Seniors Nicholas Ortega and Kenneth Nelson Jr. come correct for the SYEP Job Fair as life after high school is here.
Sophomore Matthew Darnowski knows the importance of a good handshake and eye contact when meeting prospective employers.
For high school students, and many people in general, it is often difficult to think beyond the day at hand. With so many responsibilities, demands on time, and efforts to simply enjoy one’s life, it is easy to get caught up in the here and now and not consider what life could be in the coming weeks, months, and years. However, the future is out there, and, in order to prepare for its challenges, one must plan and prepare. Such preparation is something that many WHSAD students having been taking advantage of through the SYEP program. Students receive hands-on learning opportunities so that they can more seamlessly adjust to life after high school. Additionally, hired students fulfill their pressing immediate needs by making a nice paycheck.
Below, student correspondent Jeremy Ceballos provides his insights along with prospective student employee’s thoughts regarding the June 1st SYEP Job Fair.
Students were informed to “dress for success” for the SYEP job fair, and these dapper young men were happy to oblige.
This job fair was a great opportunity for everyone involved. Students were given the chance to pursue a job in a field of interest and explore if that work is something they might want to do in the future. Students also got some networking skills from speaking with all the different people, making good impressions and possibly landing a job now or after high school. This job fair gave students a sense of what they want to do after high school by providing a head start now.
Organizations at the Job Fair were Burlington, Two by Two Childcare, Brooklyn Research, Brooklyn Community Service at P.S. 306, The Mount Carmel (Early Childhood Center), and Garden Project.
Aldair Torres, Junior: “I choose to be in retail because my weakness is I’m shy and I don’t like to stand out with the whole population. I feel like in a way if I worked in retail it can help me work with other people and communicate better.”
Kenneth Nelson Jr. applies some interviewing techniques he learned from his participation in SkillsUSA.
Kenneth Nelson Jr., Senior: “Today we are having our interview for jobs over the summer. I will be going to Research Labs to further benefit myself when I go to college. The Research Labs would help me get a better understanding of how research is conducted and how I should go about doing my research when I get to college.”
Taras Lapan, Sophomore: “I’m looking for mechanic engineering, working with cars. I love cars; it’s like a passion for me as I’ve always been interested in cars. I want to learn how cars work.”
Guadalupe Hernandez Sosa, Senior: “I was part of the Pratt Young Scholars program, and I have developed creative skills over the past three years in the program, and art is one of my passions. This gives me an opportunity to test out if I really do like these things and gain new experiences.”
Sophomore Charlie Gutierrez approaches his interview in a mature and deliberate manner.
Charlie Gutierrez, Sophomore: “Brooklyn Research does many different courses with computers like game development and coding. This job will help me determine if I like the field and would like to pursue a job in this field in the future.”