Lockheed Martin, many branches of the armed forces, along with the Wareham police and fire departments all visited Wareham High School on Wednesday.  But not because of a high-tech threat to national security:  They were on hand for the Wareham High School’s Career Fair.

Oftentimes, “Students don’t realize there are so many opportunities out there,” said Director of Guidance Stephen Goldman.

At Wareham and other schools, students are increasingly being encouraged to start considering their career options at a younger age than in the past.  The idea is to give students a solid foundation of knowledge regarding what kind of education and skills they’re going to need to pursue various careers. This in turn will make them better prepared to pick a career that makes them happy and is within their reach.  Goldman said that some school districts in Massachusetts are beginning to implement programs such as career fairs in middle school.

Wareham High School also instituted a program to bring high school sophomores on college visits a couple of years ago, in order to get them excited about the prospect of higher education.

“By the time the kids are juniors and seniors it’s too late,” said WHS vice Principal Debbie Freitas. “Schools are now charged with introducing 21^st century skills,” says Freitas. While it’s still too soon to come to any conclusions about long term effects, Freitas says the trips “Get them a little excited, and gets them thinking.”

Senior Trey Mendes said he found the career fairs “Definitely effective…I’m trying to look for a job I can do while I’m in college,” preparing for another career.  Though he said the military is not for him, he said that a lot of his friends, including senior John Bragdon, were considering careers in the military.

“I want to go for the career opportunities and training,” Bragdon said. He said he plans to join the “construction and building battalion” to prepare for a career in construction.

Junior Nathan Caradimos said that he had considered joining the Marines, as it is something of a family tradition, but has since decided that it’s not for him. Of the career fair he said, “I find it very helpful…it shows me what I want and what I don’t want.” He’s considering going to UMASS Dartmouth for fashion design.

Director of Guidance Goldman said that part of the multi-pronged approach that the school is taking to prepare their students for college and the workforce, is to target them as sophomores. “Freshman year is a year of transition from middle school to high school. Sophomore year is the ideal time to start.”