As the 2025-2026 school year kicked off, Joel Oviedo, a Holly Ridge Center Employment Consultant, was asked to participate in Career Day at Armin Jahr Elementary PTO School in Bremerton. Career Day was a part of the school’s College & Career Spirit Week, which gives students the opportunity to prepare for and dream about their futures.
Joel volunteered in response to a request from Dr. Emily Peters, a 4th-grade teacher at the school. During the event, community members acted as employers performing mock job interviews with students. District officials were on hand to witness the students’ successes.
Joel had this to say about his experience: “Listening to these kids tell me their hopes and dreams and how they see themselves in the future made me feel like our world is in good hands. Keep up the good work, Armin Jahr!!!
Julie Fairall, Lead Learner and Principal, Armin Jahr Elementary, wrote in a letter to parents, “What a wonderful week it has been at Armin Jahr Elementary! We wrapped up an inspiring College & Career Week, and it was amazing seeing our students dreaming big about their futures.
“Each day, students participated in engaging lessons that encouraged them to think about their journey—from who they are now as elementary learners, to their future as high school students (Go Knights!) and the many exciting opportunities that await them after graduation. Students in Dr. Peter’s class finished the week with mock interviews for local professionals. All of the volunteers shared how impressed they were with our students’ professionalism and maturity!”
Fairall added, “Thank you for supporting these important conversations at home. Together, we are helping our students build bright, ambitious futures!
The students gave rave reviews for Joel, including this note from one participant in Dr. Peters’s class: “Here’s another thank you for doing my interview. You are really nice…I think you were the best. You were very chill, that’s why I liked you. Thank you.”
“Dear Mr. Oviedo, thank you for hiring me for the actress position.”
Joel adds, “When I asked what would you do if being an actress doesn’t work out, she thought about it for a second and exclaimed, ‘then I’d be a singer’.”
“Thank you for coming to us. Thank you for being kind. I wish you good luck.”
