Senior English students at Pike County High School conducted a Career Fair Wednesday with the student body as their audience.

For the second year, the student-run Career Fair was a great success in that it accomplished its dual purpose.

“The Career Fair gives the senior English students an opportunity to explore the careers they are interested in pursuing and it also exposes the other students in a variety of career options for them to begin considering,” said Sharon Sullivan, PCHS guidance counselor. “Our students will have an opportunity to participate in a career fair where the presenters will be college and business recruiters. But, this is different. It’s kids talking to other kids about career options. And, students are greatly influenced by their peers.”

Kimberly Dunn, PCHS senior English teacher, said as the seniors are getting ready to graduate, it’s important for them to consider career options based on their interests.

The students research the career of their primary interests to determine the educational requirements for the specific career, job availability, earning potential and then decide if that is the career path they want to pursue.

“Sometimes the research reveals that the career a student was considering is not what they thought and they realize they must take a different path,” she said. “And, sometimes, they are introduced to a career they never thought about. The Career Fair is a learning experience and should get students thinking about what they want to do with their lives.”

Jared Guilford’s Career Fair presentation was on Music Production.

“Music production is where you work behind the scenes in the music industry,” Guilford said. “It’s where recordings are made, mixed and mastered. That’s interesting work and, if you can’t be a performer, it’s a good way to be involved in music.”

Guilford plans to attend Troy University and major in music and minor in graphic design. He knows he’s on the right career path.

And Robert Henderson and Blake Norris are just as certain that they have chosen the right path and they advised others to follow.

Norris and Henderson’s military career research confirmed what they already knew. They want careers in the military.

Norris plans to enroll in the Troy University ROTC program, join the Air Force Reserve, complete college and serve his country in the U.S. Air Force.

“I want to be a pilot and, at six feet and three inches, I got in just under the wire,” Norris said. “It’s going to be tough but it will be worth it.”

Henderson has already signed on the dotted line and will leave for basic training with the Marines in October.

“I want to be a Marine and I’m on the way,” he said. “I’ll probably go to Parris Island for basic. I’ve talked to someone who just got back and I’m ready to go.”

Norris and Henderson said those who don’t have a career plan should consider the military because it offers many career opportunities and it also pays for college.

Tiana Frazier and Tekebia Brown are planning to go into cosmetology.

Frazier is already working at a beauty and style shop and she likes “doing hair.”

Brown is more interested in the personal service side of cosmetology. “There’s a lot that you can do besides hair,” she said. “Nails, makeup, massage. That’s what I want to do.”

The future looks bright for cosmetology. Brown said the profession is expected to grow 13 percent in the next few years. “If you look good, you feel good and cosmetologists make you look good,” Frazier said, with a smile. “That’s what we want to do.”