After a seven-year hiatus, Harrison College’s annual career showcase is back.
Held on Monday for the first time since 2018, the event featured a diverse range of career opportunities, spanning fields from animal welfare to medical science, all aimed at igniting students’ curiosity and guiding them toward informed career decisions.
The initiative, open to the entire student body from first to sixth form, was designed to instill early career awareness and encourage strategic subject selection. Guidance counsellor Shanelle Quimby noted the significance of reintroducing the fair, particularly after such a prolonged absence.
“Seeing that our thirds, fourths, fifths, and sixths have not been introduced to careers of recent, I thought it was important for the entire school to take part,” she said.
Pointing out that career planning goes beyond merely finding a job, she added: “It’s about building a career, and from very early, they can learn and understand how to do that. The importance is to help them make wise choices when selecting subjects in fourth form, when our fifth [year students] choose subjects for sixth form, and when our sixth formers decide what they want to do after they leave school.”
The career fair attracted participation from 50 organisations spanning multiple sectors, providing students with an extensive look at potential career paths.
“In healthcare, we have massage therapists, fitness coaches, vets, doctors, and ophthalmologists. There’s engineering, real estate, architecture, business, law, and even musicians and DJs (disc jockeys). We also have representation from the Barbados Defence Force, finance sector, digital and sales marketing, media and communications,” Quimby said.
She also highlighted that it was important for students, at the individual level, to chart their own journey in reaching success.
“For example, we have more than one lawyer present. I want students to understand that the path to getting where they want to go may look different. If two accountants come and their journeys differ, students must realise that there isn’t just one path to reach their dreams,” she said.
While Harrison College has long been known as an academically rigorous institution, Quimby acknowledged the shifting global landscape and the growing interest in hands-on and entrepreneurial careers.
“Our students are very much interested in entrepreneurship now. We have a business club that helps them market themselves and build products. Many students may say they’re interested in business, but half of these individuals are also managers. They need to understand that business applies across industries—whether in music, culinary arts, or another field,” she said.
The guidance counsellor added that students should explore subject areas that showcase all their talents and not limit themselves to one particular field.
“Just because you may be good in one aspect [it doesn’t mean] you have to stay in that lane. You can merge different talents—perhaps a student interested in accounts later develops a passion for science. Why not marry those two things together?” she said.
“I want them to see that there are so many fields they can get involved in and that there is more than one way to get there. They should start asking questions, sharing their interests, and developing public speaking skills. It’s not just about how much money you make but also understanding what it takes to get there, maintain a business, and build a professional network,” she stated.
Looking ahead, Quimby said she wanted the next career fair to be even bigger.
“I would love to see even more expansion next year. This is all about broadening the minds of our students and showing them the wealth of opportunities available,” she said.
(SZB)
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