Occupation

• In the assessments, students completed a series of science-backed brain games to discover their aptitudes, interests, and matching best-fit careers.
• Students have untapped potential for in-demand occupations but lack a clear understanding of their skills and how they align with careers.
• Workforce Report also prove that students –regardless of gender and race– have the necessary aptitudes to fill the skills gap plaguing many industries today and well into the future.
• Key takeaways include:
  To access the complete findings and report, and see a list of recommendations on how to address the career exposure gap, click here .

• Through the partnership, Connections Academy will introduce students to HOSA's immersive experiences that will supercharge their explorations of hundreds of healthcare occupations.
• Students will get hands-on experience in the healthcare industry, learn about growing opportunities in healthcare careers, as well as meet like-minded students from across the globe.
• The partnership with HOSA is the second for Connections Academy's expanded slate of college and career readiness offerings for middle and high school students.
• Connections Academy plans to launch several HOSA chapters by the end of the 2023-24 school year with the goal of expansion to Connections Academy schools nationwide in future.

• From service dogs and emotional support animals to the pet waiting to greet us at the front door, animals can bring joy, comfort and companionship to our lives.
• As that story highlighted, and as many others will note, burying, embalming or cremating animals is hardly a new practice.
• As it turns out, animals are more frequently getting mentioned in the obituaries of their human companions.

How obituaries are changing

• More importantly though, obituaries give the bereaved a chance to tell a story about someone they loved.
• As recently as 1990, not a single one of the 53 obituaries published on a given Saturday in the Toronto Star mentioned any pets.
• In a sample from 1980 to 2022 containing 3,241 obituaries, only 79 mention animals.
• However, this minor uptick points to a transformation in how people compose obituaries.

Telling personal stories

• The old standard was short notices stating the deceased’s name, age and where they died — all in the space of about four lines.
• In recent years, the mean length has grown to around 40 lines, with some reaching over 100 lines.
• Recent obituaries are also more likely to mention the deceased’s education, occupation or hobbies.

Our furry friends

• It has become more common to mention someone’s pet, or love of animals.
• Beyond the pet’s name, we learn whether they were a “hoity-toity poodle,” a “loyal companion” or “the best dog ever.” Occupation is another staple of obituaries.
• Unsurprisingly, groups like the Humane Society, the Farley Foundation and various nature conservancy groups are growing in popularity.

The new ways we grieve

• Namely, people are placing greater value on nature and non-human animals.
• But the evidence — in obituaries and beyond — suggests people are finding meaningful connection through the natural world and with other-than-human creatures.
• To commemorate the lasting memory of someone they loved, families want to share with the world what made that person special.

Chris Miller does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

• Created in 2017 as a joint initiative between ePlus and Cisco, GRIT was founded in response to the increasing shortage of cybersecurity professionals worldwide, particularly women.
• "1
  "I have had the privilege of witnessing the empowerment, inspiration, and importance of Girls Re-Imagining Tomorrow here at Midlothian Middle School.
• The GRIT program gives the exposure and inspiration to girls that they can achieve success in technology.
• "Girls Re-Imagining Tomorrow is dedicated to empowering and equipping girls with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.