News Brief

A big day out-Career Expo 2011
Thursday 15th was a big day for all college students on the island as they got to attend the 2011 Career Expo held at the TSA [Telecom Sports Arena]. The event started in the early morning for the year 12 and 13 students, who at this time in their life should be keen to decide what they would like to do with their life career wise when they leave school.
Students were busy sorting through pamphlets and asking questions about optional career paths with the businesses who have volunteered to take part in the event. There were a lot of options to choose from compared to last year’s event with the new participants Nelson Aviation College, NZ Fashion Tech, and the University of Waikato and the Manukau Institute of Technology.
Besides the serious side of Career Expo, some booths held small competitions and demonstrations. The Times spotted Police Officer Lisa Tatakura cuffing students for their entertainment at the Cook Islands Police stall and boys taking chances to score a bull’s eye on the dartboard to win prizes from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management booth.
“This is not my first time attending the Career Expo, but it might just be my favorite, I got to be a DJ, it was fun,” commented Tereora College student Chloe Tiati, on the 88fm’s booth. The USP booth was a big hit with some of the College boys from Mangaia, as they bravely performed a mean dance number [ and this is not Cook Island dancing] in front of the large computer camera which has been popular with students at every Career Expo held since 2007.
Altogether it has been another successful year for the Career Expo organizers as students from all over the Cook Islands, students from the Disability Centre and members of the public who had attended thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Career Expo Ambassadors 2011
At the 2011 Career Expo on Thursday at the TSA [Telecom Sports Arena] the Times spoke with the teen helpers of the day, the Career Expo Ambassadors who are a mixture of Aitutaki students here on break from school for the Career Expo and Tereora College Students.
Word was sent out to all college students by their teachers or mentors on the island, that if they would like to, they could apply to be Career Expo Ambassadors for 2011. The Ambassadors were chosen at random and had the job of taking care of the booth occupants and guiding other students to their chosen career cubicles.
“There are only three of us from Tereora College who got picked out of the 12 chosen Career Ambassadors,” said Ruanne Thomas a year 12 student.
“We got to look after the businesses occupying the booths, but at the same time just having fun,” said Iva Vakalalabure.
Though the majority of students selected were from Aitutaki, it did not get these girls down as they mingled and made new friends with their fellow Career Expo Ambassadors.
“Being here is awesome, I’ve had a lot of fun mixing with old and new friends from other schools,” said Aitutaki resident and college student Carol Hewitt.

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