Chamber helps kids explore careers

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a pro football player when I grew up. If you have ever read this blog before, you would know that didn't turn out so well.

Lucky for me, I found the next best thing -- a reporter for the Bradenton Herald.

For a young kid with a racing imagination, figuring out some realistic ideas for a profession can be quite difficult. Last week, the Manatee Chamber of Commerce was there to help.

Through the chamber, nearly 100 business volunteers on May 4 participated in the T.E.A.C.H. program at 32 elementary schools in Manatee -- reaching more than 3,000 students in one morning.

Project T.E.A.C.H. (Teach Everyone About Career Horizons) is designed to increase career awareness among 4th grade students, while stressing the importance of first impressions. For many students, this was the first time they had been exposed to careers other than those of their parents.

The program began with the students trying to guess various characteristics about the business volunteer, such as how old they were, what type of car they drove, and even their favorite fast food.

The volunteers then talked about their careers and the educational pathways they took to get there. To close the program, the students designed business cards based on their career aspirations.

Volunteers ranged from small business owners, veterinarians and artists to even a monkey trainer for the circus (that's a pretty good one too).

For the latest business updates, follow me on Twitter @JoshSalman.