College Fair Brings in Different Booths and Opportunities to Engage Grades 11 and 12

By Alice Kauffman (10)
alice.kauffman@fwcsstudents.org

October 6, 2023

Every year, South Side High School holds a College Fair and Career Fair. In the past, these events were combined, but the decision was made to separate them this time around. Seniors and Juniors are invited to meet with several different booths spread around the gyms of the school. There are guests from colleges, military employees, and more. 

“What I did was- the very first year that I did the college fair, I got a list of colleges and contact information from North Side High School, and I used that as my base, and then we just expanded, like we invited more HBCUs, historically black colleges, and universities. I include Ravenscroft, we have so many of our students who are interested in cosmetology,” said Ms. Sheila Leonard (Guidance Counselor). 

There are booths for the Navy, the Army, and other branches. While there’s a large mixture of schools involved, they also have different organizations to join, and things that students can become involved in whether they desire going to college or not.

“I think it helps you get prepared, because it lets you see all of your options. Even though it's a college fair, it has plenty of things and different options, not just ‘Oh yeah, you can go here for this reason’. It gets you prepared a little more than them just telling you that after high school you’ve got to go to college,” said Mikha Thomas (11).

Oftentimes, juniors aren’t alert about the fact that they have to begin picking colleges, and thinking of their future. It’s a stressful subject, and it can be blocked out by focusing on everything else in school that goes on. Students describe it as being crept up on, because they don’t realize how quick it really appears.

“When I work with juniors, I distribute the junior timeline, and by the end of their junior year, they have to have 3-5 colleges picked out. That’s why we did the college fair for juniors and seniors, because we want them to start thinking about it their junior year,” says Leonard.

The most important aspect of the college fair is the preparation it gives students, but it also has many other key attributes. It helps colleges recruit new students, alongside the Boys & Girls Club, and the military. All of these organizations can find new people to help them out, and spread the word of what they do. Staff is short in many places right now, and education is crucial, so showing students when they’re young what opportunities they have is fantastic. Kids may not know what they want to do when they get out of high school, and having other back-up plans can make everyone feel more comfortable.

“It can help them in their future, because I have found out that there’s a lot of kids who don’t have a plan for when they get out. Doing this can guide them,” said Orlando Quintero (Army). 

With the resources that a lot of kids get, they are often uneducated about what scholarships and money they’re able to access. A lot of times, students aren’t told about financial aid (at least in depth) and the funds of college aren’t explained.

“Kids that want to go to college get lots of info, because I’m in Anthis right now, this helps me with my career. You learn about scholarships and money, it’s pretty beneficial money wise,” said Jonathan Hernandez (12).

All of the colleges and people working the fair are supportive of students' dreams, and encourage them to reach out and find their interests, learning what they want to do. The Career Fair is also a very special event that happens later on in the year now, which has a similar focus. Utilizing things like College and Career Fairs, and Gearup, both help you towards your future, and educate you on what schools have to offer.

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