Students are getting a closer look at what it means to be college and career ready, thanks to a new initiative at Burroughs High School.
On Monday, Sept. 9, Burroughs High School held its first campuswide College and Career Day, offering students a unique opportunity to explore potential pathways for their futures. The day offered students time to complete career interest surveys, listen to guest speakers, explore different careers and “life after high school” information, and hear about their teachers’ personal college and career journeys.
The College and Career Day series is a new addition to the school and will be recurring after every grading period. The days were earmarked for this purpose in response to an identified need.
“We realize that this is an area that we don’t focus on,” said Principal Carrie Cope. “We need to do more to help students plan for their futures. We’ve tried a few different paths in the past, but they haven’t worked, so we thought we’d try the College/Career Days.”
While activities varied throughout the day, each grade level spent some time completing activities on CaliforniaColleges.edu. These activities were completed in ninth-grade Health and Geography, tenth-grade Modern World History, and eleventh- and twelfth-grade English.
Most of the CaliforniaColleges.edu lessons asked students to begin by completing or revisiting a trio of career interest surveys, which then led to recommendations based on their interests and skills. Students were asked to review their results and “favorite” the career paths that interested them.
Sophomore Alexis Zwierzchowski said, “I think the first College/Career day prepared me for the future by seeing how my interests have changed by taking the career interests test on the California Colleges website and showing me some potential careers that might interest me.”
In some of the other classes, guest speakers were invited to provide guidance to the students. PE students, for example, heard from the U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Moret. Additionally, AP Biology teacher Melanie Branson invited UCLA student Yuki Duong, a Burroughs alumna and past AP Biology student, to give advice about AP classes, college admissions, and life in college.
“I found the tips in the presentation useful, and I will definitely be keeping them in mind when I take my AP tests and when I apply to colleges next year,” said junior Eve Washburn, a current AP Biology student. “I feel more prepared about the application process and going to college.”
Students were also able to research career paths they are drawn to or aren’t as informed about, allowing them to think more about opportunities in life after high school.
“I am glad that we are prioritizing college and career development as a campus,” said Music Teacher Amber Petersen. “I hope that my students gained a curiosity about what might be out there in life after graduation. I also hope that by taking time as a school to think about career and college aspirations, students will also begin to recognize the connections between what they are learning and doing in the classroom, to their future aspirations–as it is all connected. The last thing I hope students get out of the Career and College Days at BHS is excitement and perhaps more of an idea of ‘what’s next’ for them.”
In addition to facilitating online activities and guest speakers, many teachers shared their personal experiences with career paths with the students.
“Some insight I got, especially from teachers sharing their own experiences, is that plans can change, and that’s not bad. It’s part of life and it’s important to be flexible,” said Zwierzchowski
By the end of the day, many students left feeling more informed and confident about their future decisions. Whether they plan to attend college, enter the workforce, or explore other options, College and Career Day offers students the resources they need to begin shaping their futures.
“Students can continue to explore their particular interests relating to their careers, college choices, and particular field of interest,” said Counselor John Hill. “If they have any further questions or need any additional assistance, their school counselors are happy to assist in this process.”
The second College and Career Day was on Monday, October 7.
Reflecting on the faculty input from the previous College/Career Day, administration decided to assign different themes to all departments, in hopes of avoiding repetition.
9th and 10th grade English and 11th grade Social Studies classes focused on creating “brag sheets” for future letters of recommendation or scholarships, while 11th and 12th grade English and 9th and 10th grade Social Studies classes learned about the process of applying for financial aid. 12th grade Social Studies classes were introduced to a guest speaker, Kyle Blades, and the Physical Education classes also had a guest speaker. Additionally, the Math department focused on finances, and the Science department centered on virtual college tours. Visual and Performing Arts classes explored pathways specific to the Arts, while CTE classes learned about the branches of the military.
Students enjoyed the new variety of the exploration and believed it benefitted their understanding of life after high school.
“The second College and Career Day was more inclusive and informative than the first,” said junior Duke Leon-Wegner. “I was able to explore a wider variety of plans after high school, rather than repeatedly learning about the same topics, and I believe it became more beneficial for my future.”
The next College and Career Day will be on Tuesday, November 12.
