Students think future at Trinity job fair
Published 12:00 am Saturday, April 25, 2009
NATCHEZ — Picking a career is no easy task, but on Friday, students at Trinity Episcopal High School were getting a little help in making their future plans.
Several local professionals attended the event to show students the relevancy between what they learn in the classroom and what they’ll be asked to do in the real world, said Delecia Carey, Trinity’s head of school.
The traditional banker, doctor and military roles were filled, but some at the event spoke on jobs a bit off the beaten path.
Karry Hosford, a freelance food photographer and co-owner of High Cotton, spoke on her work as a photographer for some of the country’s biggest publications.
While Hosford shared some of her trade secrets, like using Scotchgard on pancakes and using long tweezers to make delicate adjustments to food, she also spoke on the importance of being business savvy and the responsibilities that come with self-employment.
“It’s a lot of work,” Hosford said.
Hosford originally began her work as a staff photographer for a food magazine and eventually made enough contacts to begin freelance work.
Hosford said while she enjoys freelance work, it’s more challenging than a staff job and requires a great deal of dedication and responsibility.
“Sometimes it can be scary because you’re not getting a paycheck every two weeks,” she said. “And people have to know they can rely on you. If they can’t, you aren’t going to work.”
While 17-year-old Brandon Daggs said he’s considering a career in sports medicine, not food photography, he was interested in what Hosford had to say.
“She definitely knows her business,” Daggs said. “You need that no matter what you do. She knew what she wanted to do, and she went out and worked for it.”
On the other side of the school in the library, local furniture builder Adam Gwin was talking to a group of young men on the work that goes into his craft.
“Anyone can go into a store and buy a piece of furniture and there will be thousands more like it, but the piece that you make is an original. There will only be one in the world,” Gwin said.
Gwin also spoke on the importance of finding happiness in work.
As a college student, Gwin said he changed his mind, and his major, several times in finding a career.
“I never dreamed this is what I would be doing,” he said. “But there’s a saying ‘If you have a job you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.’ That’s true. Do what you want to do. It may take you a while to find it. But do what makes you happy.”