A group of students including (L-R) Gilbert Ramirez, Sage Keahna, Victor Balderas and Deandra Navarro listen intently during a presentation about technology careers during the first annual Meskwaki Career Day on Tuesday, March 10 at the Meskwaki Settlement School. News Herald Photo/Allison Graham

Growing up, most children have dreams of becoming things like a doctor, teacher, ballerina, veterinarian, or a host of other occupations. Many times those choices evolve and change as students grow older. But from an early age children are thinking about what they want to do when they grow up.

For the Meskwaki Settlement Elementary students they are one step closer to figuring out what they may want to be someday. On Tuesday, March 10 students were given an opportunity to learn more about several of those career paths while attending Career Day put on by the school.

The first annual career day was planned and organized by Meskwaki Settlement Elementary Counselor, Dina Keahna. Keahna has been the Elementary Counselor for the past five years. She has organized other events such as Drug Free Awareness Week in October 2014. The day focused on preparing yourself, planning your career, determining you interests, and discovering potential jobs.

Students were broken up into small groups and traveled throughout the school building hearing from different speakers in 15-minute sessions. Each career expert/speaker is a member of the Meskwaki Tribe and included: Delonda Pushetonequa and Heather Wanatee (Education), Dr. Ally James (Dental), Joseph Morsette (Law), Jessica Wabaunasee (Information Technology), Terry Kearney (Law Enforcement), Jessica Bear (Judge), Janice Eaglehawk (IT), Christina Alamo (Health), Patrick Bolte (Pharmacy) Dalynn Wabaunasee and Elena Freeman (Accounting), Tyler Lasley (Youth Director), Uriah Wanatee (Media Coordinator), Dara Jefferson (Social Work), Max Bear (IT), Azadeh Tavakoli (Human Resources).

The goal for Keahna was simple; to promote education and show students what careers are available to them.

Azadeh Tavakoli (center) talks with students including Eryk Head and Max Bear III about human resources.

For Elementary School Principal, Paul Henely, the day was a dream come true. This is his first year at MSS but he has many years of elementary education experience and has always felt career planning is an important part of what he does. He had full confidence in Dina that the event would be a success. “Kids can never be too young to start thinking about what they want to do with their life,” said Henely.

Speaker Allison Lasley works for the tribe at Child and Family Services. “I thought it was an awesome opportunity the school provided,” said Lasley, “the tribe is growing and it’s time to start investing in our community and our kids.”

Career Day was not only a hit with the adults involved but also with the students. Sixth grader Taurice Grant did not have high hopes going into the day but after the first session he started to see the benefits of the experience. “I am learning a lot of new things,” said Grant, “I am learning what to do and what not to do and experiencing more that I thought I was going to see.” Grant’s goal is to help people. The session that really stuck out to him was about drug and abuse counseling. He learned about the field and also about the college classes he would need to take.

Irene Keahna, Diego Victor and Sandra Velazquez listen in during a career session on Career Day on Tuesday, March 10. News Herald Photos Allison Graham

Meskwaki Youth Director, Tyler Lasley (left), talks with students during Career Day on Tuesday, March 10 at the Meskwaki Settlement School. News Herald Photo/Allison Graham