Poplar Springs Elementary School’s auditorium in Meridian buzzed with questions Thursday morning.

“What do you like most about your job?

“How did you get started?

“Is it hard?

“What courses did you take?

“How many hours do you work?

“What do you get paid?”

The school held its first career day, inviting people from the community who flew Navy jets, baked cupcakes, coached football, taught classes, played music, drove tractor trailers, played music, put out fires and worked in the many other businesses, services and agencies that make up a community.

“We had about 40 to 50 people come in from our community to give them their time and let them ask them questions about their jobs and what it entails and gain more information, because we want our students to realize it’s never too early to start thinking about college,” librarian Bethany Garrett said.  “It’s OK for them to start thinking about it now.”

The idea came from Garrett, a fifth-year educator, and school counselor Hayley Shirley, a 25-year educator who had participated in a similar program at another school.

Poplar Springs is presenting a job and careers unit throughout the school. Pre-K to second-grade students have had visitors to their classroom, and the fifth graders will also take field trips to Meridian Community College and Ross Collins Vocational Center.

Around 250 students were encouraged to visit each of the tables that lined the walls and the center of the auditorium Thursday, although jet pilots and firefighters appeared to be the crowd favorites.

“They had the opportunity to go around to each table, ask questions and gain information and start mentally preparing for their future … whether it’s college, or a stylist or an alternative route,” Garrett said.

The fifth graders came prepared with notebooks, some asking thoughtful questions, and writing diligently.

It turned out students who worked for the school newspaper, Aiden Clay, Ray-lyn Tucker, Sarah Dudley Reed and Ella Coleman, were among them.