One of the simplest yet scariest questions a high schooler can be asked is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” There are too many options and paths to get to so many different jobs and opportunities. It can get very overwhelming. Do you go to college, join the army, go to trade school, the list goes on?
Many of us know that our school has a career center, but if you’re anything like me, you might have been thinking, “The career center can’t be that big of a help, can it?” Until recently, those thoughts I had associated with the career center. (That, and it’s the place you go to to turn in and pick up some forms.)
When I was sitting in one of my classes recently, my teacher said, “I don’t know if you know this, but you can talk to the career center and have two school excused absences scheduled to shadow someone in the community who has a job that you might be interested in doing someday.” and that got me thinking; How many resources does our school have that, not many people know about? I decided to do some digging and share with you the career center and how it can help you plan for your future. I scheduled a meeting with Ms. Soler and here’s what she had to say about the career center.
In the career center, they help kids from the start of their high school journey to plan for their future. They look at where kids want to live, their careers, and how they want to get there. They help prepare kids for college or any kind of training, and how they can set it up while in high school. There are things here for students new to high school, people graduating this year, and everybody in between. They want kids to understand that everyone has different potential. Some people might be good at the trades classes, the art classes, or maybe the foods classes. Regardless, they can help you find a career based on what you’re good at and find a career path that will help you be successful in the long run.
You can visit four people in the career center: Ms. Soler, the career and college coordinator; two career advisors, Emma Willhite, and Kylie Conley; and Sara, the office admin assistant.
Ms. Soler, the career and college coordinator, coordinates various areas of the career center. She ensures we have teachers and funding and manages many of your favorite classes, such as the trades and the health classes. Our career advisors help with advice and guidance on your college and career path. They also help with things such as dollars for scholars and other scholarships. Last but certainly not least, Sara. She runs the office and coordinates testing like the MCAs, PSAT, AP tests, and FastBridge.
The career center is a treasure trove of resources. Whether you need paper resources, digital materials accessible through QR codes, or personal advice from the dedicated staff, it’s all there for you. You can drop in anytime or schedule an appointment for in-depth discussions about your future.
The career center is not just a place, it’s an active participant in shaping your future. It’s the driving force behind career day (which will soon be twice a year), career spotlights once a month, and various other events like military, trades and union information sessions, job interviews, and field trips. It’s the one-stop destination for all your career-related queries.
