By DAWN BONE / Community Columnist

The FCCLA and FBLA chapters at Shelby County High School participated in a walking field trip, Careers on Main.

Over 100 students visited several businesses on main street in Columbiana including the Shelby County Reporter, Rux Carter Insurance, Rush Attorney, The Farm Company, Davis Drugs and the Senior Citizen Center.

At each location, speakers from that company as well as others from the community spoke to the students about a variety of careers.

Representatives from Regions Bank, Edward Jones Financial Planning, City of Columbiana Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Alabama Power and the Shelby County Circuit Court shared with the students.

Not only were students able to hear from a journalist, an insurance salesman, an attorney, a business owner, a pharmacist and a social worker.

They were also able to hear from an accountant, a judge, a financial planner, a sheriff, a police chief and a banker.

The speakers talked about salary, education requirements and job advancement opportunities.

Career Coach Aubri McClendon and Career Technical Education teachers Alana Ray and Ashley Crumpton organized the walking field trip along with the City of Columbiana Marketing Director Elizabeth Smith.

They wanted to expose the students to a variety of careers and the opportunities that Columbiana has to offer.

Many speakers encouraged students to remember their connections with people they are making now, because they will need those connections when they establish their own careers.

They also reminded students to not get discouraged if their career plans change because they all ended up somewhere different than they originally planned.

The speakers encouraged students to develop strong work ethic skills and habits as teenagers so they will be more successful in the future.