Principal Leandrea Slayton said, “One of the things I loved most about the day was seeing students out there with their parents” Watching families walk from table to table, ask questions, make connections, and talk about the possibilities ahead was a wonderful reminder that preparing students for their futures is a community effort.
We were especially grateful to have Liberty parents and alumni represented among our career professionals. Michelle Valverde joined us to represent real estate, giving students the opportunity to learn about a career from someone who is also part of our Patriot family. We were also excited to welcome Lulua Mandviwala, a pediatrician, who shared her experiences in medicine with our students.
The personal connections made the day especially meaningful. One career representative shared:
“Participating in the career fair was a wonderful opportunity and I am grateful I could be a part of it. I was impressed by the organization, support, and meaningful interaction with the students. Bringing Liberty High School alumni who are now CSUB nursing students made the experience especially impactful. These personal connections can help current Liberty students envision their own future and understand the possibilities available to them.”
Students were encouraged to ask questions and connect personally with each representative. Based on the feedback forms completed after Career Day, students spoke with an average of four to five professionals during the event. The conversations gave students the opportunity to learn about careers they had never considered and, for others, helped confirm a path they were already considering.
Yara Yabbas shared her experience after learning about the field of psychotherapy:
“Despite the emotional toll, therapists have a rewarding and fulfilling job because they get to meet with clients at their lowest and most vulnerable points in life and help them heal, set boundaries, overcome fears and/or trauma. Overall, I liked hearing about her experiences and how much she enjoyed her job.”
For Beckham Davis, a conversation with Caliber Collision helped him see that his passion for mechanics could become a career:
“I learned that I can finally work somewhere as a mechanic and follow my dreams.”
Those are the moments that make Career Day so valuable. A conversation can open a student's eyes to an opportunity they had never considered, provide a connection to someone working in a field they are curious about, or give them the confidence to continue pursuing a career they already have in mind.
Thank you to Vanessa Villanueva Lopez and Amalia Pelayo for helping bring Career Day back to Liberty, and to every business, organization, professional, parent, alumni, and community partner who gave their time to invest in our students. Your willingness to share your experiences, answer questions, and encourage our Patriots makes a difference.
And if you are a business or community professional who would like to be part of Career Day next fall, please consider joining us. We would love to continue growing this event and expanding the opportunities our students have to explore their futures.
Our students' futures matter, and sometimes all it takes is one conversation to help them see what is possible.