Career fair changes lives

Want to dissect a mosquito? Check out Edmonds Community College's MSSA Racing Team composite car? See a three-dimensional printer in action? Learn how to pack a wound or draw blood? Do pull-ups with Marines?

These are just a few of the myriad hands-on activities and demonstrations that were available at the What about Tomorrow? Career and College Fair, held on October 25, 2006, at the Everett Events Center. Sponsored jointly by Everett Public Schools and WorkSource Snohomish County, the Career and College Fair provides students with the chance to speak with representatives from colleges, technical schools, trades, and businesses.

Much more than a job fair, the Career and College Fair aims to showcase the wide variety of career opportunities that exist in the work world, with a focus on in-demand industries in Snohomish County. New this year, the Fair was divided into marked sections featuring educators, business leaders, and training providers in industry clusters, including biotechnology, health services, advanced manufacturing, construction, and hospitality. Clever metal street signs marked paths to each industry sector area as well as to areas to learn about local colleges and career information.

Emi Fredlund, staff at the Skagit Valley Community College table, noted the College was thrilled to participate in the event in order to showcase the variety of programs they offer students. Fredlund explained that the Fair was providing “appropriate and timely” information to students at a perfect time in their lives. Fredlund had spoken with many seniors in high school and found them well prepared to be at the Fair— they were asking smart questions.

Melissa Webster, a teacher at Cascade High School, noted that her students had overwhelmingly rated the fair either “helpful” or “very helpful.” Webster wrote in an email applauding the Fair that her students “really liked how they were able to meet a lot of people in a short amount of time. They said it made thinking about and planning for the future less intimidating for them. I had two students come up to me and personally thank me for taking them on the field trip because they believe the information they received will change their life!”