Cumberland County Schools Providing Students With Unique Career Fair

Let me begin with, a big Beasley Media Fayetteville high-five to the Cumberland County School System. On Friday, February 9, Cumberland County Schools will have a Career Fair for students.

The purpose of this event is to proudly show students the many careers that are available right here in Fayetteville and in Cumberland County.

The Career Fair will be for students who are currently in grades 8 through 12 and will be held in the Crown Expo Center from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Considering that every student in grades 8-12 will be attending the Career Fair, Cumberland County Schools is encouraging anyone who owns a business along with all post-secondary institutions to take advantage of this opportunity and use this event to recruit students into future careers. For students attending this Career Fair, let me encourage you to step out of your comfort zone.  Now, what does this mean?  This might mean sticking your hand out and meeting someone that you don't already know.  Trust me, I understand how stressful meeting strange people may be.  Just do it anyway.  Extend your hand, give a firm handshake, give a smile and introduce yourself.  You never know where this chance meeting might lead years down the road.  Here is a little tip for you.  Stand in front of a mirror and practice introducing yourself.  Yes, this will feel uncomfortable but I can promise it will help immensely during the Career Fair.

If you'd like your business be a part of the 2024 Career Fair, just click here.

Available for this year's student Career Fair are 5 levels of sponsorship packages. The levels are Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. If you would like to become a sponsor, contact Megan McMillan at 910-487-2001.

For more information on being a sponsor, you can also click here.

Sponsors, click here for the "More Information" section.  Here you will find lots of great ideas of things to do and exactly what to have on hand the day of the Career Fair.

As we step into the New Year, it's a great time to clean up our homes and get a fresh start. A survey by Cinch Home Services found that many people have been on a cleaning spree. According to the survey by the home warranty provider, 70.3% of respondents have engaged in a cleaning spree since the start of last year, with 62.6% expressing a "very or extremely" committed attitude toward maintaining cleanliness. Despite these efforts, 45.9% still admit feeling embarrassed about the current state of their living spaces.

In light of these findings, it's worth considering the impact of physical clutter on our cognitive processes. Researchers at the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and other brain-mapping tools, discovered that an abundance of objects in our visual fields hinders information processing. Essentially, the presence of too much stuff limits our ability to focus on the task at hand.

Additionally, a sleep study conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine revealed that people sleeping in cluttered rooms are more prone to developing sleep problems and are at a higher risk of developing hoarding disorders.

Recognizing the challenge of finding motivation for decluttering, The Spruce, a home and lifestyle website, provides helpful tips. They recommend using a decluttering checklist to simplify the process, making decisions about what to clear out more manageable. Additionally, using such a checklist allows you to track your progress by checking items off as you work through it. It’s a simple yet motivating and empowering act.

The Spruce recommends focusing on little victories instead of trying to tackle everything at once. This makes the whole process less overwhelming.

For more help, The Spruce breaks down which rooms to clean first and what items to get rid of in each room.  You can find their complete guide here.

Check out some of the top items below.

Expired items take the lead on their bathroom decluttering agenda. This includes makeup that has expired or is no longer used, along with medicines and prescriptions that have reached their expiration date or are no longer necessary. Additionally, items like dried-out nail polish, skincare products, and makeup samples are on their bathroom declutter list.

Paper clutter tops the list for decluttering the bedroom, followed by books that won't be revisited and old magazines. It's perfectly fine to part ways with these items, especially if they've been sitting around gathering dust. You can even opt for something digital instead of having paper as your go-to.

A common decluttering challenge we all face is the overflowing closet. According to The Spruce, the first step is to address clothes that no longer fit. They also advise getting rid of items that haven't been worn in over nine months.

When it comes to your kitchen, duplicate kitchen tools take precedence on their decluttering list. This includes items like extra vegetable peelers, bottle openers, and garlic presses. They also recommend getting rid of appliances that you use only once a year or less. Yes, even if it's that toaster oven collecting dust on your counter.