Lunch & Learn offers students glimpse into potential careers

There's no shortage of decisions to be made in high school, and deciding what you want to do for your future career is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make.

So, Leopold High School students are participating in Lunch & Learn. Business owners or representatives are invited to the high school during lunch period to give a presentation over all that they do in their profession and the education path that led them to that job. This idea for Lunch & Learn was proposed by Nikki Wolfe, a prevention specialist at Southeast Prevention Resource Center and member of the Leopold community.

After lunch, members of the Business Club go into a classroom to ask more personal questions to gain more information about the guest's career. The goal of this new program is to help these high schoolers find their calling.

So far, Leopold has had three business owners/representatives visit the school. Robbie Arnzen, owner of Leopold Tire & Auto, talked about starting a business. Dr. Colleen Retz taught the Wildcats about what it takes to be a successful and passionate veterinarian. And Christy Reed, co-owner of EC Reed's Mercantile Hotel Soda Shop and Luncheonette, taught the students about how persistence and hard work can pay off in starting your own business.

"This program has really helped inform me more about different jobs than what I would have originally known," Leopold junior Wil Seiler said.

Dr. Colleen Retz, a veterinarian who talked to Leopold students at a Lunch & Learn, checks up on Jackie, the chicken, at a house call.Courtesy of Caryn Rainey