AgCareers.com and the Clinton/Sampson Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a unique, free program to help students navigate over life’s speed bumps on their path to finding a career that will carry them to success.

The program, entitled, “Is Ur Future Now?” is a youth career planning event that will be held on May 16 at Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship Hall, 100 Church St. in Clinton from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., will feature experienced panelists who will introduce students to strategies that will help them move in the direction of success by opening their eyes to new opportunities and the career possibilities that await them.

“Over the years, parents and high school students come by and ask us how they can or should embark on their career or college career,” said Eric Spell, president of AgCareers.com. “So a bunch of us got together and started brainstorming about what kind of event we could generate for our county to address some of the tough decisions that young people face when they are graduating high school.”

Spell said that the years following graduation is crucial in career development. “What happens during the two or four year period after, will dictate what happens the next 10 years,” he said. “So we formed a committee and decided that this event would be a great way to reach an audience that would truly benefit from it.”

The committee includes, Spell, Matthew and Mary Barefoot, Ashley Collins, Suzannah Holland and Amber Cava.

Event officials are also inviting parents to accompany their children to the program — A special break-out session will teach parents how to provide appropriate guidance for their students as they develop into responsible, career-oriented young adults.

“We are trying to reach and influence, not only 17 to 21-year olds, but we want to reach their parents as well,” said Spell. “The parents sometimes don’t have all the right answers and are caught off guard when they are asked specific questions about it.”

“There is definitely a need for it,” said Matthew Barefoot, who is a local youth pastor. “I interact with children of this age and their parents on a daily basis and there is a need for a program like this that will help the children get prepared for their career.”

“From my personal experience,” said committee member Mary Barefoot, “Being at a close age, and being able to realize the struggles that the students are going to go through, and trying to make head’s or tails of your life at that time ... I wish that there was someone or something like this that would have coached me or advised me or gave me information that I have now, would have made a huge impact on the direction I went. I had to figure it out for myself — this is a great opportunity to where the help will be offered as long as they are willing to listen.”

“I think sometimes the students are under a lot of expectations,” said Amber Cava, executive director at Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce. “The schools provide a lot of good resources, good programs and job fairs. Those are excellent opportunities for students to see what doors are open to them. But it is still hard to see what path they are going to take and if it is the right one for them. It is overwhelming and exciting at the same time, but it can create some anxiety for students and for parents to try and figure out what direction they want their career to go in.”

“Our businesses need capable, strong students that are prepared to enter the workforce,” continued Cava. “It benefits the business community when there are students who go to school, graduate high school and find the direction they are going in and return to Sampson County, or to see the doors of opportunities that are open to them here. Sometimes people don’t realize some of the opportunities Sampson County has to offer them for professional careers or different job opportunities that might interest them. So we think that this is a great opportunity to expose our students to that and help provide them direction that will later nurture the workforce.”

“We have seven panelists, that are all from Sampson County, but have ventured down a different variety of interests,” said Spell. “They are coming back to share their stories for the students. It is important, whether it is a youth minister, a guidance counselor, that these students have resources at their fingertips. Hopefully, one thing we can achieve from this is getting young people comfortable in talking with younger, mature adults in getting advice and direction. Because there are an awful lot of younger adults who have been through that tough period and can share their experiences and let them know that even if people say you are destined for a certain career, it is OK if you change your direction because it suits you better ...”

“It is important to let them know that even though they have set themselves up to do something, it is OK if they change direction,” said Cava. “They have not failed because they changed direction, they are still a success, because change will happen. I think some high school students, especially the ones in early colleges, aren’t expecting that to happen. It is a big eye-opener when it does. This program will prepare you and help understand that.”

Spell agrees.

“This is a program that will give them the tools to be prepared for a change like that,” he said. “We want to be able to have that success so that the preparation is there — to make sure that the students and the parents are ready.”

While the event is free, registration is required. Organizers say that you can register on line at www.chambermaster.com, stop by the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce or call 910-592-6177. If registered with parent by May 14, students will have a chance to win one of two $1,000 scholarships (must be present at the event to win).

For more information on the event, click on to www.isurfuturenow.com.

To reach Doug Clark call (910) 592-8137 ext. 139 or send email to sisports@myclintonnc.com.