6th annual JA Inspire returns, connects Maryland students with various career paths

SALISBURY, Md. – “I don’t really know yet. I just want to try different things,” Ayres said.

Taylor Ayres is a Snow Hill Middle School student and one of nearly 4,200 others from nine counties across Maryland apart of JA Inspire 2024. “We pair them with an in-class curriculum and then bring them to the civic center to learn all sorts of hands-on learning activities,” Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore Sr. Development Manager Erin Williamson said.

“We have 15 different career clusters that are represented from agriculture all the way down to hospitality and tourism. ”

The students a part of the program are all eighth graders, Erin Williamson said it’s the perfect time to get them thinking about the future. “When they go into 9th grade, they start picking their career paths. If they want to take specific courses that align with a certain direction after school, now is the time to get infant of them,” she said.

Lower Shore Workforce Alliance showcased their virtual reality headset, giving students a chance to see what it’s like to work in industries from engineering all the way down to healthcare. We’re told that the goal is to let students know they have options. “We help if people are interested in certain kinds of trainings. Some of the high demand ones are CDL, CNA, and welding,” LSWA Job Placement Coordinator Bonnie Nay said.

“There’s a big push on youth apprenticeship in the state because of the blueprint for Maryland’s future plan.”

Ayres may not be walking away with all the answers, but she told us she now has a better sense of direction. “I think I want to be an engineer. There’s been so many great opportunities today to learn more and about it. It’s been a really fun experience,” she said.

The event also featured several Eastern Shore colleges and universities including the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Wor-Wic Community College.

The Lower Shore Workforce Alliance’s mission is to help lift people out poverty. They provide individuals with resources to overcome barriers to workforce training and get put on a path to employment. LSWA is located at the American Job Center in Salisbury.

JA Inspire 2024 wraps up Wednesday, March 13th.