T-L Photos/CARRI GRAHAM Police Chief John McFarland speaks with Martins Ferry High School students for career day on Friday morning. The school invites alumni to return to the school each year to speak with students about their professions.

MARTINS FERRY — Local high school students may have a better idea of what they would like to do in the future, thanks to the school’s career day.

Martins Ferry High School held its annual career day on Friday, and nearly 30 alumni working in an array of fields spoke to students about their careers. Principal Joe Mamone said the alumni fields range from aerospace engineering to cosmetology.

“We have a wide array of fields covered so that students have a lot of opportunities to see different things,” Mamone said.

Students were given a list of the alumni and their fields prior to the career day, Mamone said. Each student was able to choose and view around six occupations to hear from.

“We have aerospace engineers, we have medical doctors, we have representatives of cosmetology, the chief of police is here, we have mental help therapists here, we have someone that works in the field of sign language,” Mamone said. “All kinds of things, and it goes all day long. It’s one of the best days of the year.”

Mamone said the day is a tremendous experience for the students and that the school is extremely thankful for the alumni who come back each year to instruct the students. Career day is important for students, he said, as it allows them to learn more in-depth about potential career paths and gives them alternative options.

“They (students) may get their eyes open to something they otherwise may have not thought of. … When they sit in a classroom and listen to an aerospace engineer talk about not only what he does, but the other things that are related in his field, it may pique curiosity. It may be something they want to explore or learn more about, it could be a career path for them,” Mamone said.

Martins Ferry Police Chief John McFarland spoke to students about being a law enforcement officer. He also addressed the expanding opioid epidemic, how it began and warned students of its negative effects.

Julia Wayne, music teacher and event organizer, said it’s important for students to experience as many careers as they can so they can figure out what it is they want to do in life.

“Hopefully, (it’s) early enough so they (students) can start taking classes that are geared toward helping them achieve that goal. This is an opportunity for them to experience and ask questions,” Wayne said.

Wayne said she urges the presenters to tell the students both the positives and negatives of their profession; therefore students know what to expect in the occupation. Wayne said the students are thrilled about career day and anticipated many of the professions. Many of her students were excited to hear from those in the medical professions, including an X-ray technician, emergency nurse and medical assistant, Wayne said.

This was true for 15-year-old Casey Trout, a freshman at MFHS, who was excited to hear from an X-ray technician who spoke with students. Trout said she really enjoyed career day and learned many things she previously did not know.

“There’s so many choices that I can do,” she said.

Trout said she hopes to pursue something in the medical field, whether it be a career as a doctor or nurse, or something in a hospital setting.

“I think it helps a lot of students,” she said of career day. “If they struggle with what they want to do in life, this can help them decide.”

Following the career portion of the school day, 15 college and military recruiters were present during the lunch hour to field questions and provide information to interested students.