ST. JOHNSBURY- "Embrace the dream" was the message of the day at St. Johnsbury Academy's 6th Annual Career and Exploration Day.Middle school students from the Caledonia and Essex Counties attended to learn about the many opportunities that the school's technical education department has to offer.

Kathy Daley, Assistant Director of Continuing Education said, "We really enjoy doing it. The students come and it's a great way for them to learn about the programs that we offer, to learn about different things that can help them for whatever they want to do after high school.

The prospective students received tours around the school from current Academy Students, so they could hear what the school is like from someone who is currently enrolled.

Alumni were also brought in to give their perspective about life after graduating from the school.

Keynote Speaker Mark Gressner said, "Every single thing that you see around you has been fixed, built, or conceived, or drafted, administered by somebody who is proficient in technical education. People are starting to realize it's not where you stick somebody because they can't do something else. It's because they don't want to do anything else."

The school offers many trades, such as auto body, carpentry, and culinary arts.  The culinary arts students run a restaurant on Main Street in St. Johnsbury called The Hilltopper.

The St. Johnsbury Academy plans to continue to host career fairs like this in the future.