More than 150 high school juniors from four ResponsiveEdⓇ campuses recently got to visit with professionals from a myriad of career fields and ask them everything they wanted to know about their jobs and how they got them.
The 2019 ResponsiveEd Career Symposium took place on January 18 at the Home Office in Lewisville hosting students from STEM Academy of Lewisville, Founders Classical Academy of Lewisville, iSchool of Lewisville Entrepreneurial Academy and iSchool Virtual Academy of Texas.
ResponsiveEd works to not only ensure that students meet state academic requirements but also offers events such as the Career Symposium to help students plan for life after high school. These efforts are enhanced when the school, parents, and the community work together.
The event was organized by a committee made up of school counselors and administrators from the local campuses brought together by Michelle Cook, a parent volunteer as well as the wife of ResponsiveEd CEO, Chuck Cook.
Michelle Cook welcomes the students to the 2019 Career Symposium. Photo courtesy of students at STEM Academy of Lewisville.
“The rising cost of college puts pressure on both students and parents,” Michelle Cook says. “We organized this event so that students can better understand career paths and make more informed choices for post-secondary educational options. This was a chance to meet real professionals and ask questions, get insight, hear stories, and learn about the path each panelist took to get to where they are in their career.”
Panelists consisted of local professionals from companies like Google and Technologent, doctors in the fields of optometry and veterinary medicine, business leaders from construction companies, banks, and marketing firms, along with entrepreneurs and small business owners who all spoke about their path from high school to the workforce. The theme was “Searching for Success” and the atmosphere encouraged a back-and-forth style of questions and answers rather than a standard presentation format. Some students were also able to learn about shadowing opportunities and internships offered by area businesses.
Photo courtesy of students at STEM Academy of Lewisville.
Both students and panelists enjoyed the experience. “I had a great time!” remarked panelist Micah Wimberley, creative director for Culture Farm, “I never had anything like this when I was in high school. Lucky students!”
After the success of this inaugural event, the committee will reconvene and begin discussing how they can build upon this experience for years to come.
