At Jordan High’s Career Day on Friday, students met with professionals from more than 40 organizations, giving them a taste of what it’s like to work at a veterinary clinic, a local theatre, or an architectural firm.

Such experiences are invaluable, and made possible by the generosity of the many industry leaders who step up to volunteer their knowledge, skills and time, said Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan at a kick-off breakfast where he stressed the vital role that professional mentors had in his career. The Jordan career fair was one of three sponsored by Canyons District this year. Similar events also were staged at Corner Canyon and Brighton.

If the idea is to expose students to careers they might like, career fairs also help students rule out jobs that aren’t a good fit, said Superintendent Dr. Jim Briscoe. “These adults are here because they’re passionate about what they do,” Briscoe told the student participants. “Please listen and take advantage of their advice. They have something to share with you of value.”

Briscoe urged students to put aside any preconceived notions that they may have about their desired career paths and keep an open mind. “You have to be the one to decide what you want to do in life” – and better now than before you’ve spent four years at college in studying the wrong subject, he told students.