Sophie Wells is an eighth-grader at Christiana Middle School. She is planning to be a civil engineer when she grows up. After touring Rockvale High School, which is currently under construction and planning to open in August, Wells has a backup plan.
“Construction is a career many people don’t choose and it is something that has openings,” she said. “Who knows, if civil engineering doesn’t work out, construction could be the way to go." “Seeing Rockvale High’s construction site (was) an amazing opportunity.”

Similar to Wells, Allana Barnes had a general interest in seeing how schools are built.
“I never looked into construction before,” Barnes said, “but I feel like it would be interesting.” Wells and Barnes were two of 15 seventh- and eighth-grade students STEM instructor Dawn Powell brought over to the Rockvale site as part of the Trades Week Tours arranged by the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and Rutherford Works.

"While touring one of the construction sites, I learned that multiple companies, and job functions are required to complete a project. It really does take a wide range of skills and knowledge to build something beautiful!” 
 - Rutherford County High School Student

After touring construction sites and new projects in the Rutherford County area, students were surveyed and asked how likely would they be to choose a career in the construction trades. 44% of students said that because they attended this learning opportunity, they would consider a construction trade as a possible career path!