Terra Vista Middle School’s college and career teacher, Molly Arellano, is bringing in several guest speakers from the community to talk to students about career choices this year.

Q: Who do you invite?
Arellano: I normally try to invite someone either that I know personally, or that has a connection with Terra Vista. Guest speakers come and speak based on what Career Cluster we are investigating.

Q: What does this process teach students?
Arellano: I think it teaches them that these jobs we are researching are tangible. They can actually achieve the goals that they are setting and that their plans and budgets are useful.

Q: How did this presentation series come about?
Arellano: It started with me not knowing how exactly to explain everything to my students. There are so many different careers out there, and while I know a fair amount, I don’t know everything. So that is my goal, to make sure my kids are prepared in ways that I can’t teach them.

Q: What is the students’ reaction?
Arellano: They love it! They’re always really interested in what the speakers have to say and they have actually responded extremely well to sitting in their seats quietly for the class period.

Q: What is your favorite part about bringing new faces to your classroom?
Arellano: I am a firm believer that teachers are constantly learning. One of my favorite parts is being able to learn more about the careers as well. There are so many parts to jobs that people excel at and I love to have them highlighted and show my kids where hard work can take them.