Students at Pruitt explore careers early

John L. Pruitt Elementary School students in first through sixth grades were busy last Friday exploring the many different local businesses in search of a career that would peak their interest.

The school held its first-ever career fair, where vendors presented different options for the students' futures.

Juan Bernal from Kern Schools Federal Credit Union had a table full of giveaways. He presented each visitor with a KSFCU pen, coloring book and crayons (for the younger grades), along with refrigerator magnets.

At her table, Ronald McDonald House Director Scarlett Sabin explained the construction of the Bakersfield house, which should be available for families soon.

Dr. Isaac Sanchez from Adventist Health presented information on health care.

Kern County Sheriff's Office representatives presented a softer side of the deputies at their table.

Mayor Alex Garcia, principal of Pruitt School was there, too, along with Vincent Martinez of North Kern News and Parole Agents Sergio Rios and Jasmine Lopez.

"This fair will hopefully open the students' eyes to the different options for a career," Coordinator Olga Ore Sanchez said.

The students slowly entered the cafeteria, and because many of them recognized Bernal from the Wasco Bengals, they immediately gravitated to his table first. The students were happy to see a familiar friendly face.

Attorney Connie Rodriguez from Arroyo Law, a private college, owns and operates the law school located at 900 Truxtun Ave., Suite 200 in Bakersfield.

"I deal mostly in car accidents," Rodriguez told a visitor. "We also have a lot of rollovers."

Parole Agent Rios, a Wasco High graduate, has been with the prison system for 14 months and supervises prisoners at North Kern Prison in Delano, while his co-presenter Jasmine Lopez, from the Sacramento area, has been with the department for five years and has been a parole agent for the past year.

Several students stopped by the Wasco Tribune table to pick up the latest copy of the paper and ask questions

Both fifth-grader Cristine Carrillo and fourth-grade student Lauren Hernandez wanted to know how much a reporter made. (The answer? Between $22,880 – minimum wage – and $200,000 a year, depending on the size of the paper kand responsibilities.)

Cristine said she was interested in writing for a newspaper.

Several groups of students asked what the favorite part of the job is. "What are your work hours?" they added.