“Be Pro Be Proud” Truck Brings Career Pathways to Life

Right before Thanksgiving break, 8th grade students from A.L. Stanback, Gravelly Hill, and Orange Middle Schools were given an opportunity to explore trade skills through an immersive, hands-on experience aboard the Be Pro Be Proud Truck!

Using virtual reality (VR) to help students try out a world of careers—all in one mobile room—the truck makes scheduled stops at schools in eight states. 

In North Carolina alone, the program has made 324 tour stops and engaged nearly 85,000 students since its launch in October 2022, and Orange County Schools had a whole week for students to try their hand at various trades.

“The Be Proud Be Pro Truck gives students the opportunity to learn about the possibilities for careers and trades without having to go out on the jobsite so they can be right here and try eight different simulations,” said CTE Career Development Coordinator Stephanie Smith. 

During each class visit, students worked in small groups for about 45 minutes exploring future career pathways from fiber optics, robotics, and 3D printing to Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), welding, construction, and truck driving.

Be Pro, Be Proud aims to inspire young students to explore career options in technical fields and "get their feet wet," explained Tour Ambassador Jasmine Mason.

For Tour Ambassador Justin Dull, engaging 8th graders is especially critical as they begin to plan for high school and think critically about their futures.

“[The students] have to start filling out surveys and questionnaires about what to do when they get to high school. They’re already being asked about their career path,” Dull said.

Acknowledging that not every student will pursue a technical career, Dull emphasized the importance of giving students options and helping them develop a post-graduation plan.

“We want them to have some idea before they leave high school,” he said. “We’re hoping it clicks with them—that they can have a future, make money, do something they enjoy, and avoid struggling.”

Reflecting on their experience with the Be Pro Be Proud truck, Orange Middle School students in Jeffrey Faulkners class revealed that they were able to explore careers they may not have been aware of and the opportunities available to them in high school. 

“We did simulations to discover new career ideas. We learned about careers that we can practice even in high school. I have a newfound idea of what life and a job would look like for someone who works in the technical field,” one student said. 

In addition to middle schoolers exploring potential career paths, high school students from Cedar Ridge and Orange High Schools also trained on the machinery to volunteer as ambassadors and guide their younger peers in exploring trades.

Want to learn more about future career pathways? Join Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers on Tuesday, December 10 at Cedar Ridge High School for hands-on learning at the Grades 6-12 CTE Fair! Food truck at 5:30 p.m. and interactive sessions starting at 6:00 p.m. For more information visit https://bit.ly/3VvygWu 

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