BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Bessie Owens Elementary on Friday looked a little different than any other school day.

Companies and colleges went to the elementary school, and gave kids a chance to network and learn about future career paths.

It was a chance for 400 students to learn about their future beyond the classroom.

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“It’s very important because they understand why they’re going to school, because at this age we think we’re just learning letters, numbers; but as we move up through junior high and high school, we get an idea and understand: I’m learning this to get to this point,” said Loren Anthony the principal at Bessie Owens Elementary.

For each student, a card filled with questions, and an assignment to ask some of the 46 vendors about their careers.

“They’re going to teach us a few things that we don’t know already. It’s going to be really fun today, I’m already liking it so far,” said Jasselle Reyes a 6th grader at Bessie Owens Elementary.

Learning something new, while working toward something they don’t know about.

Plus, they each got a pair of new sneakers.

“I don’t really take care of my shoes, they’re kind of dirty so a new pair of shoes might help me,” said Tobey Villarruel, a 5th grader.

Those shoes were a gift from a shoe store that’s been a part of Bakersfield for three generations.

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“I’ve always tried to give back to the community, it’s important to not just be part of it, but be a giving part of it. Not just a taker, but a giver,” said Rosco Rolnick, owner of Guarantee Shoe Center.

In many ways, the event gave the entire community a chance to give back to local students.

“Kids today, at such a young age, have such great minds. I heard people wanting to be a firefighter, one wants to be in the Air Force, his brother wants to be in the Navy,” said Rolnick.

For Jasselle Reyes, she already has her career in mind.

“I do want to be a police officer when I grow up. I do want to study that, and I do want to go to a training academy for that,” said Reyes.

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