alternative to Career Day, as there are inadequate parking spaces for guest speakers if Career Day was to be held. Taba and PTSA have been planning a year-round career program, in which one week during each month of this year will be designated a specific career theme.
“All of you students are right now focused on getting through [MVHS] and taking AP and Honors classes so [you] can get into a good college,” Taba said. “If you earn the good college, you haven’t thought about what you’re going to do with a Biology major if you’re not going to med school. Part of what we’re trying to do is make you think backwards.”
The week of Nov. 6 is dedicated to careers in visual and performing arts. Six speakers will lead presentations and discussions for students in the MVHS Library from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Taba is currently planning other activities to introduce students to other art careers throughout the rest of the week. Art Department Chair and art teacher Brian Chow also assisted in gathering speakers for visual arts to eliminate parents’ common misconception of “the starving artist.”
Senior Kelly Nakamura, who plans to pursue a major and career in art, has shown interest in attending the career session for art.
“Our school is mostly focused on being doctors or [having a career in] business. [Some students] consider art to be more of a hobby and not a top priority because it’s competitive and they think the pay isn’t that high,” Nakamura said. “It would be nice to have some kind of information on art [careers].”
Following a panel presentation from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m., students and speakers will disperse into different classrooms to ensure that students will be able to communicate one-on-one with the guest speaker from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.. It is likely that students from other schools will be invited to attend as well.
Though the PTSA hopes that the Explore Careers! program will pique the interest of many students, they will most likely continue the Job Shadow in following years in replacement of Explore Careers! Keeping Job Shadow will, according to Explore Careers! team member Loy Oppus-Moe, maintain the consistency in career exploration opportunities for students.
According to PTSA President Pam Siu, as long as Job Shadow is held on a non-school day, the field trip forms will not be necessary and students are more flexible. The Committee does acknowledge that students like Nakamura would prefer to see guest speaker Conan Low actually working with animation software at Dreamworks as opposed to simply hearing him speak.
Registration is open to all students and parents and will begin Monday, Oct. 24 on School Loop.
The week of Dec. 4 is designated for Technology and STEM careers
The week of Feb. 5: Healthcare and Health-related careers
The week of Mar 4: Business, Marketing, Finance, Entrepreneurial Ventures
The week of Apr 1: Legal, Law Enforcement, Military, Public Sector, Non-profit sector
The PTSA is also looking for students to design a flier for the event. Contact Loy Oppus-Moe ([email protected]) for more information. Designs must be submitted by Tuesday, Oct. 18.
