Over 1,000 eighth-grade students from Bear Branch and Magnolia Junior Highs participated in the College & Career Readiness EPIC (Employment Practice Interview Conference) Event on December 5 and 12, respectively. For the past four years, College and Career Readiness teachers Lu Osborn and Roxanne Langley have organized this event, providing students with the opportunity to apply the skills they've learned throughout the semester.

The EPIC Event, held at the end of each semester, allows students to engage in mock interviews where they can practice essential skills such as handshakes, eye contact, and communication. This event is an important part of the College and Career Readiness course, which is designed to help students make informed decisions based on the goals they begin to form while in class.

Students begin the course with a self-awareness process, followed by career research. As part of their preparation for the EPIC Event, they create their first resume, complete a job application, and develop interview skills. The mock interviews give students a chance to build confidence and reflect on both their verbal and non-verbal communication abilities. The safe, supportive environment also allows them to make mistakes and learn how to correct them.

The interviewers are volunteers from local businesses, school board members, administrators, and parents. 40 volunteers were covering over 62 interview slots per event. Thank you to Chick-fil-A for providing lunch for the volunteers and sponsoring this event each year. 

One volunteer shared, “I was, once again, so impressed with our eighth graders. If I had to interview as an eighth grader, I would have fainted on the spot. It is refreshing to see what this group of young folks will do. If you, as teachers, ever wonder if this makes a difference, it certainly does in two ways: 1. It allows community members like me the opportunity to see our bright students, and 2. It gives students an early-age experience of what a job interview may look like. They did great. Thank you for all of your hard work putting this EPIC event together.”

Many students also shared how valuable the EPIC event was in boosting their confidence. They learned how to research the position before the interview, manage nervous energy, and answer questions in a way that would help them stand out from other candidates.