Every year, Los Osos High School hosts a day typically called “Career Day,” allowing students of all grades the opportunity to explore their career interests to ensure that everyone can attain the future they want. The event is held on campus and aims to help students better understand different careers, the education required for them, and what daily life in those jobs looks like.
During lunch, many professionals took time out of their day to come out and share experiences, offering insight into their occupation and answering students’ questions.
For many individuals, this was a valuable opportunity to learn outside of a traditional classroom setting.
Career day allows students to connect what they are learning in school to real-world applications, making future goals feel more tangible. Freshman Taylor Berch spoke out about the experience.
“I liked hearing about what people actually do every day, all my questions were answered, making certain jobs seem more real and less confusing,” Berch said.
Events like career day provide several benefits. They expose students to careers they may not have previously considered and help them begin thinking about life after high school. A variety of booths with different occupations were open for students to find an interest in, such as
Students also gain a better understanding of the skills and education needed for different jobs, which can influence the next classes they choose and the goals that they set.
Overall, the event helps students build confidence by encouraging them to ask questions and engage with professionals.
However, while Career Day was informative, some students felt that the variety of careers presented was limited.
A significant number of speakers represented military-based careers or fields that did not strongly appeal to students interested in creative activities.
“I don’t plan to go to any military-based jobs; I plan to stay close to home,” said Freshman Gavin Diaz.
This lack of representation made it difficult for some students to fully connect with the event.
Career day is meant to inspire students, but when certain career paths are missing, it can leave some students feeling overlooked. Creative careers such as graphic design, animation, photography, filmmaking, and fashion are growing fields that many students are interested in pursuing, yet they lack representation.
Expanding the range of careers in future events could make Career Day more inclusive and engaging for everyone. Bringing professionals from creative industries, as well as a broader mix of fields, would ensure that all students have the opportunity to see themselves reflected in potential career paths.
Despite these mixed opinions from fellow students, Career Day at Los Osos High School remains a meaningful event that encourages students to think about their future and explore new possibilities. With a more diverse selection of careers, it has the potential to become even more impactful for the entire student body.