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Valerie Dutcher, a Heartland EMS Paramedic speaks to Tyler Smith, 15 (left) Elliott Barton, 15 and Cheyenne Long, 16, all Sophomores from North Andrew High School, during the My Success Event at the St. Joseph Civic Arena. Over 2100 high school Sophomores from 33 high schools attended to learn more about different job opportunities in fields such as health sciences, human services, engineering/manufacturing, and arts and communication.

Josie Crow is thinking about journalism. The aptitude test the 15-year-old Rock Port High School student took recently reinforced that idea.

High school sophomores from around Northwest Missouri attended “My Success” on Wednesday. The event is a two-day career fair hosted by the St. Joseph Area Chamber of Commerce at Civic Arena.

“I didn’t know what to think, but now that I’m here, I like it,” Miss Crow said.

About 2,100 students from 33 high schools will attend the event by the time it ends today. There were more than 80 businesses represented, as well as several universities, colleges and technical centers.

Students took an aptitude test prior to “My Success” to help gauge their interest levels in particular fields. The program lets students explore career opportunities in six career tracks: natural resources and science; arts and communications; engineering, manufacturing and industrial technology; health services; human services; and business management and marketing.

Culinary arts and photography were new this year. Mary Brown, project manager, said students showed an interest in those two fields, so the Chamber felt it would be smart to add them.

According to a survey taken after last year’s event, 91 percent of the students said they learned about careers they didn’t even know existed.

“That’s our goal,” Ms. Brown said. “To open their eyes to different careers available.”

While the health care industry is widely known as a growing field, few students realize the potential in pharmaceuticals, said Annette Swett. Ms. Swett, a pharmacist and pharmacy manager at Walgreen’s, said she thinks students can get a bit put off by the six years of school.

“They don’t really think about (becoming a pharmacist),” she said.

But there’s job security. “I’d like to retire some day,” Ms. Swett said.

Fellow pharmacist John Rawson and pharmacy technician Chrissie Davis talked with students about chemistry and biology classes. Mr. Rawson said those are two key areas of study in order to find a successful path to pharmacy. For professionals such as Ms. Davis, there’s on-the-job training.

“It’s an option for kids who aren’t going to college,” Ms. Swett said.

“My Success” also has focus groups, in which students can hear success stories. One session was about a Sam’s Club manager who started out as a cart pusher and worked his way up, while another was about how one young man’s career was stopped short because of a felony.

“Jobs in high school can lead to a career,” Ms. Swett said, “while mistakes we make can also damage a career.”

Jennifer Hall can be reached

at jennhall@npgco.com.