Photo: Big Sandy Community and Technical College

Big Sandy Community and Technical College is taking a new approach in exploring career options with middle school students at Allen Elementary with “My Future Friday” programming. “My Future Fridays” is a creative collaboration that provides hands-on activities and discussions/trainings so that students gain a better understanding of the ins and outs of certain professions. Melissa Skeens, BSCTC Future Fridays Coordinator, said this is more than a program where faculty comes into a school and talk, it is about middle school students learning and growing together with a professor in a specific academic field. In these two-hour Friday sessions, students investigate a career field with an expert. So far, programming has focused on respiratory therapy, dental hygiene, nursing, economics, and information technology. Future plans include criminal justice, biology, chemistry, and human services.