Thirteen Cuyahoga Heights High School sophomores and two seniors explored the postsecondary options of Enrollment, Enlistment, Employment, and Entrepreneurship at the annual E4Me Career Program held at the Educational Service Center (ESC) of Northeast Ohio in Independence on October 23. As a follow-up to their classroom lessons on career planning with Julie Regula, career specialist from the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center (CVCC), the event provided the students with valuable insights into their future goals and decisions.
Approximately 200 high school students from Berea, Brooklyn, Cleveland Heights/University Heights, Cleveland, Cuyahoga Heights, East Cleveland, Euclid, Garfield Heights, Maple Heights, Richmond Heights, Shaker Heights, and Warrensville Heights were in attendance. They engaged with more than 40 panelists/presenters that work in different fields as well as all branches of the United States military.
Students benefited from learning about the professionals’ real-world experiences, gained better understanding about possible careers, and gathered information on how to acquire the necessary training or education needed to achieve success in the various fields.
One of the most common pieces of advice from the panelists was the importance of developing soft skills, including a good work ethic, integrity, empathy, kindness, responsibility, being on time, good communication skills, and showing proper manners.
"I thought it was really good and it opened up some career ideas that I had never thought of before that I may be interested in pursuing or at least learning more about," said sophomore Addison (Addie) Deka.
"It was great to see the student so engaged in hands-on activities whether it was hammering a nail, using thermal imaging fire equipment, or taking an ultrasound of a classmate's arm. Overall, the day received a thumbs-up from all the attendees,” said Regula.
“We hope the experience inspired students to think about their future in a new light and now have insight into making decisions on their next pathway,” said Tippi Foley, Career Pathways & Early Childhood Consultant for the ESC of Northeast Ohio which hosted the event along with the First Ring Schools Collaborative.
