Cullman County Schools expanded the success of its student expo events to include more than 2,000 middle school students Wednesday, Dec. 11.

The district held its first student expo event for all of its high school underclassmen in April as a precursor to beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month — which is recognized nationally each May. A follow-up event was held in October, where former professional BMX racer and convicted felon, Tony Hoffman, shared his journey of recovery from drug addiction and how he was able to control his mental health in order to achieve his goals.

Following the event in October, CCBOE Mental Health Services Coordinator Karen Pinion said the speakers chosen for the events had been intentionally selected for their vulnerable speaking styles and how well students appeared to relate to them.

“The key to these events so far has been the complete and sheer vulnerability of these presenters to come and share. That is what has made these events so successful,” Pinion said in October.

As with the past two expo events, the district’s 6th-8th grade students were given a lesson in online-safety from Sergeant Jeff Lawson with the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office. However, much more emphasis was placed on discussing students’ futures last week with several older students who attend the Cullman Area Technology Academy discussing their respective programs.

Pinion said the goal was to expose students to the possible career paths available through CATA as they are preparing to transition to high school and begin to think more concretely about their futures.

“As early as kindergarten and first grade our school counselors start talking to kids about what they dream of being when they grow up,” Pinion said. “Of course everyone wants to be a doctor or a fireman or something like that, but, from the moment they start school they are talking about what their dream job or career is going to be.”

She said the district has been making strides in career-preparation as early as middle school with annual events such as Tools of the Trade — held each year at Wallace State Community College — and adding a career readiness course to the required 8th-grade curriculum. The middle school student expo, she said, is one more way they are getting their students prepared for the future.

“All of these things are in place to get kids thinking. Not necessarily to solidify a particular career, but to get them thinking and to give them exposure,” she said.

Students also heard from former Division 1 football coach and author Willies Spears on how the decisions they are making today can resonate well into their futures.

Spears has spoken to the district’s teachers and administrators twice before and continued the trend of engaging with students.

“We want our kids to understand that when they graduate high-school there are certain things that they’ll want out of life and to show them how they can go about doing whatever that is,” Pinion said. “I think what is important is to give kids enough exposure, examples and enough knowledge to be able to make choices about what their interests are.”

Patrick Camp can be reached at pcamp@cullmantimes.com or by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 238.