MSJ Career Fair inspires students to explore future pathways

By Staff Writer Jessica Cao

Hundreds of students and parents gathered at MSJ’s Career Exploration Fair on the morning of January 24, filling the B-Wing with conversation. After months of  planning, outreach to speakers, advertising, and coordination by MSJ DECA, L2 Community Committee, MPPFA, Business Pathfinder, and the MSJ College and Career Center, the campus was transformed into a space that encouraged students to imagine possibilities beyond the classroom. Booths from MSJ DECA, the U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marines welcomed eighth to 10th grade students with informational materials as the rest of the fair unfolded in the classrooms lining the B-Wing, where professionals from a wide range of fields introduced their careers in 30-minute seminar-style presentations.

Parents and students selected which presentations to attend, moving from classroom to classroom to hear about paths in engineering, medicine, research, law, business, public service, technology, media, education, and more. The atmosphere of curiosity and engagement made the fair especially successful, as attendees left not only informed, but excited about the range of futures they could pursue. “[It] really opened up more opportunities [for me],” said Hopkins eighth grader Vaishnavi Bansal. “Knowing that I don’t have to stick to one career [and] can explore more ideas, careers, colleges, and other opportunities, really help[ed] open my eyes.”