DUBLIN, Ga. — According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, freshman enrollment at universities nationwide dropped more than 5% from 2022 to 2023.
Dublin Middle School Workforce Coordinator Eric Cannada said exposing students to information about universities, technical colleges, trade programs and careers is crucial. He said that could be one reason students are going in different directions.
Today, Dublin Middle School had a college and career day for students. They learned about the high school dual enrollment programs and about different industries.
Eight grader Javice Daniel said he felt most excited about learning electrical circuits and engineering.
"There was actually another thing I learned with the Medtronic center when I get in high school, I'll be able to go to high school and do college at the same time," Daniel said.
Some students are thinking about college right now. But trades also sound appealing to them too.
"I enjoyed about learning about new things that I could do when I grow up and jobs that I could have. Like the Megatron station with the robots, even the welding,” Kayson Wiley said.
Cannada said whatever they decide, he encourages students to think about their GPA. At their school, he said that stands for goals, plans and actions.
"The other thing I ask them a lot of times is, 'What do you want to be when you grow up?'” he said. “But I tell the teachers when you ask that, ask the next two questions. Why and how? Because they need to know and be able to articulate to you the path they're going to do to get there."
And he said, if they plan now, they'll know what classes to take in high school to ready for graduation.
"We have students leaving me, they're going to become a welder, they're going to cosmetologist, they're going to our nursing program and they're graduating high school within three years and they're making 40 to $50,000 at the age of 18,” Principal Willie Batts said. “So college is great, but you do not have to go to college to be successful."
Eighth grader Vicente Bond said it's not too early to start thinking about college and careers.
"They talk about it a lot because they try to prepare us for the real world when we leave middle school or high school so we can go to college and get our degree and be something big out here," he said.
Cannada said this is the third year for the career fair. He said they want it to keep growing. If you want your organization to be involved in next year's career fair, you can contact Dublin Middle School.