A common question posed to children by adults.

How about this question: “So what are you going to be now that you’re almost grown up?”

For high school students that are trying to answer that, or have already decided and want to explore their chosen field a bit, the annual Iowa Central Community College Career Day Thursday gave them a chance to do just that.

Grace Amos, a senior at Southeast Valley, got to try her hand at cleaning teeth during a session in the dental hygiene program.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Grace Amos, a senior at Southeast Valley, tries her hand at teeth cleaning Thursday morning during the annual Career Day at Iowa Central Community College. Dental Hygiene Program instructor Cindy DeWall gives her a few pointers.

Using a model mouth with realistic teeth and gums, she went to work.

“I thought it was really cool,” she said.

The potential dental hygienists were also introduced to some of what they might encounter in patients who don’t brush and floss enough or at all.

“She showed us pictures of diseases and gross stuff,” Amos said. “I’ll have to get used to that, but I think it will be a good career for me.”

Some hands-on experience helped Cambrie McBride, 16, a junior at St. Edmond Catholic School, affirm her decision to make a career of it.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Cambrie McBride, 16, a junior at St. Edmond Catholic High School, gives tooth cleaning a try Thursday morning in the dental hygiene lab at Iowa Central Community College during the annual Career Day.

“I think I’m more interested now,” she said. “I’m also interested in radiology and ultrasound. I think that would neat.”

Allison Jordison, 14, a freshman at Fort Dodge Senior High, spent part of her morning learning about computer assisted drafting with instructor Neil Peterson.

She’s considering a career in an engineering field, she’s not sure which one, though.

“I discovered what types of engineers there actually are,” she said.

Peterson enjoyed working with the high school-aged students.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Fort Dodge Fire Department Lt. Jeff Hill talks to a group of students Thursday morning about a career as a firefigher during the annual Iowa Central Community College Career Day.

“They have no preconceived notions,” he said. “They’re very open minded and excited. It’s a lot of work, but when you see the interest it’s exciting. It leaves you with energy.”

Almost every field of interest was represented Thursday along with almost all of Iowa Central’s programs including fire science and criminal justice.

Iowa State Patrol Trooper Paul Gardner spoke to a group of students about his duties as a trooper after some good natured ribbing about doughnuts.

“I have an unmarked squad so it’s easy to go get them without being noticed,” he joked.

He started his career in law enforcement with a city police department.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Allison Jordison, 14, a freshman at Fort Dodge Senior High, works on a CAD program Thursday morning during the Iowa Central Community College Career Day. Jordison is considering a career in engineering.

“I’ve worked both the blue side and the brown side,” he said.

The work is different. Gardner and the other troopers deal primarily with traffic enforcement, accidents and helping stranded motorists.

“The police departments get a little bit of everything,” he said. “They have a wider variety of duties.”

Getting hired as a state trooper is a tough process. After the initial application, interviews, polygraph test and psychological testing then there’s 20 weeks of academy.

“It’s very much like boot camp,” he said.

Lenny Sanders, the head of the fire science program and Fort Dodge firefighter Lt. Jeff Hill spoke to a group about firefighting.

“Adaptability is very important,” Sanders said. “Firefighters were the first to use a magazine as a splint. You arrive with a patient at the ER and they look at it and go, what’s that? It’s a splint, it’s the February issue of The Splint.”

Firefighting is more than a career or a job.

“We have two families,” Sanders said. “We have one at work and one at home.”

Hill talked to the students about how a firefighter carries the professional ethics and behavior with them wherever they go.

“We have a public image and a public trust,” he said. “We carry what the ones that came before us earned in the past.”

The nature of the calls has changed too.

“Four out of five of the calls are for EMS,” Sanders said. “Once in a while things do catch fire and we can do what we love to do — put them out.”