FALLS CITY - University of Nebraska Extension brought the Connecting the Dots career simulation to Richardson County to help freshman and sophomores learn more about career interests.

Extension assistant Jami Ankrom said the career simulation gives students an opportunity to venture out into 16 different career clusters from hospitality tourism to health sciences.

Ankrom: “We have nine schools here with approximately 130 students.”

It had been hosted in previous sessions at Peru State College for ESU 4, but this is the first year at Falls City.

Representatives from the community and military gave career tips and talked with students on issues including education requirements and day-to-day work experience.

 

Ankrom: “I think that without these types of programs, students don’t get to learn more about a career that they potentially want to go into. I think having these programs gives them opportunities to really learn more and say, ‘hey do I really see myself doing this in the future.' If not, they have that time to then go back and research the careers out there.”

Dakota Andrews, Carson Podtburg, Julia Matkins and Chloe Smith of Sterling High School said they feel better prepared because of the exercise.

Smith: “I think it’s kind of interesting because you can learn quite a bit about the jobs when you can’t really know about them. It’s hard to find what to do, like how much money you’ll make and what degree you need.”

Andrews: “I would have to say all the people that came today, it was really nice because you got to learn more stuff than you thought you could in one day. It was super nice to have everyone there.”

The program includes pre-event personality inventories and emphasizes work readiness skills.