TRI-CITIES, Wash.- Washington Elementary is preparing for its third annual Career Day, an event designed to encourage early career exploration and help students begin imagining their futures.
Career Day focuses on exposure and representation, giving students the opportunity to meet professionals from a variety of fields and backgrounds.
“Career Day is really about exposure and representation,” said Angelica Mendoza-Leal, Student Support Coordinator with Communities In Schools of Benton-Franklin. “When students see adults they can identify with whether through shared backgrounds, interests, or lived experiences it helps them believe, ‘I can do that too.’”
Sharon Williams, School Counselor at Washington Elementary, said the experience helps students connect their current interests to future possibilities.
“It gives students the chance to explore interests or even discover new ones,” Williams said. “Some students learn about careers they’d never imagined were possible, while others get to see how their current interests could turn into a path in the future.”
Guest speakers also reinforce the importance of education across all career paths. Mendoza-Leal said hearing directly from professionals makes a lasting impact.
“Our guests do an incredible job reinforcing the importance of education no matter what career path students choose and encouraging them to dream big,” she said.
During Career Day, students rotate through interactive sessions with local professionals, asking questions and participating in hands-on learning. The experience helps build confidence, curiosity, and a strong sense of community.
For Washington Elementary, Career Day is about more than learning about jobs, it’s about helping students see what’s possible and believe in their own potential.
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