The De Soto High School Marketing II and Accounting II classes attended the Emporia State University Business Career Day on Oct. 26. Students were able to go to informational sessions about various business careers such as accounting, marketing, financial services and management and business administration, and were also able to visit the Kansas Business Hall of Fame. Over 500 students from around the state were in attendance, as well as several business career professionals.

“De Soto High School doesn’t currently host an event such as this for students, so I believe this is another great way for students to explore future career opportunities,” business teacher Tom Byers said. “It’s also a great opportunity for students to visit a college campus and interact with other students from all over the state of Kansas.”

Byers believed that taking his students to the career day was “extremely important,” because students looking to go into a business career in the future are able to “examine as many career opportunities as early as they can outside the regular classroom walls.”

For senior Myah Robke, who is planning on studying marketing and public relations at Kansas State University next fall, the career day was very beneficial and helped her understand what she wants to do after she graduates from DHS.

“I learned a lot about the different types of majors and what you can go into based on those majors,” Robke said. “I also learned helpful tips from business majors about what to do in college when finding out which direction in business I want to go.”

Along with learning about majors and possible careers in the business field, the students also gained some inspiration for projects in the classes offered at DHS. Byers was able to share things they learned at the career day with his other classes that were not given the opportunity to travel to ESU.

“It’s helpful to always have an idea of what industry is currently doing and gaining insight to the expectations they have for their future employees,” Byers said.

Overall, Robke and other business students at DHS have found the career day and the DHS business program beneficial to preparing for the future and choosing a career to go into. Robke hopes that more students will become interested in taking the classes offered at DHS over the years.

“Business and marketing is definitely something I want to do as a career,” Robke said. “Marketing class has been a major part of my time so far at De Soto, and I have loved every second of it. It gives me a chance to be involved with the school and fundraise for charities and also bring the school closer by planning fun activities for students to participate in.”

The Marketing II class is currently planning their second annual Turkey Exchange, their first annual Gift Exchange and is also busy running the new school store located in the commons.