Bi-monthly educational programming with a focus in communication and workforce prep was taught in a county middle school this year. Classes were led in a collaboration with the Career Pathways Teacher at the school and the Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development in McCracken County. Topics were planned and implemented during class time in the Spring semester to merge together the importance of learning overarching communication skills, impromptu speaking, self-discovery and personality types. Upon communication skills taught and personality types discovered, students gained self awareness of their own sets of soft and hard life skills. 

Students were additionally taught workforce skills such as how to build a resume, apply for jobs and interview for a job. Through this education, students were able to simultaneously discover more about themselves and career options they might want to pursue. At the end of the semester, all students participated in a mock interview which allowed them an opportunity to practice and reflect on their non-verbal and verbal communication skills. Mock Interviews allowed for the students to have a safe environment to practice the skills acquired and education received during the semester.

All students participated in the Mock Interviews and from the success of each interview, exhibited they successfully retained information that was taught to them throughout the semester. Each participant scored a 4 or 5 out of the grade scale of 1-5.  Participants, parents, teachers and school personnel described their appreciation for the programming and made suggestions to improve for the following year. They are interested in having someone from their career pathway to conduct the mock interviews to make it seem more formal and allow them the chance to talk with someone in their interested, potential field of work.