What will you be when you grow up?
Photos by LOREN BENOIT/Press Retired claims adjuster LaDawn Beattie asks senior Cody Ratcliff questions about his auto collision career interest during a reverse job fair Thursday afternoon at Mountain View Alternative High School.
Rathdrum Animal Clinic employee Aprill Sherman, left, asks Levi Lowrey questions about his education career interest during a reverse job fair Thursday afternoon at Mountain View Alternative High School.
North Idaho College enrollment coordinator Sara Schmelzer asks kayla Powell questions about her veterinarian career interest during a reverse job fair Thursday afternoon at Mountain View Alternative High School. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
Self employed contractor Landon Beattie asks Britney Cowperthwaite questions about her military career path interest during a reverse job fair Thursday afternoon at Mountain View Alternative High School. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
RATHDRUM — Promising future professionals are coming out of Mountain View Alternative High School's class of 2018.
"They can accomplish so much," said English and history teacher Krista Bullard. "I just love it."
Dressed to impress, 25 seniors gathered in the gym Thursday during the school’s reverse job fair with their handmade exhibits as they fielded questions about their chosen career paths.
The students were interviewed in intervals by professionals from the community, including employees from North Idaho College, personnel from Northern Lakes Fire, medical professionals and more.
"I’m very open and I’m very willing to not judge you on your past," Kaitlynn Case said as she pitched herself as a marriage and family counselor. "I’ll think of ways we could help you be a better person."
She said she chose this career because of personal experiences she had growing up.
"I want to guide people into situations where they can make their child and themselves get along and be happier in their lives,” she said. "I don’t feel that children should regret or hold anything against their parents. Counseling is just helping others educate themselves and you on their problems."
Looking fly in a pink collared shirt and light vest, a confident Tanner Fuston described his plans to be a physical therapy assistant.
"I always want to help somebody else," he said. "Getting to help 20 patients a day would make me feel good about myself."
Tanner was inspired to become a physical therapist when he broke his ankle last fall. His experience with Chris Garrett at Rathdrum Physical Therapy led him to pursue the profession and shadow Garrett for his senior project.
"He always was the outgoing person in helping me, so I want to take what he gave me and give it to someone else," Tanner said. "I loved it every step of the way."
Personable and pleasant, Levi Lowrey expressed his longtime dream of being a high school teacher.
"I’ve thought since I was about in sixth grade that teachers help save people’s lives just like doctors," he said. "Instead of being in the medical field and having to save people’s lives, you’re giving them an education to make sure they are going to make it in life."
He got to job shadow his sixth-grade teacher, an experience that he truly enjoyed.
"He gave me my sixth-grade letter I wrote for my final," Levi said. "I even wrote in there I wanted to be a teacher when I grow up. It’s pretty cool to realize my goal has always been to be a teacher, and that’s what I’m going to pursue."
Many of the students shared concerns about finances being an obstacle for when they go to college, but they're already working on scholarship forms and other financial aid plans.
Quite a few plan to start their education journeys at NIC.
Kaitlynn said even though it was nerve-racking, the reverse job fair was a plus for her and her peers.
"It teaches us how to speak out to our community members and be more open with each other and also have a confidence that we do have a voice and we can speak about the things we love,” she said.
Mountain View has conducted reverse job fairs for several years to prepare students for life after high school.
Bullard, who has organized it for six years, could not be prouder of her seniors.
"I love connecting the community to our students," she said. "For a lot of the students, this raises the bar."