"What do you want to be when you grow up?" is a question adults often ask kids. Some kids immediately know the answer and blurt out "rocket surgeon," or something similar. Some kids might have a vague idea, and others think the question just does not apply to them.
Eventually, everybody has to work. Maybe a traditional four-year college is not in the stars, but a job sure will be in everyone's future. Choosing a career is one of those big life decisions, and real life is not like the board game Life. You don't get an awesome career handed to you just because you drew a career card. It's better to decide your career path rather than have life hand you one. Amiright?
To help the kids of Winnemucca make important decisions such as which college to attend or which career to shoot for, Lowry High School has scheduled a college and career fair for Thursday, Nov. 6. The event will be held at the Winnemucca Convention Center from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Lowry juniors and seniors will attend the fair, and parents are encouraged to attend.
Representatives from about 15 western community colleges, colleges and universities will be on hand to answer questions, and steer students toward either Wolf Pack blue, Bronco orange or Rebel red.
Watching Top Chef and Chopped is not an actual job, but a career in the culinary arts might interest you, and perhaps the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute can persuade you to attend their school. Or, maybe if you're a storm chaser, you should talk to the National Weather Service guys.
For those interested in pursuing a military career, representatives from the army, navy, marines and Nevada National Guard will be in attendance.
There will be representatives from all types of professions, including Winnemucca Police, Humboldt General Hospital, the local mines, some of the utility companies and many more.
The career fair is not a job fair which means the companies are not looking to hire students. It's more to show students what to expect in the job market.
Roxanne Hardy, career counselor at Lowry High School, said it is also a way to inspire kids when they meet someone who is working in their chosen profession.
For those students who plan on attending college, an important document to pick up from the career counselor is the scholarship guide, which was assembled by Hardy. The scholarship guide is a summary of national, Nevada and Winnemucca scholarships. It includes the deadline to apply, the scholarship amount and the criteria needed to apply. Some scholarships are based on grades and some just require a well-written essay. Some of the deadlines are as early as January, so it's a good idea to check on qualifying now.
Another important packet of information, especially for graduating seniors, is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. Applying for loans and grants through the Department of Education is a time-consuming affair, and getting an early start on compiling the information is a good idea. According to FAFSA.ed.gov, there is an 18-month window to apply for each academic year, and Jan. 1 is the first date to submit the application for the 2015-2016 academic year.[[In-content Ad]]
