At 13 or 14 years old, few students are thinking about their career path. But under Amanda Schmitt’s new program, they’ll have an opportunity to start thinking a little sooner—and that’s a good thing.

This fall marks the launch of Schmitt’s Career and Technology course at Harrisburg Middle School. A veteran of the classroom for 17 years, Schmitt has spent her career teaching everything from math to English, but this course is something different. It’s not about memorizing order of operation or conjugating verbs—it’s about finding the first sparks of a future.

“I’ve always loved middle school,” Schmitt says, smiling. “There’s something about this age. They’re still impressionable, still soaking everything in, but they’re old enough to start shaping who they’ll be.”

The class, a blend of career exploration and practical skills, aims to help students discover their strengths and interests before they even set foot in high school. It’s a program steeped in soft skills, such as teamwork, communication, and time management, that Schmitt emphasizes are essential no matter where life leads. The students aren’t just learning—they’re practicing the skills they’ll need in a professional setting.

“It’s about giving them a taste of the real world in an ageappropriate way,” she explains.

What’s particularly unique about Schmitt’s course is the structure. From resume writing to job shadowing, the students are thrown into a mini version of life’s realities. For Schmitt, it’s all about offering these young minds a career ‘buffet,’ where they can explore options they may have never considered. There’s also the practical component of using tools like Canva and Google Slides to design presentations, skills that are becoming more crucial in the modern world.

Illinois’s state guidelines, called Illinois Postsecondary and Career Expectations (PaCE), form the backbone of the class, but Schmitt’s magic touch is what makes it resonate with students.

One of the standout elements of the class is community service. “They’re encouraged to complete at least four hours of service throughout the year,” Schmitt says. “It’s not mandatory, but it’s a way for them to engage with the community, and we’ve had some wonderful responses.”

In a place like Harrisburg, where community ties run deep, this part of the course is not just an assignment—it’s a gateway to fostering long-term relationships with the local businesses and organizations that sustain the area. Some students have already begun volunteering at Heaven’s Kitchen, a local soup kitchen that serves the broader community, giving them a sense of purpose and connection outside the classroom.

Schmitt is also excited about the job-shadowing component. While some students might envision traditional careers like doctors or teachers, Schmitt is open to showing them a wide range of possibilities. In fact, Schmitt shares a story about a nearby district where a student shadowed a mortician, loved the experience, and ended up owning the local funeral home years later.

“You just never know where life is going to take you,” Schmitt says. “The important thing is giving them the tools to explore.”

At the core of Schmitt’s teaching philosophy is the belief that it’s never too early to start building a vision for the future. “I want them to have an idea of what’s out there—not just in Harrisburg, but in the world. And I want them to feel confident going after it.”

It’s clear that Amanda Schmitt isn’t just teaching a class— she’s laying the foundation for her students’ future success, one assignment, one conversation, one career shadow at a time.