Preschoolers typically want to be fire fighters, pilots, teachers, artists or astronauts when the subject of careers is posed. Jump ahead to eighth grade and you'll hear teens say their future is in medicine (specifically, rheumatology), law or technology. Students at J.C. Booth Middle School have had an opportunity to explore career options and the life-style those jobs will enable them to have during an innovative six-week exploration into the adult world of work and budgets.

Since the end of January, eighth grade students have learned how to narrow their career focus by taking a computer survey through Georgia Careers, compose a resume, hunt for a job in the classifieds, and be interviewed. Their math expertise was put into practice through budgeting, car shopping and apartment hunting on a "first job" salary. Last week more than 50 professions and trades were showcased during a Career Fair which put students one-on-one with individuals employed in their areas of interest.

"It was pretty awakening experience," said Laura Kienast, one of the eighth grade math teachers involved in the special curriculum. "Looking at their budgets made them more realistic. They are starting to realize that their parents go through a lot and that money doesn't grow on trees."

Students were asked to look at what they wanted to do and what it would take to get them there, explained language arts teacher Joliene Price. "A lot of students wanted to be doctors," Moore said. Using the Georgia Careers software allowed students to find out more about their field of interest. If they wanted to be doctors, what specialty? How much education would it take? What would their annual income be?

"You can't always make $100,000 a year with no education," Kienast said.

"We also want them to be aware of good companies to work for," Price added, "and what it is that makes them great." This will be done through reading and research with publications such as Forbes, she explained.

Students will wrap up their quarter of practical knowledge with oral presentations to their classmates who will in turn evaluate them.

Career specialists such as author Richard Hayden, who wrote "Contented Cows Give More Milk," claim eighth grade is the ideal time to think about careers. He was contacted by Price via the Internet after she read his book.

In spring, students will meet with high school counselors who will advise them on their academic futures and whether or not they should choose the college preparatory track or vocational / technical track. Many students will be taking on their first part-time jobs this summer, Price added. "We hope they will put into practice what they have learned," she said.

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