Students discuss their career wishes

Editor's note: this is a report from an exercise at Libby Middle School's career day. The students expressed their career goals and we used that information to create a story to instruct them in journalism methods.

Students from Libby-Middle High School expressed their career goals during Career Day Feb. 25. As part of the exercise, the students provided information and assisted in writing this report.

Hayden, age 13, seventh-grader at Libby Middle School wants to be a veterinarian when he grows up. He has spent his life with animals, and was inspired by his dog getting sick a lot in his youth.

Daniel, age 13, also a seventh-grader, expressed his desire to be an auto mechanic.

"My neighbor buys and sells cars and fixes them all up and makes money," Daniel said.

Amaya, age 13, wants to be a professional sketch artist. "A couple years ago I started sketching and got really good at it, I thought it would make a cool career." She practices by sketching cartoon characters.

Sketch artists have a number of career options, including working with law enforcement agencies to help solve crimes based upon eyewitness accounts and descriptions. Artists also work in the entertainment fields with cartoons and movies.

Destiny, age 13, also wants to be an artist. Her preference is also for drawing, something she's enjoyed as she's grown up. She started drawing a couple years ago.

Chloe, age 13, wants to become an attorney. Her older sister attended law school at Memphis University. 

Kalli, a 12-year-old, wants to go to medical school and become a doctor. She has a family with a history of illness, especially her cousin. She feels it would be important to be able to "help them out" when they're sick.

She isn't deterred by the amount of school required, "Yeah, I think I can do that. I like school," she said.

Ashlynn, age 13, wants to become an anime artist. She's been drawing for about two years now, inspired by her appreciation of anime.

Jazlyn, age 13, said she wants to become a professional snowmobiler. "Snowmobiling runs in my family, we do it a lot." She said she works on snowmobiles with her dad, and it requires no additional schooling.

Ryan, age 13, wants to join the Navy and become a S.E.A.L.

"I want to help my country out and be at the top," he said.

His 14-year-old brother, Tim, said he's never heard him express that desire. Tim isn't sure what he wants to do.

Julianna, age 13, wants to be a photographer. "My mom is a photographer and I want to be like her."

Madeline, age 13, said "if I grow up, I want to be a marine biologist." She's always loved water and everything about it. Her favorite underwater creature is a megalodon. 

Sebastian, age 12, wants to go into the United States Navy to be trained in computer science, helping to finance his college education.

"A lot of my family, they all have service. My brother is also in the Navy, he's 21," Sebastian said.

Logan, age 12, said he isn't sure what he wants to do, but he is considering the medical field. His mother is a medical transcriptionist and he finds the work interesting.

Trinity, age 13. "I like science and the anatomy, so I want to be a surgeon." She watches Grey's Anatomy. "I don't like the sight of blood, but I'm going to have to get over it," she said.

Dalton, age 13, expressed his desire to be a traveler. "I want to travel around the world," he said. He wants to travel the world and help people in need, doing aid work.

Walker, age 13, is deciding between two paths. He wants to either be a computer technician or a surgeon. "I really haven't decided yet, those are the two I'm choosing between right now."

Shelby, age 13, "I want to be some sort of designer," she said. She watches television programs on the subject, especially the DIY Channel.

Alex, also 13, said he will probably go into the United States Marine Corps and serve until he is able to retire. He has a family history in the Corps, including cousins, father and grandfather.

Sydney, age 13, "I don't really know what I want to be, but I might try and be a professional basketball player."

Basketball is her favorite sport, she's been playing for seven years and plays for the school. She is a guard.

Kaylee, age 12, wants to be a veterinarian. Her mother was a veterinarian and she loves animals. She has chickens, dogs and an exotic bird.

Linsey, age 14, an eight-grader, wants to be an oncologist. "I want to help people," she said. "I want to find a cure."

She likes Carroll College for her undergraduate work, and said she will figure out which medical school she wants to attend later.

Emma, age 13, wants to be a physical therapist. "I want to help people after they've been hurt, I want to help them get back into a normal life."

Samantha, age 14, isn't sure of her specific plans, but is looking at the medical field.

Trey, age 13, wouldn't specify his career plans, but "just wants to be in the newspaper."

"I just want to do something fun," he said.

Jayden, age 14, is also unsure, but wants to do something in athletics. "Just something in sports," she said. She plays basketball, softball, volleyball and track.

14-year-old Ryggs wants to become a professional golfer. He recently won a national tournament in Arizona, defeating players several years his senior.

"I want to weld," 13-year-old Samuel said. His interest is in building tables and other furniture. "It's an interesting concept, I've always wanted to do."

"I want to do something to make it big, write a book, be in a movie or something like that," said Mallory, age 13.

Some people have told her she can, some have said she can't. She wants to prove the former right and the latter wrong.

Alli, age 14, isn't sure what she wants to do. She plays basketball and volleyball, as well as running track. "Sitting at a desk, accounting, something like that," are definitely out.

"I want to be a pediatrician," said 14-year-old Lauren. She likes kids, but "I don't know if kids like me."

Her trips to the doctor's office have made her think it's something she'd like to do.

Kaleb, age 14, wants to be a paleontologist. He's had a life-long fascination with dinosaurs which has inspired his career goal.

Ariana, age 15, wants to be a cosmetologist. Most of her family has been in the business, so she wants to follow them into the family business. "I'm a hair person," she said.

Sammee, age 13, wants to do something in physical therapy. She has suffered repeated sports injuries from her participation in volleyball, softball and basketball and wants to help other people recover from their injuries.

Jessika, age 13, wants to be a doctor because she wants to help people. Her brother volunteers at a hospital. At one point she wanted to be in the military, but her desire to help people has pushed her down this path.

Zoie, age 14, said she wants to be a detective or pursue a similar career in criminology. "My grandma and I would would binge on Criminal Minds and Law and Order all the time."

She's done a lot of research on the subject and wants to attend a university in Maryland which is renowned for its criminology program.

Ben, a 13-year-old, wants to go into the United States Coast Guard. "My uncle and both my grandfathers served in the coast guard," he said.

"You get to serve, help and protect, not just serve and protect," Ben said.

Cerria, age 13, wants to get into wildlife management through an ROTC program. Her father was in the Army for 14 years, and she is inspired by his stories. "I want to be able to serve my country, but also be out in the wilderness."

"I want to be a dentist," said 13-year-old Ali. She wants to be able to knock people out with laughing gas and get paid $35 per hour.