At 13 or 14 years old, it can feel like graduation is light years away, but the journey toward the future starts now in Poudre School District.
The second annual Eighth Grade Career Fair, held at Colorado State University, is more than just a field trip—it is a first step in helping students explore their passions, discover careers, and understand all the possibilities that await them after high school graduation.
With interactive booths, hands-on activities, and insights from professionals, this event offered a glimpse into countless careers for students. PSD is committed to ensuring students graduate with options and are better prepared with more opportunities for their future, and this is one of many opportunities students have to explore careers before high school.
For some students, this career fair was eye-opening to the possibilities available beyond middle and high school once they graduate.
Adalyn Scherer, a student at Kinard Middle School and an aspiring chemical engineer, learned about aerospace engineering and the other programs offered at CSU.
"It's good to know the different pathways and things that CSU has to offer," Scherer said. "I didn't know that they had a chemical engineering program until today. It feels helpful because you get to talk to people who already took the classes and figured it out."
Scherer was not alone in these discoveries. PSD eighth-grade students from Blevins, Boltz, Cache La Poudre, Kinard, Lesher, Lincoln, Polaris, Preston, Timnath, Webber, and Wellington middle schools visited CSU to engage with business professionals, CSU faculty, and CSU students to learn about various career pathways.
Organized in partnership between CSU and PSD with the support of the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce and local businesses, this experience for students offered a taste of what each career could look like.
With pathways including agriculture and veterinary science, aviation and automotive, business and marketing, computer science, creative and arts, education, and so much more, there was something for each student to learn, whether they already know their interests or are continuing to explore.
Cache La Poudre Middle School student Gage Lopez already knows he wants to join the military one day. He learned a lot about the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) at CSU and said this experience helped prepare him for what would be ahead of him following this path.
"We learned about the things we need to do, to do the things we want to do," Lopez said.
On the other hand, this experience also brought clarity to some students unsure about what they might do in the future, providing them with a chance to explore careers they might not have considered before.
Zoe Wellborn, a student at Timnath Middle-High School, said this field trip helped her learn about options available at a local college and found it valuable, especially since she felt unsure about what she wants to do in the future.
"It's showing me what I actually want to do," Wellborn said. "When I selected this group, I was actually more interested in meteorology, but now that I've looked at drones and learned a little more about them, I'm more interested in aviation."
This event was also many students' first experience on a college campus. Walking through CSU’s student center and attending workshops gave students a glimpse into life beyond high school.
Alexxa Moran, a student from Lincoln Middle School, thought this experience was impactful.
“I’ve never been on a field trip like this, so it’s a very interesting experience,” she said.
Beyond the immediate excitement, events like this help students see the value of preparation.
Lincoln Middle School student Dominic Gonzalez also participated in the teaching pathway and added to Moran's experience, emphasizing the importance of planning ahead.
"I think [this field trip] is useful for us so we can learn how to do better for upcoming years for high school and college," he said.
As eighth graders returned to their schools, their excitement and reflections demonstrated the success of this career fair. Whether students discovered a new career passion, clarified their goals, or enjoyed their first glimpse of a college campus, the day was a step in their journey they will not soon forget.
For PSD students, it is never too early to dream big—and the Eighth Grade Career Fair is just one example of ways students can develop their interests and pursue their passions.