Forty local business professionals spent the evening of May 17th at CRSM discussing and demonstrating their career journeys with 100 sophomores and seniors. The goal was to help students explore future careers and prepare to seize tomorrow’s opportunities.
From architecture, animal sciences and the environment, to engineering, arts, communications and business management, along with education, finance, health sciences and sales, the volunteers were board members, business partners and school partners such as our caterer. Some were school volunteers, and many were partners from our Corporate Work Study program.
“The most important thing I learned is that every career has challenges, and you might have to deal with rejection … Sometimes you might fail but if you really love and want to do something, go for it! Many careers and jobs are competitive but if you have the work ethic and the determination you can do anything. It was also really interesting to hear how the volunteers got to where they are and what they did to get there.” – Selene, CRSM sophomore.
“It is important that students understand the connection between what they are learning in the classroom and through their work program with the ‘real world,” said Lori Bell, Operations Lead Coordinator for the CWSP who organized the event. The Career Exploration event was intended to help students develop a sense of career awareness and how all jobs help a community.
The evening’s exploration, spread over a variety of job-related experiences. Companies represented included: Abbott, AbbVie, Advanced Group, Advocate Condell Medical Center, AIG, A Safe Place, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Catholic Charities, College of Lake County, Cristo Rey High School in Chicago, Fragomen, Del Rey Bernsen & Loewy LLC, Hollister Inc., J & L Catering, Latham & Watkins LLP, Norstan Inc., Northshore University HealthSystem, Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, PADS Lake County, Union Tank Car Company, W.W. Grainger, the City of Waukegan and the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.