For some middle-school students, the thought of high school graduation, and especially picking a career path, can seem far away.

But the Beaufort County Police Activities League (BCPAL) is looking to change that and spark students’ interests with help from Beaufort County Community College, Beaufort County Schools and Elizabeth City State University.

Wednesday marked the fourth year for the Youth STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) Career Day, which gave seventh graders a hands-on look at career opportunities on the BCCC campus. Some of the occupations represented were first responders, military, NASA scientists, engineers and aviation professionals, among many others.

Al Powell, president of BCPAL, said he thinks this event is a good way to expose the middle-school students to a variety of careers in one setting, and that’s what he thinks sets it apart.

Powell said it also shows students how successful they can be if they work hard in school and strive to achieve their goals.

“They’re getting an opportunity to be exposed to a variety of career paths,” he said. “This may be a life-changing experience.”

“It’s almost like seeing into the future,” said Andrew Ditlevson, assistant principal at Chocowinity Middle School.

He said the students, many of whom were from Chocowinity Middle, are getting a glimpse into what the future may be like, whether that future is in Beaufort County or beyond. The seventh graders were getting exposure to the far-off NASA as well as the more local PotashCorp-Aurora, he said.

“They’re definitely curious, especially when they see scientific instruments,” Ditlevson said. “It looks like a lab.”

Crystal Ange, vice president of academics at BCCC, said she also thinks it is important for those students to have exposure to the college atmosphere, as many of them will be first-generation college students.

“It’s important to show our students non-traditional opportunities for employment, for volunteer work,” she said. “The exposure to opportunities is so important because that gives those seventh graders a chance to dream.”

Besides rotating classroom activities throughout Building 8 at BCCC and first-responder equipment in the parking lot, one of the main events of Career Day was a firsthand view of a helicopter landing. The students were also allowed to see it up close.

“To see their expressions of awe and wonder and to even hear a comment, ‘Is that a woman?’” Ange said, in reference to comments about a woman who helped operate the helicopter. “We take so much for granted.”

She said examples of Career Day activities are often seen on TV, it is a different experience to see it in person.

“When it really happens, it presents a moment,” Ange said. “It gives them a moment to say, ‘What if?’”