LOWELLVILLE — By the time students took their seats on Jan. 15, they weren’t just thinking about classes, homework or after-school plans. They were thinking about who they might become.

Career Day at Lowellville brought together professionals from a range of fields to speak with students in grades 7 through 12 about careers, education and the pathways available after graduation. The event was designed to be interactive, personal and practical — giving students not only inspiration but also realistic insight into what different careers look like day-to-day.

The event was coordinated by a planning team led by school administrators and counselors, with support from the Educational Service Center of Eastern Ohio. Gina Saxton, a career counselor with the ESC who works with Lowellville, said the goal was simple — give students meaningful exposure to careers they might one day pursue.

“This year, Lowellville wanted to host an in-person career event for their students in grades 7 through 12 to give them a chance to talk face-to-face with experts in many career fields about their pathways,” Saxton said. “Students were able to choose which careers they were interested in, and we built schedules so they could attend sessions that matched those interests.”

Thirteen career representatives spoke to students during three morning sessions. In the afternoon, students participated in hands-on activities focused on topics such as virtual-reality career simulations, fire safety, law enforcement, finance and the skilled trades. The result was a day that blended exploration, education and engagement.

School leaders — including Principal Tracie Parry, Assistant Principal Jeff Hammond, and school counselors Angela Killingsworth and Alyssa Granitto — worked with Saxton and the planning team to bring the event to life.

What students heard throughout the day was not just about job titles, but about choices, perseverance, education and the reality that career paths rarely follow a straight line.

One of the first speakers students encountered was Ruth Bowdish, managing director of On Demand Occupational Medicine in Austintown. With nearly 15 years at her company and a background that includes psychology, chemical dependency counseling and employee assistance services, Bowdish shared a message many young people need to hear: You do not have to have everything figured out right now.

“Choosing a path doesn’t mean you’re stuck with it forever,” she told students. “Your first job will not be your last.”

Bowdish encouraged students to reflect on what they enjoy, what makes them happy and what skills come naturally to them. Often, she said, it is not the specific activity that matters, but what it represents — problem solving, creativity, teamwork or helping others.

She also spoke about mistakes and setbacks.

“Some mistakes are expected and can be learned from, but others can stay with you much longer than you might think,” she said. “Growth comes from learning, taking responsibility, and not giving up when things don’t go as planned.”

Drawing on her work in employee support and workplace wellness, Bowdish offered practical advice about how decisions made in high school and beyond — particularly regarding social media use, substance use and personal conduct — can affect future job opportunities.

“My goal is for students to leave understanding that success isn’t about having a perfect plan, but about perseverance, self-respect and being willing to grow,” Bowdish said.

Kristen Eisenhauer, a 4-H Youth Development and Agriculture and Natural Resource Educator with OSU Extension Mahoning County, focused on the practical skills students will need when they begin applying for jobs.

Her session, titled “Preparing Yourself for an Interview,” guided students through the basics of resumes and cover letters while also emphasizing the importance of preparation and presentation. Eisenhauer talked about practicing elevator speeches, perfecting a handshake and choosing appropriate interview attire.

For many students, the session offered their first glimpse into what employers look for — and how preparation can make the difference between simply applying for a job and actually earning it.

Tibitha Matheney, a Realtor with Century 21 Lakeside Realty, introduced students to the world of real estate and the many opportunities it can offer.

A lifelong Austintown resident and full-time Realtor since 2003, Matheney has helped nearly 2,000 buyers and sellers throughout the tricounty area. Her goal at Career Day was to “build a bridge” between students and a profession they may not have previously considered.

She explained the education and training required to become a Realtor in Ohio, including completing 100 hours of prelicensing coursework, passing state and national exams, and working under a sponsoring broker. She also highlighted the school subjects that support success in real estate: English, communication, math, technology and social skills.

Matheney spoke about the benefits of the profession.

“No two days are the same,” she said. “You meet new people every day, and you get to help someone with one of the largest investments of their lifetime.”

She also discussed the independence and earning potential the field can provide. With discipline, commitment, and hard work, she said, “the ceiling for earning income is unlimited.” For students interested in entrepreneurship, real estate offers the chance to be their own boss, with relatively low start-up costs and the possibility of long-term financial growth.

For students who love sports but may not see themselves as athletes, Cody Reese offered a look into athletic administration and compliance. Reese serves as Assistant Athletic Director in Compliance and adjunct professor of Sport Science at Youngstown State University, and he is also the defensive coordinator for the Campbell Memorial football team.

He said a career in athletic compliance focuses on ensuring that programs follow NCAA and institutional rules, protect student-athletes, and maintain fairness and integrity. Entry-level positions typically require a bachelor’s degree, and experience gained early can lead to rapid career advancement.

“It’s a fast-paced environment and sometimes stressful,” Reese said, “but it’s very rewarding for someone who loves sports and doesn’t mind going the extra mile.”

DJ Yokley, founder of Your Sports Network (YSN), shared a different side of the sports world — one rooted in entrepreneurship, media and community.

YSN is a regional digital media company that provides live coverage, highlights and stories for youth, high school and college sports across Ohio and Pennsylvania. Serving more than 80 communities, the platform emphasizes local pride and support for small businesses.

Yokley told students that YSN did not happen overnight. It grew through years of learning, risk-taking and believing in an idea before anyone else did. While his education in broadcast journalism and communications laid the foundation, he said the company’s success came from skills developed beyond traditional media — sales, relationship-building, leadership and business management.

“You don’t have to lock yourself into one narrow skill set,” he said. “Learning skills in areas outside your intended career can make you more valuable and open doors you never expected.”

His message centered on determination and adaptability: if you are willing to work, learn and stay committed, you can create opportunities that do not yet exist.

Kristy Hopkinson, a speech-language pathology consultant with the ESC of Eastern Ohio, introduced students to a career many had never considered. With more than 20 years of experience, she said that speech-language pathology is a growing field with strong job demand.

During her sessions, students participated in activities that required them to complete tasks without using spoken language — an exercise designed to demonstrate the challenges faced by individuals with communication disorders.

Hopkinson said speech-language pathologists assess and treat speech, language, voice, fluency, social communication and swallowing disorders. They work with patients across the lifespan, from infants in neonatal intensive care units to students in schools, and from hospital patients to public speakers experiencing vocal fatigue.

“The scope of practice is broad,” she said, “and the opportunities within the field are extensive.”

Representing the health care field, Brian Wharry, vice president of nursing at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital, spoke about the many paths within the nursing profession.

A 2004 Lowellville graduate, Wharry said that he once sat in the same seats, uncertain about his future. What drew him to nursing was his desire to work with people, serve others and make a meaningful impact in his community.

He said nursing offers flexibility, competitive compensation and long-term stability, along with opportunities for advancement into roles such as nurse leader, nurse executive, nurse practitioner and nurse anesthetist.

Wharry traced his own career progression from registered nurse to hospital executive, showing students that growth and reinvention are possible within a single profession.

From health care and education to real estate, sports and entrepreneurship, Lowellville’s Career Day gave students something invaluable: a clearer picture of what the future might hold — and how many different paths can lead to success.

As Saxton noted, the goal was not to push students toward one specific career, but to help them begin thinking intentionally about their interests, strengths and options.

For many students, the conversations they had during Career Day may plant the first seeds of a future career. For others, the day reinforced an important lesson echoed by nearly every speaker: There is no single “right” path — only the one you are willing to explore, commit to and grow into.