[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — Wednesday morning, high school seniors from places like Owasso and Jenks learned all about the different jobs available in the Port of Catoosa.

“We’re in Tulsa’s back yard, and honestly, we’re an important cog in Tulsa’s economy,” said Tulsa Port Authority Director David Yarbrough.

He’s not bluffing. The port employs more than three thousand people and moves millions of tons of cargo per year.

“It’s fun to come out here and look at all their opportunities, and see, ‘Oh, there’s something outside of the cubicle,'” said Bixby senior Jacob Mallary.

“Honestly, it seems a lot like the Navy. It’s one big giant family, and everyone seems to feed off each other and meshes really well, and everyone wants to work really hard, do their job,” said K.J. Evans, also a Bixby senior.

Evans is about to go on his first deployment with the Navy at the end of the month, but it’s helpful for him to look at job prospects waiting for him at home once he returns.

“I was definitely interested about deckhands. I thought that was an interesting job, and I thought it’s very good experience with very good pay, obviously,” said Evans.

Not only is the exposure to something new helpful, but also being able to make these connections in person rather than reading a brochure or website.

“Talking over a screen, you can say legitimately anything and people will just assume, ‘Oh, he’s reading from a script.’ But when you’re here and you see the people actually talking to you and saying, ‘Yes, we will help you,’ it’s comforting. It really is,” said Mallary.

Senior year can be a scary prospect, but the hope is to show these students that there are jobs here in Oklahoma, and there are jobs outside of an office building.

Original article published by KTUL can be found here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]