U-46 8th-graders 'Explore' their futures at career expo

The quiz questions were coming fast, such as what industry employs actuaries, when the first bank was founded, and what's the purpose of online banking.

Surrounded by classmates, Itsani Albarran-Isidoro smiled as she called out answers, getting many correct.

Itsani, a student at Tefft Middle School, was one of about 2,500 eighth-graders who attended Explore 2023 on Thursday, Oct. 5, at the NOW Arena.

The event is U-46's annual expo designed to expose eighth-graders to various careers while illustrating the direct connection among academic curriculum, high school courses, and future career endeavors.

The quiz that Itsani participated in was part of a game show-type exhibit organized by Junior Achievement and four area financial institutions — Associated Bank, Blackhawk Bank, Elgin State Bank, and KCT Credit Union.

Itsani said her older brother works in finance, and she's interested in majoring in business or finance at college herself, although ultimately she's leaning toward law school. Itsani also commented that she was glad to get to attend the expo before choosing her courses for freshman year.

"Time flies by quickly," she said. "Electives in high school really help you out. This is a great time to get to know what you might be interested in focusing on."

The Alignment Collaborative for Education, a nonprofit local organization that brings together community resources and initiatives to support district priorities, once again partnered with U-46 to organize the event.

Nancy Coleman, Alignment's executive director, said she's often questioned why Explore is aimed at eighth-graders, with some people thinking it's too early for students to think about careers. But she said middle school is actually the perfect time to start those discussions.

"We have to prepare parents and students for all the opportunities that are available, where students can go ahead and start taking courses and participate in work-based learning aligned with their career interests as part of their high school experience," Coleman said. "We want all students to have a plan leading to a successful future before they graduate."

Students from the district's eight middle schools attended Explore during the school day in three different shifts.

Ahead of time, each student worked in SchooLinks, a digital college and career planning system, to learn which career clusters align with their current interests and aptitudes. Students then reviewed that information with school counselors to help them select a career pathway to tour at Explore.

About 40 local businesses, industries, governmental organizations, and nonprofits had exhibits at Explore, staffed by representatives who engaged in discussions and hands-on activities with students.

In addition, each of the district's five Magnet Academies had teachers and high schoolers present; the application process for Magnet Academies is currently open to eighth-graders.

U-46's business, culinary, engineering, healthcare, automotive, welding, and precision manufacturing programs were represented, as well as the veterinary assistant program at Burlington Central Unit District 301, which is offered to U-46 students.

Delilah Tapia, a senior at Larkin High School, was at a table lined with "infant simulators," dolls that cry when they need to be rocked, fed, burped or changed. She was at Explore to talk to students about the Early Childhood Education pathway available at all of U-46's high schools.

Some of Delilah's coursework has involved hands-on and real-life learning as she is offered, through the pathway, the opportunity to work with children enrolled in the Little Royal Preschool at Larkin High School.

"You get so much reward and satisfaction from taking care of those children and watching them grow and watching them learn. It's a really beautiful experience," said Delilah, who is considering a career as a kindergarten teacher. "I'm going to tell the eighth-graders about how much of an impact you have, and how much what you're doing matters."

At a table located in the Finance, Business, Information Technology and Culinary area, Shane Hamilton, the owner of Fox Valley Internet, spoke to students about the growing number of opportunities in the cybersecurity field. But he also stressed the importance of trying to match their career aspirations to their personal interests and strengths.

"Find something you love doing and pursue it," Hamilton told the students.

Alexander Escareno, an eighth-grader at Larsen Middle School, already has a good idea of what he wants to pursue — a career as a mechanic. He made sure to get a front-row spot to watch South Elgin High School's engine teardown team, and he said he's excited to pursue the Automotive Technology pathway in high school.

Nearby, Ellis Middle School student Lamontay Dobbins was checking out a mini excavator. It was brought to the NOW Arena by West Side Tractor to help educate students about the opportunities for service technicians who perform maintenance and repairs on the machines.

Lamontay plays sports, and he knows he wants a career that will keep him active, not sitting behind a desk, so the thought of working on big machinery appealed to him.

"There's a lot of jobs I learned about today, and a lot of neat stuff to look at and be inspired by," he said.

Erin Murphy, who works in human resources for West Side Tractor, said participating in events like Explore are an important part of trying to build a pipeline of future employees.

"A lot of our technicians love working with their hands and having a different project every day," she said. "We know being at events like these is not an instant solution, this is just creating more awareness for the industry. That didn't occur in years past, and we're struggling with finding people now. We are willing to invest in making it known that this is a great career, and you can make some good money doing it."

Dr. Teresa A. Lance, U-46's Assistant Superintendent for Equity and Innovation, said she was pleased by all the positive interactions she saw among the eighth-graders and the exhibitors at Explore.

"What I'm hoping for is that our students leave Explore with a better idea of what they're interested in," Dr. Lance said. "The whole concept of the Explore event is that students get to dig further into their interests by learning more about the plethora of opportunities ahead of them. If we are about equity, then this means allowing students the opportunity to choose the pathway, including college, career, and/or military, that's right for them and not us choosing their path for them."