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Last Saturday, members of the Clark County Black and Hispanic Achievers went face-to-face with their potential futures in the George Rogers Clark High School library.

At an event officially christened, “That Could Be Me,” the achievers rotated through discussions with professionals of color about various career possibilities.

And there was a wide variety of vocations to hear about during the 90-minute event.

“We have invited about 18 to 20 professionals of color to come and share their experience professionally, academically, and life information that they can pour into our achievers,” said Vache King, one of the event’s organizers. She also emphasized the importance of the event theme. “The overall goal is that representation matters. It is really important that our little achievers, sixth through 12th grade, have the opportunity to see themselves within different positions in different industries.”

The featured careers ranged from esthetician to accountant to school counselor to executive director of Lexington’s historic Lyric Theater. 

Organizers hoped to inspire the achievers to consider careers that might be off their beaten path.

“It is an opportunity to expand their mind and also a chance for them to see different positions at different companies because it is also important to know that although we need doctors and lawyers but we also need electricians, plumbers, coach operators and architects,” King said.

One of the professionals in attendance was Lexington City Councilwoman Denise Gray, an attorney and a former educator. 

The event was a chance for Gray to help nurture the area’s next generation of leaders.

“Even before I ran for political office, it was always my goal to be involved with our youth’s lives,” Gray said before reflecting on her days as a student. “I remember growing up in Lexington. I never had an elected official that looked like me, and none ever stopped to tell us now what was possible or let us know that we can achieve something even greater.”

And while she said she would not advise everyone to enter the political arena, Gray did have some excellent advice for the achievers. 

“I’ll tell them to find something that they love to do…even right now and see how they can make that maybe that a passion, a career and make money from it,” she said. 

One achiever said he received sage advice from a representative from the Lyric Theater. 

“I was told that your job can’t define who you are and you have to find a job that is best for you in something you like doing, and not to think about the future as stressful but as something fun,” said GRC student David Torres. 

Overall, Torres enjoyed hearing about the different paths that each professional took.

“I liked learning about their experience and how far they came to be where they are,” he said.

While the future is a long way off for Baker Intermediate student Aszzema Salas, one in realty might be the one for her.

“You get to help other people by selling houses,” Salas said when asked why she was considering a career as a realtor. “Sometimes you get to build houses and give your opinion about a house you might buy yourself.”

To learn more about the Clark County Black and Hispanic Achievers, visit the Clark County Equity Coalition’s Facebook page.