The eighth annual Career Connections Expo for 10th-grade students from Iberia, St. Martin and Lafayette parishes is Wednesday at the Cajundome Convention Center in Lafayette.

Designed with the goal of helping high school sophomores identify their career interests and goals, Career Connections is sponsored jointly by area chambers of commerce, economic development groups and various other business and community groups and sponsors.

At the event, students have the opportunity to explore a variety of career opportunities and meet the professionals who perform these jobs on a daily basis. In turn, professionals have the opportunity to share the tools of their careers and their expertise with the workforce of the future.

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A highlight of the Expo is the Reality Store, where students learn about the realities of living expenses by making spending choices in five general areas — transportation, housing, leisure, family life and money tree.

This helps students learn what it costs to support the lifestyle they dream about.

The end result is that students learn about potential career options and become aware of the cost of living. They make the important connection between their education and career choices and their future lifestyles.