Pictured are most of the volunteers who spoke about their jobs during Career Day last Friday.

More than 25 professionals representing a variety of occupations spoke during Vista Verde Middle School's annual Career Day, which took place last Friday, May 30.

According to Maria Leyva, assistant director for the UC Santa Cruz GEAR UP Program, the purpose of Career Day is to give middle school students the opportunity to learn more about the career options that are available to them.

"There are all kinds of different careers out there," Leyva said. "The most important thing for these kids to know is that all these people (the guest speakers) had to prepare for their careers. You can't just stop at high school," she added, as she explained that kids must understand that they need training/schooling that goes beyond a high school diploma in order to enter most occupational fields.

Students at Vista Verde Middle School learned about jobs ranging from law enforcement and fire department positions to banking and architecture.

The guest speakers included: Yessenia Ramirez, Wells Fargo Bank consultant; Charles Howard, Boy Scouts of America; Joseph Estrada, Salinas Valley Optometric Group; Patrick King, Greenfield Dentist; employees from the King City Vet Hospital; Gabriel Dominguez, South County YMCA; Manuel Vega and Ben Rianda, Greenfield Fire Department; Patty Morales, Greenfield School District Nurse; Phil Silveira, Photographer; Rafael Lopez, Chiropractor; Victor Chavez and Raul Garcia, Greenfield Police Department; Jose Gonzalez, Architect; Tony Hernandez, US Post Office; Rafael Vasquez; Lawyer; Natalia Bonilla, Ag Education Program Manager; Luma Serrano Williams, Candidate for Superior Court Judge; Rosalba Guzman, Greenfield School District Parent Educator; Brent Green, Green's Accounting; Linda Lopez, CSU Monterey Bay Financial Aid Counselor; Laura Trujillo, Dental Assistant; Derrel Simpson, Monterey County Sheriff's Department; Lorena Cuffney, Monterey County Probation; John McElmoyl, Pharmacist; and Ricardo Cornejo and Jaime Molina, Social Workers.

Leyva thanked all of the volunteers for speaking during Career Day. "You really make a difference for these kids."