💼💰📈 North Buncombe High School’s (NBHS) sixth annual Junior Focus Day presented a huge variety of career opportunities so that next year’s seniors can get a head start on planning their futures.
Each spring, NBHS partners with its Career and Technical Education (CTE) Department and school counselors to help students start thinking about what comes after high school. Junior Focus Day and its associated career fair connect high schoolers with local employers, colleges, and community partners who can show them a variety of career paths, including options they may have never considered.
“Before their junior summer, we want students to start picturing life after high school,” said NBHS school counselor Cyndi Rilea. “That way, their senior year can be intentional, not just reactive.”
The career fair featured information booths - from college admissions officials to local emergency services to land surveying, hospitality, and other trades. Dozens of presenters also schooled students on topics ranging from how to pick a major to navigating out of state colleges to interview dos and don’ts. One visitor even gave a presentation completely in Spanish.
“I didn’t know there were so many jobs I could do this summer that weren’t fast food,” said Allie, one of the juniors. “It just opened my eyes to more possibilities.”
From a firefighter who started volunteering as a junior at NBHS and now serves full time, to businesses looking to hire right now, Junior Focus Day brought the community and classroom together in powerful ways. And for the students who walked away with new ideas, new opportunities - and maybe even a summer job - the future just became a little more clear.