On Mar. 4, students in the Majors Program attended the annual Moorpark College Career Week event that involves week-long informational sessions to inform community members on major choices and possible career paths. Although Career Day and other Majors events were held virtually this year, students in the program are still able to plan and explore their future from the comfort of their home.
“The Majors Program is definitely going full speed ahead,” College Education Clerk Lou Ann Lemmo said. “Students are still meeting in their particular majors group each month, via Zoom instead of in person.”
Career Week allows students from surrounding high schools the opportunity to connect with professionals and educators in various fields. The event focuses on four aspects of career education: awareness, exploration, preparation, and training.
“The Moorpark College Career Ed Day is a day for local high school students to learn more about what career paths the college has to offer directly from faculty and students,” senior Madison Cupples said. “This event allows students in the Majors Program to engage with our local community college and learn about career opportunities that they maybe didn’t know were out there.”
Although some students noted that the task of connecting through a computer screen seemed daunting compared to past years, the speaker sessions still provided their intended purpose of informing students on how to shape their interests and future goals.
“Since everything went virtual this year, Career Day was a little less interactive but still offered the same information for high school students,” Cupples said. “We were able to attend three different demo sessions of our choosing, a few of which included biotechnology, business and hospitality, cyber security, exotic animal training, and music technology.”
Other students felt that virtual Career Day was a success, and they left with a sense of confidence in their aspirations and prospective careers.
“This year’s virtual career day was my first Career Day, and I found it absolutely stunning,” sophomore Aidyn Searway said. “In the online format, some speakers chose to teach directly from their studios and classrooms which provided examples of the hands-on learning approaches at Moorpark college.”
As well as Career Day taking place online, the Majors Program as a whole has been faced with the adjustment of shifting to virtual meetings and opportunities. All students must complete a set amount of requirements to graduate as a part of the Majors Program, and many feel that checking off required activities is made easier by community events such as Career Day.
“For seniors like myself, it has been difficult to complete some of [the] requirements–like the conference credit requirement–compared to previous years because everything is shut down,” Cupples said. “However, events like the Moorpark College Career Ed Day have allowed me to finish off all my majors requirements.”
Overall, both the Majors Program and the Moorpark Career Week can be used as a guide and exploration tool to build a student’s resume of interests and career choices. With programs and events like these, students can gain experience and self-assurance in their chosen career path.
“It’s important to attend the Majors conference, because you’ll learn practical skills within your profession but you also might feel inspired afterwards,” Searway said. “I don’t think I would change anything.”