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Fitch students foresee future at trade fair
STudents check out various careers at Trade Fair
By AMANDA TONOLI
AUSTINTOWN
Austintown Fitch High School students got a chance to hear about possible career choices at the school’s second Trade Fair.
This year, students from all high-school grade levels were welcome to attend the trade fair – the last one was exclusive to juniors and seniors.
The high school, in conjunction with Western Reserve Building Trades and Plumbers & Pipe Fitters Local 396, hosts the fair once every two years to allow students the chance to explore trade-school and trade-apprenticeship options.
Marie Dockry, guidance counselor, said Wednesday she spearheaded the program with the goal of providing a variety of quality programs for every student.
“It’s so important to educate students about opportunities they could have in any career,” Dockry said.
Marty Loney, a Local 396 employee, told the students that apprenticeship programs are just as good as college degrees.
“A lot of these apprenticeship programs are equivalent to a two- or four-year degree from a university with little to no student-loan debt, and the earning potential is the same as a four-year degree,” Loney said.
Maribeth McGlynn, school guidance counselor, and Dockry both have a connection with the trades through their families. The connection fueled them to provide awareness of these avenues for post high-school opportunities.
“The apprenticeship program leads to amazing careers and more-than-livable incomes. These are people we depend on every day to keep our economy and society going,” McGlynn said of the skilled-trade professions.
One thing McGlynn said she admired most was the way speakers taught students real-life skills – filling out applications properly, dressing appropriately for interviews and having good interview skills.
Speakers also discussed the importance of work ethic, attendance, positive character traits and passing drug tests.
“We want every student to have a plan when they graduate – a career plan,” Dockry said. “We want to show them there are lots and lots of roads to building great lives and careers for themselves.”
McGlynn said when the fair first was hosted, students rushed to fill out applications for post high-school opportunities. The newfound understanding of the vast field of trades sparked ambition in students who hadn’t found comfort before in postgraduation plans.
“There is such a high demand for welders, electricians and plumbers. Trades is truly a lost craft,” McGlynn said. “We need to embrace this. The pride they have in their work is amazing, this country needs it right now – that pride.”