Career Exploration Event: Inspiring the Future
On March 11th, 2025, the Albuquerque Career Connect (ACC) team had the pleasure of bringing a Career Exploration Event at Wilson Middle School for 8th grade students. This event was designed to provide students with insights into various career paths and inspire them to envision their future.
The event attracted 130 enthusiastic participants from diverse linguistic backgrounds, including speakers of Spanish, Swahili, and English. It featured presentations from employers and high school students who shared their journeys and experiences. This was particularly impactful, as it provided real-life examples of how individuals from similar backgrounds achieved their goals. The importance of mirroring experiences cannot be overstated, as it helps young students visualize themselves in various careers and motivates them to pursue their dreams.
We had representatives from ten different sectors, including a veterinarian, an engineer, a project manager, a data analyst, a self-employed artist, a marketing manager, a sous-chef, a brand manager, and two interns from APS who work as supervisors with APS’s Career Connect team. Each of these professionals shared their unique journeys and provided valuable insights into their respective fields.
We were also delighted to feature a robotics activity sponsored by X-studio from Explora, where children had the opportunity to learn coding and apply mathematical concepts to navigate robots around a circuit.
Students also had the opportunity to observe a simulation of a mock interview, designed to teach them the proper techniques and strategies for interviewing for a position. This hands-on experience allowed them to witness firsthand the dynamics of an interview, including how to present themselves, respond to questions effectively, and make a positive impression on potential employer.
The feedback from the students was overwhelmingly positive:
- “I think I feel like I have more knowledge of a wider range of jobs.”
- “Sometimes it can be hard to reach your goals but never give up.”
- “I need to keep pushing myself to get good grades and have good behavior.”
Overall, the Career Exploration Event was a resounding success. It not only provided students with valuable information about various careers but also inspired them to strive for excellence and never give up on their dreams. We look forward to hosting more events like this in the future to continue supporting and empowering our students.
Special thanks to our partners who provided their employees with the opportunity to participate: Sandia, Jaynes Corporation, UNM, Ardham Tech, Mtucci’s.
