Annual West Alabama Works expo gives high schoolers insight on careers

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) — The eighth annual Worlds of Works showcased to freshman students what life has to offer after graduating high school.

The two-day career expo, organized by West Alabama Works, is being held at Shelton State Community College. Students are emersed into 11 different career pathways such as healthcare, agriculture, public service, construction and welding.

Interactive booths are set up throughout the college, allowing students to see what health care, agriculture, law enforcement, hospitality and trade workers do every day.

“It actually helps me understand the careers a lot more,” Central High Schooler Shamiya Dotson said.

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The hands-on career fair provides students with a unique experience to help them decide on what they want to study in college or what career they’ll pursue.

Although ninth graders have three years until they walk across the graduation stage, WOW’s executive director Donny Jones said it is important students start thinking about their future now.

“The reason we have our ninth graders come is because in the ninth grade, they are making decisions for all of their career technical choices for the tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade,” Jones said.

More students in West Alabama are pursuing a trade post high school. Jones says WOW is one reason the area is seeing an uptick in enrollment.

“We’ve been tracking our career technical enrollment and we’ve seen anywhere from 5 to 18% increase year over year in the different CTE programs,” Jones said.

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