DETERMINED to pursue their dreams and positively impact the nation, students at Allman Town Primary School in Kingston were dressed in outfits representing their occupations of choice for Career Day on Thursday.

The school’s Principal La-Toya Nesbitt said for this year’s event, there was a variety of career options that students would not normally be exposed to.

She said, this was done to enhance the students’ knowledge on professions that might pique their interest.

“We didn’t just want them to dress up, we wanted them to be exposed to different types of careers outside of what they would normally refer to in the inner city,” she said.

“If you ask someone in the inner city what they want to become, you would hear police or soldier. We wanted to expose them to other kinds of careers they would not necessarily hear about,” said Nesbeth.

The day’s event was guided by the Child Month 2022 theme, “Listen Up, Children’s Voices Matter” and saw presentations being made by several professionals such as journalists, air hostess, IT specialist, electrical engineer, chef and a custom officer, among others.

The grade six students were not shy in sharing their career choices with the Jamaica Observer.

Twelve-year-old Jhemeilia Genes said she wanted to be a great chef just like her uncle.

“I love helping out my family, so sometimes my grandmother can’t bother to cook, mi can help her. I love to cook and when I am in the kitchen I feel so happy,” said Jhemeila.

She told the Observer that she was is already an expert at cooking rice, chicken, and eggs and wants to help others as a chef.

“If mi open a restaurant and somebody doesn’t have any money to order food, I can be kind and give them food free,” declared Jhemeila.

Eleven-year-old Emilio Dunkley said after his father fell off a ladder and broke his leg, he developed high hopes of becoming a doctor.

“I like helping people and making them feel better, so they can live to see another day and spend more time with their family,” Emilio shared.

His peer, 11-year-old Micaneesh Campbell, enjoys helping others too and also wants to enter the medical world.

“I want to become a nurse, because I love helping people and because I love to see when people are happy. I don’t like when people die. Even though I am scared of blood, I don’t mind helping people,” said Micaneesh.

In the meantime, 11-year-old Donnellia Green said she was influenced by her mother in her dream to become a real estate agent.

“I want to work with people and give them a home where they can live. I don’t really want more homeless people on the streets. We should always give them a second chance to be better in life,” she said.

Twelve-year-old Tessann Foreman, who wants to be a soldier, added, “I want to help people and keep them safe. I would also love to become an entrepreneur to have my own business. I just want my dreams to come true.”