Saint Peter Public Schools

Greater Mankato Growth President/CEO Della Schmidt spent time on Tuesday speaking to the eighth grade students at Saint Peter Middle School on the theme of “Your Future, Your Lifestyle. Setting the Path to Success!”

Schmidt, a former president of the St. Peter Chamber of Commerce, stated that the eighth graders are about to transition into an important part of their educational journey when they move up to the high school level next fall, and she wanted to share some information about how they can make wise choices to get the most out of their high school years.

Michelle Doose, Saint Peter Middle School Counselor, shares that this presentation piggybacks on the career unit our eighth graders were taught while in their FACS class in December. Your Future, Your Lifestyle is a pilot program by Greater Mankato Growth that connects local business professionals with eighth-grade classrooms to discuss post-high school life and transitioning into young professionals. Della Schmidt’s discussion topics such as living expenses and in-demand careers, are interesting and important information that students need to be informed about when making decisions about their future careers.

“It’s fun to see students get excited talking about their dream careers or things that they’re interested in doing after graduation,” Doose said. 

The program highlights the financial advantages of pursuing in-demand careers and education pathways that lead to well-paying local jobs in the region's affordable communities. It also contrasts these opportunities with the burden of student loan debt tied to degrees with limited career prospects.

About Greater Mankato Growth

Greater Mankato Growth serves the regional marketplace and advances business development (including talent growth, retention, and attraction), regional livability, and advocacy of the marketplace. This is achieved through community and member events, business services, a variety of talent programs, and advocacy on behalf of members.