On March 9 in the parking lot at Shotwell Stadium, hundreds of second-grade students across Abilene ISD had the opportunity climb into and explore an Abilene Police Department patrol vehicle, Abilene Fire Department trucks, a Rural MetroCare ambulance and several City of Abilene maintenance trucks.
The first district-wide Careers on Wheels Day was about more than the students who were there getting the chance to turn on sirens, flash lights or honk the horn on a backhoe. It was a chance for them to be exposed to a wide variety of careers and a quick glimpse at some of the tasks that go along with each vehicle.
AISD Director of Career and Technical Education Lucille Fullen teamed with Jennifer Seekins (Dean of Holland Medical High School and Guidance and Counseling Program Coordinator) and Bonham Elementary School counselor Kristi Harrison to put the event together. Harrison has been putting on a similar event at Bonham for several years, only on a slightly smaller scale.
“We patterned the rotations based on how Kristi runs the program at Bonham,” Seekins said. “She was able to provide logistical suggestions and ideas for follow-up activities that elementary counselors and campuses will do. And Lucille was a huge help, reaching out to the city through a contact she has there to get 12 city trucks and vehicles to be part of the event.”
The event went off without a hitch with the minor exception of the early morning arrivals having a little too much fun with the siren on APD patrol officer Jay Young’s new Tahoe. Once that was taken care of, the neighbors to the west of Shotwell were able to enjoy the rest of their morning and the students went about the business of asking questions and learning about the jobs attached to each vehicle.
“I had some great questions from the students,” said Young, who joined the APD 4 1/2 years ago. “I also had a first, when one of the little boys looked at me and said, ‘When I grow up, I want to be just like you.’ As a female, I’ve had little girls tell me that before, but I’ve never had a little boy say that to me.”
Young’s hope was that the students would walk away with a different perspective on police officers.
“I always tell kids that the police don’t arrest bad people; we arrest good people who make bad decisions,” she said. “Unfortunately, some of the kids will see a police officer in their home or their neighborhood, and I want them to know that we are there for them when they need help. We’re the good guys.”
It’s those kind of takeaways that Seekins hopes the students would get during the one-day event that was scheduled to host students from all 13 elementary campuses.
“These community members were fantastic,” Seekins said. “I hope the kids remember the positive interactions with them and their vehicles! The adults that presented were so kind and understanding of second-graders, and I hope the students remember both the fun times of being in the vehicles and the people behind them.”
More than anything, however, Seekins and each counselor, behavior coordinator and any other volunteer who was in attendance Wednesday wanted to make sure each student realized a multitude of career options exist for them after they’ve completed their education.
“Counselors have competencies they are to meet through guidance lessons with students, so this event meets the goal of exposure to a variety of careers,” Seekins said. “This is a great opportunity for students to see different careers and the ‘wheels’ they need for their job.”
Photos Courtesy of City of Abilene
