Participants in College and Career Fair Share Real-life Experiences
Avondale High School students had the opportunity to explore various post-graduation career and education paths during the school’s annual College and Career Fair. More than 50 representatives from industries including manufacturing, health and medicine, automotive, human services, marketing, computer technology, real estate, finance, teaching and more met with students as they made their way through the maze of presenters. “When looking at options for your future, you need to take advantage of events like this and other resources available at the school,” presenter Casey Colussi from HelloWorld shared with a group of sophomores. “As a kid, I didn’t have resources like this when it came to career exploration. I didn’t have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with people engaged in the careers I was interested in. There wasn’t a chance to ask the pointed questions that you are able to ask,” he added.
Avondale High School students explore a career in the medical field during the school’s College and Career Fair
The students spent the day asking about everything from wages to education requirements to benefits and perks. The representatives spoke with candor, sharing their first-hand experiences and giving the students tips to avoid pitfalls that befit every career. “That’s the real value of the College and Career Fair,” said Avondale High School teacher and one of the organizers of the event, Tim Morton. “The industry reps share the insight that you can’t get from reading a text book. The face-to-face interaction is powerful; the students get real-life information as they move forward with their real-life plans. This is a chance to really explore options as a good fit for them,” added Morton.
Likewise, the discussions between the students and the college representatives focused on finding the post high educational experience that will be a good fit for what the students want to accomplish in their professional lives. Representatives from West Point Military Academy, Baker College, Oakland University, Michigan State University, Michigan Tech, Madonna University, Central Michigan University, University of Michigan and others provided the ninth- through twelfth-graders with information about obtaining two or four year degrees, as well as information about certification and accreditation programs. Students learned the paths they will need to take in order to achieve their professional goals.
Morton likes the College an Career Fair even if the students are not ready to commit to a career plan. “Even though it might be early for some of our younger students to decide their career path, it’s not too early for them to be exploring, asking questions, researching – learning what they need to know to make an informed decision. Part of all that data gathering has to include conversations with people working in their field of choice and people pursuing post high school education in their field of study,” explained Morton. “The information gathered at the Fair is probably some of the most valuable information the students will get as they move toward their career goal.”
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