Career Day

Of all the people to speak at a career day I would never nominate me. So that is why the invite to speak at (name redacted) academy was so intriguing. I had assumed it was because real professionals were busy, well, working during the day. It could also be that the guidance counselor is a friend of mine and finds it amusing that despite my apparent lack of interest in work I make a comfy life for myself.
Being asked to go to one of these things really is strange. It means you have to look at the way you got to where you are in life and sum it up in a tidy way, then scrub it of any cynicism. On top of that I felt the need to add some motivational zing, you know "study hard" "life is more than high school" blah blah blah. Instead I decided to omit that and just let them know that life gets better.
So I arrive, immediately surrounded by 50 or more students and maybe 11 other "professionals." (that should read employed adults, nothing more) The idea was that we would each be assigned a group of students, 4 or so, with which we would have lunch and discuss our path through life, schooling, what we do for fun and what our job entails. My four were great. They were eager to hear all about me and I was a star!
Me: Foam. Them: "you sell ...foam?" Yup "like packing foam?" Nope "Spray foam?" Nah. Being overtly vague really got their attention. I elaborated but not so much as to bore them. It was great till Norah the bakery owner arrived. Damn you Norah! These are my students, how dare you take their attention from me! Usurper! Actually Norah is very nice. She does yoga with my wife and I love her scones. So I got over having to share my minions (did I mention I was a bad choice for career day?)
Next were the introductions. We all had to stand and introduce ourselves, say how we got here and what our education was like. The two workers from the shipyard were painful to listen to. While one spoke at tremendous length about the benefits of being a civilian employee of the navy the other passed out brochures. I had a pen and proceeded to improve the pamphlet. Adding such useful things as a shark, a sea monster a few row boats, a giant and a great big wacky water slide to the shipyard.
It is very liberating being in a high school and not having anyone to answer to. I could scan the room and see young adults trying their best to be attentive. But sooner or later it broke down. Cute but slightly bookish looking girl teasing the boy next to her by rubbing her foot up his leg. He trying his best not to grow bright red. All the cast is there but new faces. I won't bother naming them, if you went to high school you know who they are. They are still there, they just have newer clothes and different names.
I continued to listen off and on to the other adults. The chiropractor was slim and dressed casual hip. The librarian was OK, certainly not used to speaking in public. Union boss, RN, Environmentalist/entrepreneur, so on so forth. All got a polite applause after speaking. I conned my table into overt standing ovation prior to my speaking making a Steven Colbert styled entrance to the speaking area.
I can't tell you what I said to them, I know I mentioned I went to college to be a ski bum and then found a career to support my toy addiction. On the serious side I did mention that I found selling anything was about being polite, persistent and observant. I doubt I changed any lives. Odd thing was the chiropractor, entrepreneur, and teachers said they really liked my section. Which was good to ear after all these years skiing I need a chiropractor and I could use a new job Mr entrepreneur.
Career day, it is mighty fun. Who would have ever guessed.