friedlander, Kicking Horse Job Corps outreach transition specialist, and Lorraine Orozco, KHJC medical assistant student, inform MHS senior Arlen Tellier about KHJC at the Mission High School Career Rodeo. (B.L. Azure photo)

The top career picks this year were, the culinary arts, medical, wildlife biology, forestry and physical therapy.

“We try to get the people and the schools from this area to participate,” Cable said, adding that through the years she has witnessed the draw at Salish Kootenai College grow. “SKC has really blossomed into a quality learning institution that more and more students look to for their education.”

The Career Rodeo also likes to offer links to less sought out careers such as massage therapy. And 16-year-old MHS junior Marvin Cook is glad of that.

Lana Page, attorney for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, told the students at the MHS Career Rodeo about the legal profession. (B.L. Azure photo)

“This is actually a pretty fun way to learn more things about what colleges are out there and the types of jobs there are that don’t require a college degree,” Cook said, who has participated in the Career Rodeo for three years now. “I am already thinking about what I want to do after high school. I want to become a masseur.”

Cook said he has lined up a job with Montana Rail Link, where he will work to earn money to attend massage school to become a masseur (male massage specialist).

“This is really neat stuff,” Cook said. “Each year I learn something new.”

And with the new information the career options grow and the path to them is straightened.

“We want to help the students build a path to the future,” Cable said. “The Career Rodeo is a roadmap to their futures.”

The Montana National Guard's booth was one of many recruitment and information stations in the Dog House at the MHS Career Rodeo. (B.L. Azure photo)

There were nine half-hour presentations throughout the day in various high school classrooms. The presentations included careers in education, wildlife biology, law enforcement, legal, forestry, athletics, social work, medical, pharmacy, culinary, agribusiness, journalism, childcare, mechanic, environmental sciences, building trades and graphic arts.

Recruiters from various colleges, trade schools, military, specialty schools, organizations and businesses staked out the Dog House with information about various career and education opportunities.