FARMINGTON — About 600 high school sophomores were encouraged to be college students for a day as they attended the Western Maine Community Job and Resource Fair Friday at the University of Maine at Farmington.

“It is all about change, adapting and being flexible not only for the day, but for life,” Gary Perlson, an organizer and retired career counselor, told the students. “Ask questions when you get lost. People will help you.”

For the 17th year, students high schools in Farmington, Jay, Salem Township, Rangeley, Madison and Bingham heard nearly 40 local presenters talk about their occupations.

“Presenters are asked to share their day-to-day experience, what drew them to their career and the academics they needed to get their jobs,” Pauline Rodrigue, a fair organizer and volunteer coordinator for RSU 9, previously said.

The event was postponed Thursday when cold weather caused a late start for one school. Only four presenters could not make the switch to Friday, Perlson told students. 

“The purpose (for the fair) is twofold: to be exposed to careers that interest students, and to learn more about different careers,” Rodrigue said. “Exposure to a college campus is another benefit of the fair.”

Seventeen years ago when the fair started, 85 percent of the seniors who attended had never been on a college campus, Perlson said.

The seniors thought the fair should be offered sooner, so that’s why sophomores now attend, he said.

Mini career fairs are offered to kindergarten students.

When Perlson was in high school, he was interested in veterinary school, but he was not strong in math and science, he said. If he had had the chance to listen to a local veterinarian, as students did at the Western Maine Community Job and Resource Fair, he would have known those subjects were needed, he said.

Connecting aspirations to a plan is supported by the MELMAC Education Foundation, which has backed Maine schools with grants, he said.

Many of the local presenters also offer to spend more time with students who are interested in their occupation, Perlson said.

A variety of careers — from law practice to automotive repair, carpentry, photography and law enforcement — were represented.

Mechanic Larry Melcher of T & L Automotive in Jay said he has been a presenter for about five years and shares the path he took to owning his own auto repair business.

After attending their first presentation choice, Fitness and Physical Therapy, Mt. Blue sophomores Tristan McFarlane and Bretton Mosher-Clark were still interested, but no longer sure it was their goal, McFarlane said. 

Presenters Lindsay Richards, personal trainer, and Christine Cox, physical therapist, told them what they do, what course work they needed to take in college and their salaries, McFarlane said.

The students were waiting to attend a session on law enforcement, presented by Maine State Police Troopers Reid Bond and Randy Hall. Bond brought in his dog, Sting, to demonstrate his ability to sniff out explosives.

abryant@sunjournal.com

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