What do you want to be when you grow up?

It’s a question often asked to children and one that many adults are still trying to figure out.

While the answer may not be simple, Central Alabama School to Career is teaching students in the Selma City and Dallas County School Systems how to find a job that fits them best.

The program was created in May 2002 when the Montgomery-based Central Alabama Community Foundation received a $250,000 grant from Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama to support career education in the eleven school districts surrounding the plant site.

Shari Day, coordinator of CASTC, spends her days traveling to the school districts to establish programs and work to counselors on creating job-orientated activities.

During this new school year, Day says she wants to focus more attention on elementary and middle schools.

“The goal for this year is to continue building upon the programs we started last year,” Day said. “I really want to put more activities in the elementary and middle schools in Selma and Dallas County. In the elementary schools there is going to be a focus on career awareness. In the middle schools students will be given the opportunity to explore career interests and the wide inventory of jobs available to them after graduation.”

Elementary students will also participate in What I Want To Be When I Grow Up Day, where they get to dress up as their favorite professional and listen to guest speakers.

“They also are going to get coloring books, play games and have career fairs,” Day said.

CASTC also hosts preparation activities for high schools students, including how to write a resume and interview attire.

” I do a lot of traveling across nine counties, so it’s hard for me to visit the schools as often as I like,” Day said. “Many of the programs we offer serve as supplements for the school counselors. I try to be at the big activities as much as possible.”

Last year, CASTC provided the Selma and Dallas County School Districts with a $2,400 grant for the purchase of CareerScope computer software and Occupational Outlook Handbooks that provide career exploration and preparation activities.

“CareerScope is a program that offers a wide range of career assessment measures,” Day said. “It can measure their interests, values, and skills. Counselors and parents can use this information to help students plan their next four years of high school.”

In the 2003-04 school year, approximately 3,298 students in Selma City and Dallas County Schools participated in CASTC-sponsored career activities.

This year, Day said. CASTC hopes to expand that number with the help of teachers and counselors.

“It’s important that students start investigating careers early and developing skills that will prepare them for those careers,” Day said.