Premier Ewart Brown opened Careers 2010 yesterday, telling students they could one day become the Premier or Prime Minister of Bermuda.

Thousands of students from schools across the Island attended the annual fair at the Bermuda College campus.

This year's event featured more than 80 booths with information on careers everything from the Bermuda Regiment to international business.

Dr. Brown told those present: "The fact is that in 21st century Bermuda, no one owes you a job or an opportunity.

"You will have to do the work, earn the necessary qualifications and display personal standards of excellence.

"Not only could someone here become the Premier, but maybe someone here could become the Prime Minister of Bermuda.

"But you can't succeed if you are sedating yourself with drugs, you can't succeed if you make excuses, you can't succeed if you cut corners, you can't succeed if you don't work hard and you can't succeed if you expect your parents to do it for you."

Speaking a week before he steps down as Premier, Dr. Brown added: "As I leave my political career behind me, I am encouraged. Our young people potentially represent Bermuda's greatest generation.

"You are the culmination of our hopes, dreams and sacrifice. The future is yours, make the most of it."

Labour and Training director Wayne Smith also stressed the importance of hard work to the students in attendance.

"There is honour in every position. I paid my way through school working construction but you need to have an aptitude for it. I could say I want to be a doctor like the Premier, but it might not match my skill set. We want to help you pick a field that suits you."

The two-day fair wasn't intended exclusively for students, Mr. Smith added.

"There are people who are unemployed right now, so if you are interested in starting a new career, we have plenty of opportunities for you too."

• Careers 2010 continues today at the Bermuda College between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.