FOR some it is the big C word. It strikes panic, fear or a vague feeling of dread.

Surely it won't happen to me -- at least not for a few years -- is often the abiding sentiment.

For others, however, it is an opportunity waiting to happen: A chance for independence and a realisation of dreams. Not to mention money! Welcome to the world of careers.

Yesterday CedarBridge Academy gave youngsters a taste of what awaits them with a first ever Career Day.

More than 40 local businesses were represented at the event -- first thought of in March by a committee of students, faculty and local business people chaired by Student Services head Arlene Swan.

Student organisers -- called "Future Business Leaders of Bermuda'' -- were in charge of registering guests and peers, while others diligently worked at the school office desk.

A stranger to the school would have thought that students were acting as administrators. Why? Because this was Career Day and youngsters were running things.

Ms Swan and Deputy Principal Janette Musson were delighted with the participation of students.

Spread out over the entire day, students could attend up to six workshops to introduce them to the fields of international business, local business, tourism and hospitality, applied technology, health services, and arts and communication.

As the topic areas correlated with the school curriculum, students who had taken the school's Personal Care class were especially lucky if they attended the `Body and Beauty' workshop.

Actively seeking recruits, Ian Egerton was the guest speaker for the workshop.

He was joined by former CedarBridge student Tasha DeVent who was introduced to the company through the schools' Work Experience Programme.

Ms DeVent had also taken the school's Personal Care course which introduced students to hair, nail, and skin care instruction.

When Ms DeVent graduated from CedarBridge last June she sought the necessary training and was then hired to work at the company full-time.

During the workshop Mr. Egerton told students that they needed to think about what they wanted to do with their futures.

And when teacher Nicole Douglas asked about the possibility of "upward mobility'' in the field Mr. Egerton said: "In this industry you can either choose to stand behind the same chair for 40 years or you can move around. You can live in any country and do anything you want in this industry.'' He also encouraged interested students to note that while starting pay was small, dedicated people had made upward of $50,000.

And another high-paying career with many sacrifices was also discussed in Crown Counsel Leighton Rochester's workshop where he encouraged the students not to be drawn into the temptation of making fast money through drug involvement -- something which often happened on the Island.

He added that a lawyer's life was a stressful one where he or she had many enemies, but said that the career was "fascinating'' with a potential to make a great deal of money.

While no one discussed money in the "Computer Technician'' workshop a liberal education was stressed as key to success in the field.

Fifteen-year-old fourth year student Hadas Wolffe asked Joseph Strenk of Gateway Systems what college someone in his field should try to attend.

But Strenk said that he did not have a college answer and would only recommend a liberal education saying that the computer training could come later.

Mr. Strenk also told students that people looking to hire computer technicians "are not concerned with where you were educated, but whether you did well or did you get a degree''.

Having just graduated from college herself last week substitute teacher Takeysha Gibson expressed that helpful information was being given to the students during the day's workshops.

She continued: "All information is good information then you have to decide what you want to do.'' Sixteen-year-old fifth year student Lekisha Woods was happy to have someone like Ms Gibson on hand as she was interested in attending either Clark Atlanta University or another school in area.

As there was much to learn both from the people brought specifically from businesses as well as others like Ms Gibson, Ms Woods said she thought the event should be held annually.

But the greatest Career Day treat was seeing young students like 16-year-old fifth year student Duanjai Lambe emerge from their workshops after having an epiphany. "I really found out want I want to do in life and what I want to take up after the way the rep. from Scandinavian Insurance explained everything. Now I know I want to do insurance,'' Lambe said.