Such was the mammoth gathering of presenters from all factions of the public and private sectors, and students from the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, on Tuesday, March 16, that surprised commentators, lost for words, simply described it as “a beehive of activity”.
By all stretch of the imagination the event, which could easily have gone on for three days, was just that. It was clearly the largest such fair in the well-over 23 years since the careers event was introduced at the school.
The expansive Rodney MacArthur Rey Auditorium, already provided with very few lights, was further darkened by the massive crowd, lines of display tables, booths, tents, and quantities of equipment. In all, there were more than sixty exhibitors whose positions were crowded as the students, taking turns, flowed inside the auditorium.
Mrs Anita Ruan, Careers Coordinator in the Department of Education, perhaps stunned by the big event, herself, and extremely busy, hardly had time for a brief interview by The Anguillian. “It is an excellent representation,” she managed to say. “The aim of this fair is to expose the students to the career opportunities which are available to them. It helps them to get a better understanding of the subjects they wish to take in order to pursue certain careers. Some of them have no idea about what they want to do, so it is an exploration of the various careers and opportunities available to them.”
She offered her thanks and appreciation to all the members of her team for their hard work and support.
Mr Darwin Hazell, a former Principal of the Comprehensive School, under whose watch the careers fair was also an annual event, but was very much a small exercise, commented: “This is a very, very impressive event and I think the development of technology has really brought about a transformation in the whole idea of the careers fair. Looking at the many presenters, and the great amount of interest the students are displaying, is very, very impressive. I am very, very pleased with what I am seeing.”
