Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work in business, law, or medicine? What about marketing, finance, or the arts? Well, last week, Graded students had the opportunity to learn directly from different professionals and parents about their jobs, how they got to where they are today, and what advice they would give to those currently experiencing the pressure of high school. Even though this was the very first year our school hosted an event like this, Career Week was a total success! Students overall were engaged, asked interesting questions, and left feeling inspired after the talks.
Multiple parents explained to students that it’s totally okay if you don’t know what you want to do at this point in time. And even if you do (which is great), it doesn’t necessarily mean you are locked into that path for the rest of your life. In reality, it’s the opposite. Your work life isn’t going to be a straight line going up. There will be turning points, downs, ups, and along the way, new opportunities.
Organization-wise, the school sent out an email encouraging parents to sign up to share their experiences. Thankfully, more than 30 were interested! Even though it may not seem like a big deal, events like Career Week can have a powerful impact on students. Naturally, as we are in high school, there is constant pressure, whether it’s about grades, social life, or after-school activities. However, when adults who have gone through the same doubts and struggles talk openly and honestly about their work lives, it can really help students who feel anxious about the future or unsure about what they want to do.
A week prior to the talks, the school sent out a Google Form that all high school students were required to fill out. There were a variety of options, such as business, real estate, the arts, and law. Students were then encouraged to select three based on their preferences. The interesting part is that, for one day, the OCC purposely assigned students to sessions that had nothing to do with the interests they selected.
Personally, when I first heard about this, I thought it was absurd. However, later on, I realized that this is actually important if people want to truly open their minds. Sometimes we get so used to what we like that we don’t leave our comfort zones. It may sound a bit silly, but I heard from students myself that what they first thought they would hate actually turned into something they enjoyed. Who knows if they would have discovered that if they hadn’t been pushed a little?
If this year is any indication, this event has a lot of potential to become a Graded tradition. Whether students left feeling inspired or just a little less stressed about the future, this week achieved its purpose: opening students’ minds to new possibilities.
