The Duval High School Careers Festival attracted students and staff from all of Armidale’s secondary schools as well as Uralla and Walcha.

Ms Hardman, who is the school’s careers advisor, said she had been overwhelmed by the response. 

“It was a real community of schools event. I just don’t know how to repay everyone’s kindness, generosity and unconditional support,” she said.

The event went so well she could not count the number of people coming or even the number of stalls. 

Some stalls called up at the 11th hour after layout of the event had been finalised leading to some last minute rushes.

Year 11 students Emilie Winter and Indah Westhorpe said the careers festival allowed them to explore what their options were in terms of a career.

Emilie said it was stressful to be going into her final year without a clear idea of what she wanted to do afterwards but the festival assured here there were plenty of choices.

“The careers festival really opens up a lot of opportunities, it’s a lot of choices and there are a lot of different careers for us to go in,” she said.

While Indah too isn’t sure what she would like to do either she is interested in art and found it interesting to talk with professionals working in an art gallery.

This is the second Duval High School Careers Festival with the first one being in 2012.