What do you want to be when you grow up?
It’s a question we’ve all been asked, usually long before we have any idea what the answer might be.
For Grade 9 students across the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB), Take Our Kids to Work Day, held on Wednesday, November 4, offered a chance to explore that question outside the classroom.
This year’s theme, Different Perspectives, Shared Direction, was a wonderful reminder that there isn’t just one path to a successful future. Every career has a story, every workplace has something to teach us, and sometimes discovering what you don’t want to do is just as valuable as discovering what you love.
A Different Kind of School Day
For many students, the day meant accompanying a parent, guardian, caregiver or workplace sponsor to experience what happens during a typical workday.
From learning about different professions to meeting people whose work helps keep our communities running, students had an opportunity to ask questions, discover new interests and see how the skills they’re developing in school connect to life beyond the classroom.
Behind the Scenes at the OCSB
Some Grade 9 students didn’t have to travel far to discover a surprising variety of careers.
At the OCSB Catholic Education Centre, students whose parents or guardians work at the Board were invited to explore the many different roles that support our schools, students and families.
Throughout the day, students visited departments, met staff and participated in interactive sessions designed to give them a closer look at the work happening behind the scenes.
Whether examining school boundary maps, learning how decisions are made, exploring technology or discovering what goes into communicating with nearly 54,000 students and their families, students had a chance to see that there’s much more to running a school board than what happens in a classroom.
And who knows? We may have introduced a future educator, architect, communications professional, accountant or technology specialist to a career they hadn’t considered before.
Sometimes, All It Takes Is One Conversation
One of the best things about Take Our Kids to Work Day is that students don’t need to have their futures figured out.
They just need to be curious.
A conversation with someone who loves their job, an opportunity to try something new or a glimpse into an unfamiliar workplace can help students begin to imagine possibilities they hadn’t considered.
Nourishing New Beginnings
At the OCSB, we want students to see a future filled with possibilities. Guided by our Spiritual Theme, Open Doors, Build Bridges, Nourish New Beginnings, experiences like Take Our Kids to Work Day help students make connections between what they’re learning today and where their interests and talents might take them tomorrow.
A big thank you to the parents, guardians, caregivers, workplace sponsors, community partners and OCSB staff who welcomed our students, answered their questions and shared a little of their working lives.
You may never know which conversation, experience or encouraging word will stay with a student long after the day is over.
And that’s what makes opportunities like this so worthwhile.
