Kennedy High School Host College Fair

On the night of Oct. 16, John F. Kennedy High School’s gymnasium hosted a college fair open to students across the district. The event aimed to inform students about different opportunities after high school and give them the chance to speak with a wide range of college representatives, including state universities, Universities of California, trade schools, and community colleges.

Rows of tables with knowledgeable representatives spanning the gym greeted students and their families visiting the fair.

Carolyn Kelly, attending on behalf of the University of Oregon, commented on why she likes to speak at these types of events.

“I just enjoy talking to students. It’s definitely my favorite part of what I do, helping them learn something new about the school, or maybe something interesting about a program that they’re interested in, or discover something they haven’t thought about,” explained Kelly.

Genesis Castillo, representative and alumnus of University of Texas at Dallas, loves representing her alma mater with her firsthand knowledge.

“I graduated from UT Dallas, so I feel like I can really speak about the actual institution itself from my previous student experience, but also from my working experience at the university,” stated Castillo.

Kennedy students who attended the fair described the event as an opportunity to envision their futures.

Peter Grant (12) explained that he attended the fair to search for a college that might suit him well.

“I just wanted to look at the different colleges and see what would be the best fit for me in my near future,” said Grant.

Grant even remarked that going to the event changed his perspective on which institution he may want to attend.

“My college in mind was University of Florida, but since talking so much with the ASU instructors, they just persuaded me so much that I think ASU might be the right fit for me now,” stated Grant. “I heard they have some good academic and athletic programs, so I’m excited to hopefully get accepted there.”

Kabeer Dhillon (11) said that despite his firm dream to attend Stanford and study dermatology, the fair did open up his views.

“It’s helping me take more colleges into consideration and know what they offer, which is something major for me, because I want to go somewhere where I can enjoy but also learn at the same time,” commented Dhillon.

College representatives also had tips to aid students in their college search during their many chats. Castillo recommended students start early when trying to choose options for their future.

“Apply early. Try to do everything as soon as you possibly can. The earlier you apply, the more options you have, not just at our university, but at many institutions,” stated Castillo.

In addition, Kelly emphasized the importance for students to explore all options before narrowing them down.

“I would say to keep an open mind, look at a lot of different types of schools, advised Kelly. “Look at private, public, community, close and far from home, just to try to find what's the best fit for you.”

J osh Ching, Point Loma Nazarene University representative, encouraged students to carefully consider their college decisions, as it can impact your future: “...take your time, don’t rush at it too fast. Give yourself time to really think about it. Figure out where exactly you want to end up in the future, whether that’s going the trade school route, community college, or straight to a four year.”

As the event came to a conclusion, students left with a better understanding of the next steps they want to take in their future. Castillo hoped that she and the other colleges in attendance instilled the idea that “[h]igher education is a possibility” for students.

Photo by Tristan Luu | Families of prospective students wander around different college booths.