Perspective | ‘Right where they belong’ begins in middle school

In 1979, I graduated from Strayhorn Junior High School. Strayhorn, Mississippi, was a community, not a township or city. We only had a small local convenience store and a combined elementary and junior high school.

After graduating from junior high, we were bused about 30 minutes away to the county high school in Coldwater. The junior high commencement carried all the pomp and circumstance you might expect from a high school or college ceremony. Eighth grade felt like a genuine rite of passage, a move from “child” to “young adult.” It was an exciting time of choosing classes and beginning to think about the future.

Today, eighth graders in McDowell County are also excited about choosing classes as they prepare to become high school freshmen. But they have an opportunity many of us did not have: the chance to earn college credit or an industry-recognized credential as a high school student. As part of a new Career and College Promise initiative, McDowell Tech’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) team is working closely with McDowell County Schools’ CTE team to create these opportunities for ninth graders.

This process begins long before the eighth grade.

An outstanding example is the GEAR UP program, a grant-supported partnership between Appalachian State University, McDowell County Schools (MCS), and McDowell Tech. Coordinators for MCS and McDowell Tech work closely together to increase college access and completion.

The work begins as early as sixth grade, with career exploration opportunities at McDowell Tech that help students imagine which CTE courses they may want to pursue once they reach high school. The goal is ambitious and practical: that every McDowell High School graduate leaves with both college credit and an industry-recognized credential. Dr. Tracy Grit, McDowell County Schools’ Superintendent, is a valuable partner in this effort, and I am grateful for his shared commitment to students.

You may be wondering why a college president is talking about middle school students and their career interests.

First, many families still hear the message that a four-year degree is the only clear path to a good job. The reality is more complicated. A bachelor’s degree can open many doors, but it does not automatically guarantee the right job or a strong start. Michael Nietzel published a Forbes magazine article in February titled, “Unemployment and Underemployment Rates Among Recent College Graduates,” demonstrating the complexity and difficulty of finding a job, even with a bachelor’s degree. Students need options, direction, and opportunities that connect learning to real careers.

Second, leaders from the college, school system, and community regularly tour McDowell County businesses and industries. We hear clearly about workforce needs, and those needs strongly align with McDowell Tech’s career and technical education. Employers need skilled people. In many cases, completion of the right course or credential can lead directly to a good job and a meaningful future.

So why start with middle school students? If you are like me, elementary school and junior high were years of learning, playing, and dreaming. My first dream was to be an astronaut. Over time, those exploratory years, along with my passions, strengths, and weaknesses, helped shape a career path that eventually led me to work in community college administration. Exploration of career dreams in middle school can help students see possibilities earlier, make wiser choices, and begin shaping a straighter road toward a career with purpose.

So, if you know an eighth grader choosing courses for their high school freshman year, this may be the right time to encourage them to explore possibilities with a McDowell Tech Career Coach. I think they will discover that McDowell Tech is right where they belong, even while in high school.

You can learn more on our website.