FOR JUNIORS AND SENIORS
This is me (Mr. Parrish) summer of 2014, playing the role of New Hanover County Sheriff during an Emergency Management Situation Simulation at the New Hanover County Emergency Management Command Center in Wilmington, NC.
Juniors and Seniors: I will frequently add websites below that may be helpful as you prepare for life after high school. Take a look at these links. Please also speak to Guidance Department about career opportunities. Please come to me immediately if there is anything in your life that you feel may be an obstacle in reaching your career goals; let's talk about it. This applies to all MCHS students, even if you are not taking my classes.
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City/County Manager
ICMA (International City/County Management Association)
North Carolina State University
http://www.ncsu.edu/
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
http://www.unc.edu/
Duke University
http://www.duke.edu/
North Carolina Central University
http://www.nccu.edu/
North Carolina Department of Corrections Careers.
http://www.doc.state.nc.us/recruit/
North Carolina Highway Patrol Careers
http://www.nccrimecontrol.org/Index2.cfm?a=000003,000014,000734
Becoming an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) in North Carolina
Speak to Guidance Department if you are interested in this field. One of our former students last year is currently doing this while he is in pre-med at UNC-CH. Very valuable experience, and good pay while in college. I believe your training can take place at Durham Technical Community College.
Careers in Aviation
http://www.careersinaviation.org/
This site offers a really neat feature called "Let's Go Flying." It's located beside "high school students" menu item. Notice that there are many careers in aviation other than being a pilot. This site lists the many options.
Regional Airline Academy
http://www.raaflightschools.com/flightschoolsim/
A neat site that will help you get the feel of flying a commercial aircraft. Take off from RAA's airport and fly to Orlando's International Airport. Use your arrow keys for right, left, up or down. Follow the red dot. Increase altitude at a great distance from the airport. Decrease altitude as you get closer. You may have to circle the airport in Orlando to figure out its runway patterns.
Do you want to work for NASA?
http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html
Go to this site. Then, go to "For Students," then "Grades 9-12." You will find current opportunities and career profiles. Remember that you don't have to be out of high school to work for NASA. Pay close attention to deadlines -
FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
http://www.fbijobs.gov/
A great career! Be sure to look at their internship programs.
Office of Environmental Education in North Carolina
http://web.eenorthcarolina.org/core/item/topic.aspx?s=0.0.108.37430&tid=80300
Lots of great opportunities to get involved and network. You can find jobs as well as internships on this site.
Summer Theater in North Carolina and the South East
http://www.summertheater.com/theaters/Region/Southeast/nc.html
Great opportunity to work while making new friends during summer break.
Air Traffic Control Specialist
http://www.faa.gov/jobs/job_opportunities/airtraffic_controllers/
Work for the Federal Aviation Administration and the US Department of Transportation.
Go to the above link to watch a short video about what they do. All that you need to apply for this position is on this link. (Of course you can do this! Before becoming a teacher, I designed business forms and systems for corporations all over the world, a highly technical job. I loved being very technical - best 20 years of my life. You can do it!)
Morehead-Cain Scholars Program
http://www.moreheadcain.org/
Our school is eligible to nominate two candidates each year. I want to see a Morehead-Cain Scholar come out of my classes this year - this is my goal and objective. To qualify, a student must show evidence of outstanding achievement in the following four criteria: Leadership, Scholarship, Physical Vigor, and Moral Force of Character (integrity above reproach, positive influence, both actively and passively, on his or her peer group). Source: The Morehead-Cain Scholars Program.
I have observed first-hand what this program can do for its recipients. The Morehead-Cain Scholarship provides a fully funded four years at UNC-Chapel Hill - tuition, student fees, housing, meals, textbooks and a laptop, travel, school supplies and miscellaneous expenses are all paid by the scholarship. In addition, as a part of the scholarship program, recipients participate in fully funded four year summer enrichment travel abroad.
HR Positions (Human Resources)
There are literally thousands of private corporations in North Carolina that need good people in their HR (Human Resources) departments. You will be in charge of personnel - hiring and firing, as well as keeping employees happy and productive.
Systems Analyst
If I could wind the clock back and do it all again, I would most likely become a Systems Analyst. Most large corporations utilize the services of a Systems Analyst in order to make their corporation more efficient and productive. (I worked closely with the Systems Analyst in my previous occupation as I custom designed forms and systems for large corporations all over the world). Job duties of a Systems Analyst might include collecting information to analyze and evaluate existing or proposed systems, as well as research, plan, install, configure, troubleshoot, maintain and upgrade operating systems (which don't necessarily have to be computer operating systems). Lots of fun. You have to be very organized to do this.
City Manager and City Planner
Another great career! Why didn't my high school teachers tell me about this? Typically, the city manager will supervise day-to-day operations of all city departments. A job which is related somewhat is City Planner. Investigate both if you are still searching for a career.
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