Last Friday, April 14th, the San Gabriel Valley region of Options for Youth Public Charter Schools (OFY) held their second annual College and Career Fair at the Irwindale school site. Students had the opportunity to gather information, meet with representatives one-on-one, ask questions about transitioning from high school to college, and explore careers they might be interested in pursuing.
Glendale Community College, Pathways College, Pasadena City College, and Platt College were on hand to talk to the students about obtaining an Associate or Bachelor’s Degree after graduation. Representatives were available from law enforcement, emergency services, entertainment, health, and real estate to talk about the career opportunities in their companies and industries. Participants included California Highway Patrol, L.A. County Fire Department (Walnut Station 61), L.A. County Probation Department, L.A. County Metro, Irwindale Police Department, American Red Cross, Southern California Laborers Apprenticeship Program, KTLA, PetSmart, COPE Health Solutions, COPE Health Scholars, Citrus Valley Health Partners, Healthworthy, and Keller Williams Executive.
OFY strives to provide students with meaningful experiences that will enhance their college and career readiness by providing them with tools and pathways for their future. Students participated in a resume building workshop and a career identifying survey to help prepare them for life after high school. “Our vision for OFY is to continue providing these valuable opportunities to help our students feel confident and informed about their future options,” said Student Advisor Sarai Acosta-Alonzo.
This year, more career industries participated and introduced the students to fields and employment opportunities that many knew nothing about. “Helping our students gain knowledge and access to an array of possibilities is the goal of the fair and we are excited to see how our event has grown this second year,” Acosta-Alonzo continued. “The fair was a great way to engage our students who might not otherwise have exposure to local colleges and businesses, and make them aware of the many options they will have upon graduating.”
