HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — Some of you may have heard that if you find a job you love, and you'll never work a day in your life.
One school tries to instill that motto into their pupils.
Students at Houston College and Career Academy say they feel like they're preparing for the their future jobs.
The students at HCCA come from all five high schools in Houston County, including Perry, Veterans, Northside, Warner Robins and Houston County High School.
They're handpicked by their educators for the opportunity-- it's a big deal!
"What I want you to do today is keep your eyes, mind, heart and soul open," President and CEO of Houston Healthcare Charles Birscoe said. "This is a gift. You have earned this gift, this right to be here today, to explore opportunities."
"They don't know what they know, until they don't know what they know," the school's principal and CEO, Sherry Johnson, said.
"But, if you give them the opportunity to see a variety, they can choose, maybe I want to do this instead of this," she continued.
HCCA's goal is to let students follow their real passions and pursue a career that leaves them feeling fulfilled, the principal elaborated.
Through connections, networking and partnerships with local agencies, real world professionals from Central Georgia work directly with students.
Representatives from agencies, such as Houston Healthcare, the Board of Education and Robins Air Force Base, share real hands-on experiences with the students.
The field trip to Georgia's largest community college exposed the students to "More Than Scrubs."
The event's name alludes to the goal behind the academy; expose students to more opportunities in each field than the assumed roles.
It's normally held at the Central Georgia Technical College campus in Warner Robins, but renovations required the field trip to pivot its route to the Macon campus.
Students get to connect with professionals in the field so that they get to hear personal experiences to learn from.
"The one thing we don't want our students to do is go off to a 4-year college, spend all that money, and get that first job and say, 'I hate it,'" Johnson said.
"My batting coach for softball was a nurse and her husband's a nurse now too," a junior from Veterans High School said. "They're kinda people that I look up to because they've helped me in so much in doing what I do."
"My biggest inspiration is actually my mom," another junior from VHS said. "She's a nurse practitioner, OBGYN, so seeing everything she does, and how she just manages all that knowledge really inspires me. I feel like I can do some of the things that she can do."
The exposure to the real deal excites students for what could be their own reality one day.
"I just know that this class made me realize I definitely do want to stick to healthcare, and just be in that area helping other people, and just doing what I know is best for me," one student said.
Preparing for their passion is the philosophy behind HCCA.
"As I got more into the class, I did some more research, and I wanted to something more along the lines of radiology, maybe like sonography, ultrasound technician, something like that," the student said.
Another student said, "I hope I can be the best physical therapist I can be in my life."
The annual field trip may be over, but you still have a chance to learn more about what HCCA has to offer at its Open House.
Those interested can visit the campus Tuesday, Feb. 6 from 4 - 6 p.m. at the academy on 1311 Corder Road in Warner Robins.
