Representatives from various trade schools and other organizations will be on campus Friday in the library from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for the annual Trade Fair, giving students an opportunity to explore a plethora of lesser-known career paths.
“Attending a trade fair is a great way to see what opportunities are out there,” Collin College Nursing representative Amy Wilson said. “Sometimes, it is hard as a high school student to make a decision as to what you want to do for the rest of your life. By attending events like this, students are exposed to lots of different areas that they may have never considered before.”
Friday’s event is designed to aid students and parents in pursuing further education in manners that don’t necessarily include attending universities or colleges.
“Many parents (like me, wanted my son to attend traditional college and that was all I could see) are not aware of the enormous potential of success through the trades,” Lincoln Tech representative Krishelle Hansen said. “When young adults learn information and take it home and share it with their parents, many opportunities can be explored. My son found out about the trades at a school fair and came home and was so excited about Lincoln Tech, he graduated in 2019 and is very successful in his automotive career.”
For many students, attending the trade fair serves as a fun opportunity to explore a variety of different career paths with their friends.
“I think it’s very interesting to see the different stations that are stationed there and it’s a good opportunity to learn more about different career paths,” sophomore Sahana Sethuraman said. “I get a better understanding of things that I can do after high school and there’s also lots of free things that they give.”
These fairs also benefit trade schools, community colleges, and similar organizations by providing them an avenue to promote their trade and recruit new students
“Many students have never considered going to a community college before,” Wilson said. “When they see all of the great things that Collin offers they often start to see the benefits of attending school close to home. These events are a great starting point for recruiting the best students from our area for our nursing program.”
Ultimately, though, the purpose of trade fairs lies in guiding students into a career that they are truly invested and interested in.
“As a parent, I want my children to find a job that they are passionate about and that they love,” Wilson said. “Trade Fairs help students to find the best fit for a career choice. Trade Fairs are just one piece of preparing students to take next steps toward college.”
And, for Hansen, the most rewarding part of trade fairs is when students are able to discover and learn more about all the possible pathways they can pursue.
“They help us help you!” Hansen said. “We all win when a student is enlightened about the trades and opportunities available to them.”
