Corona, CA - For students at Orange Grove High School, Thursday’s College & Career Fair was about more than collecting information. It was a chance to picture what could come next.
On Oct. 1, students moved from table to table, asking questions, talking with professionals, and learning about opportunities that could take them in very different directions after high school.
The Orange Grove administration and counseling team brought together a wide range of educational programs, employers, public service agencies, and career training opportunities so students could explore different paths and find ones that matched their interests.
Representatives came from fields including cosmetology, welding and metal fabrication, healthcare, automotive technology, packaging, public safety, military service, and conservation. Students also connected with Norco College, Universal Technical Institute, the California Conservation Corps, the Corona Police Department, the Corona Fire Department, Marine Corps recruiters, vocational rehabilitation and training services, and more.
One table offered a particularly relatable perspective. Current Corona-Norco Adult School students came to share the programs they are pursuing and demonstrate some of the healthcare skills they are learning. It gave Orange Grove students the opportunity to hear directly from other students who are actively building skills for their own next steps.
Throughout the fair, students were engaged in conversations with the people behind each opportunity. They could ask what training was required, learn what different careers actually look like, and discover options they may not have considered before.
That exposure matters.
Every student’s path after high school can look different. For some, the next step may be college. For others, it could be career training, an apprenticeship, public service, or entering the workforce. Events like the College & Career Fair help students understand that there is more than one way to build a future.
For Orange Grove students who have already put in the work to keep moving toward graduation, seeing those possibilities firsthand can make what comes next feel a little more tangible.
And sometimes, discovering one new opportunity is all it takes to begin picturing where you might go from here.