About 50 members of the business and services community gave a morning of their time to discuss their careers at the Third Annual Career Day on Oct. 17 at California High School.
This year, 55 sophomores from Tipton High School attended alongside ninth-12th grade California students, totaling about 500 participants.
Divided into 19 panels, students selected four professional fields that best suited their interests. Students learned about individuals' career paths and what it takes, educationally and skill-wise, to do what they do.
Career panel topics included business, medical, agriculture, law and enforcement, human services, media, education, engineering and job skills.
The Career Day was one piece of a week-long emphasis on college and career readiness, organized by the high school counseling department. The Fourth Annual Career Day will be Oct. 16, 2018.
A college fair and financial aid presentation were held Oct. 18. About three dozen post-secondary schools and military recruiters, as well as a few area employers, participated.
An Apps and Snacks event Oct. 19 helped seniors complete their college applications, since many schools have December deadlines. And a FAFSA Frenzy night will be open 4-8 p.m. Oct. 26 for seniors and their parents to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Both of these requirements can be overwhelming for seniors and their parents, said Counselor Kim Wilkins.
"One of the main reasons that we chose to do everything in one week, is because it is almost a one-stop shop for our students, especially seniors," Counselor Whitney Toolsey said. "They can explore careers, learn about financial aid, explore colleges and military options, and apply for college - all in one week.
"It's a process, but we are trying to make that process as seamless and stress-free as possible."