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What am I going to be?

St. Edmond Elementary holds career day

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Mary Ella Gruever, right, contemplates whether the two cakes on the table are real or not during Career Day at St. Edmond Elementary School Tuesday morning. The cakes — foam interior, real frosting — were part of Kaitlynn Stewart’s, owner of Hummingbird Confections, presentation. Her classmate, Adelyn Bangert, center, works on solving the riddle too.

“What are you going to be when you grow up?”

It’s a common question adults ask children.

On Tuesday morning, kindergarten to fourth-grade students at St. Edmond Elementary School got some exposure to a variety of career options that might help them answer that question with something new during Career Day.

One of those talking about her career, Hummingbird Confections owner Kaitlyn Stewart, let them know that the answer to that common question can be written in cake icing instead of stone.

“It’s OK to not know what you want to be when you grow up,” she said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Mike Crimmins, owner of Crimmins Welding and Fabrication in Fort Dodge, shows a group of St. Edmond Elementary School students the sparks his grinder produces during his presentation at Career Day.

She didn’t plan on having the career she has.

“I went to school to be an agronomist,” she said.

Her job has some fringe benefits that the students really liked.

“I get to eat cupcakes,” she said. “That’s right, I get to eat dessert for my job.”

She also stressed that no matter what career the students end up in, paying attention in school is important.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen St. Edmond Elementary School kindergartner Lauren Scott examines a piece of fabricated metal Tuesday morning during Mike Crimmins’ presentation on his welding career during Career Day.

“Pay attention to all your subjects,” she said. “You never know when you’re going to need them down the road.”

One student, apparently a fan of cooking shows, had an important question for her.

“Are you on TV?” they asked.

“No,” she replied, “I’m not on TV.”

Becoming a welder is also an option that the students got to explore with Mike Crimmins, owner of Crimmins Welding and Fabrication in Fort Dodge.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Dr. Maria Drzycimski shows a group of St. Edmond Elementary School students a classic oversized mouth and toothbrush Tuesday morning while taking to them during Career Day about her career as a dentist.

He talked about how important safety is in his profession.

“The light that a welder makes is as bright as the sun,” he said. “It can burn your eyes, it can burn your skin. We use safety all the time in the welding shop.”

He also stressed the importance of doing a good job no matter what career they choose.

“We always do our best at what we make,” he said.

One student was amazed at the number of things Crimmins has worked on and was curious that one common item might have been left off the list.

“Do you work on refrigerators?” the student asked.

Turns out, he has, on large commercial units.

He’s also letting his two sons, Matthew Crimmins, 7 and Mark Crimmins, 5, experience his craft first hand. They had made two projects that were on display.

“They made these two,” he said.

The students also learned a bit about law enforcement careers from Fort Dodge Police Department School Resource Officers Joelyn Johnson and Bryce Presswood.

They were fascinated by the 25 pounds of gear each carries on their duty belts.

“My gear is about 25 pounds,” Johnson said. “How much do you guys weigh?”

Turns out, some of them weigh only five more pounds than her gear.

The students were also fascinated by all that equipment, handcuffs, pepper spray, taser gun, duty weapons, radio gear — the works.

“The handcuffs are to keep everybody safe including the bad guys,” she said.

She also let the students know that her duty weapon is her last line of defense.

“I’ve been on the force for 10 years,” she said. “I’ve never had to fire my gun on duty.”

Some of that gear was waiting for the officers outside in their parking spots.

“We also have a computer in our car,” she said.

One observant student knew all about the lights.

“The lights are two different colors,” the student said. “They’re red and blue.”

Dr. Maria Drzycimski spent a lot of time in school before she was able to become a dentist.

“I was in school about 22 years,” she said. “Imagine that.”

She also gave credit to the important support staff that allows her to practice. Those include dental hygienists, dental assistants and office staff.

“It’s not just me in the office,” she said.

Many of the students learning about her career are in various stages of getting their adult teeth.

“Do we have any wiggly teeth?” she asked.

Almost all the hands in the room went up.

Once those adult teeth come in, she wants the students to keep them.

“My goal is to make your teeth last till you’re 100,” she said.

About 15 professions were represented at the Career Day including nursing, farming, electrician, surgeon and even the priesthood.

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