Richards High School senior Najah Steave says he’s ready to embark on life’s next chapter, though searching for the perfect college can be overwhelming.
To pave the way for student success, Community High School District 218 hosted its 11th annual College and Career Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at the District Administration Center, 10701 S. Kilpatrick Ave. in Oak Lawn.
“I enjoyed the diversity of the fair as well as the numerous schools that attended because it really showed me how many options I have along with paths for my future,” said Steave, of Oak Lawn.
School officials call the fair one of their favorite events of the academic year.
“Many people think juniors or seniors are who this event is geared toward, but it’s never too early to start thinking about life after high school,” said Julie Kats, a professional school counselor at Richards High School.
The College and Career Fair became a district-wide event several years ago, a move made to accommodate students who wanted to attend with their parents, according to district officials.
Previously, each school in the district—Eisenhower High School, Richards High School, and Shepard High School—hosted its own fair during the school day, and students were the only ones allowed to attend. However, counselors felt that involving parents was an important part of the college planning process.
Now, the fair is held annually at the district office in October and is open to students of all grade levels and their parents or caregivers, including students from the Adult Transition Program (ATP) and the Delta Learning Center. To better accommodate student-athletes and those who work, the event is held in the evening.
“We wanted to provide an opportunity for our students and the community to learn more about different college and career options post-high school,” Kats said. “Rather than having one in each building, we’ve combined our resources to provide one large event that serves our entire district. Having it in the evening allows for parents or guardians to attend with their students too.”
The fair featured more than 100 colleges, universities, vocational and tech schools, and representatives from the U.S. armed forces. Employers specializing in diverse fields—such as architecture, physical therapy, aviation, real estate, and public safety—were also present.
These representatives were invited by district career counselors who have built partnerships over the years, creating networking and collaboration opportunities for students.
“Many of the vendors have been coming for years, but the participants can vary from year to year,” Kats said. “It was great because we had representatives from local communities, like park districts, police and fire departments, airlines, chiropractors, medical careers, trades, cosmetology schools, and lots of colleges.”
During the fair, students gathered information from prospective colleges and careers of interest, meeting directly with representatives to ask questions ranging from academic programs to campus life.
“This allowed them to speak directly with someone who is experienced in that field or a representative from the actual school,” Kats said. “Students also had the chance to ask questions face-to-face and get answers immediately from multiple places in one evening.”
Richards High School senior Sasha Johnson said the event was a valuable resource in her college search.
“I thought the fair was very informational and helpful for me,” said Johnson, of Calumet Park. “I was able to talk to representatives from a few schools that could potentially fit me and my career path.”