FHSD Students Explore Future Pathways Through XCL’s First Career and Connections Fair

Students from Anderson and Turpin High School recently participated in Career and Connections Fair, a first-of-its-kind immersive career explorations event hosted by the XCL program. On October 22, approximately 40 sophomores and juniors delved into potential career paths through hands-on activities, mock interviews and a career fair. Rotating through each activity, students were able to gain in-depth knowledge about various professional fields and build confidence in their career readiness skills.

During the career fair portion, students had the opportunity to network with professionals representing a variety of fields, including the U.S. Army, Wake Plumbing and the City of Cincinnati. Professionals shared not only information about their fields but also their personal journeys and advice for success, helping students connect classroom learning to real-world application.

In the mock interview sessions, volunteer professionals offered students an authentic and constructive interview experience, providing feedback to help them reflect on and improve their communication skills. Through these conversations, students were able to practice interviewing and learn how to make a positive impression in professional settings. Professionals were able to give authentic, constructive feedback and create a realistic interview experience.

The final rotation gave students a hands-on look at a wide array of careers with various professionals, including representatives from the Anderson Township Fire Department, U.S. Air Force and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. They brought equipment and demonstrations for students to explore and envision what a future in these fields would look like.

FHSD extends its gratitude to all the professionals who volunteered their time and expertise to support the district’s mission of developing future-ready graduates! Thank you to Anderson Township for hosting the event at the Anderson Center and making the event possible with its support.

The U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, City of Cincinnati, Huhtamaki Manufacturing, Monti Inc., Always There Home Care, Wake Plumbing, JJ Smith Heating & Cooling, Apex Electrical, Anderson Park District, Anderson Township Fire Department, Cincinnati Fire Department, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and Anderson Township Public Works all provided invaluable career exploration opportunities to students.

The district and XCL also thank our mock interview volunteers — Dustin Dunlavy, Betsey Clark, Beth Giglio, Jeff Heinichen, Sarah Celenza, Riley O’Grady, David Fry, Terra Martin and Kim Tinsley — for sharing their time, experience, and encouragement with our students.