Sulphur students look ahead to college, career possibilities

More than 2,000 students attended the annual college and career fair at Sulphur High School on Friday, visiting with more than 70 vendors representing local and regional businesses and colleges.

Katherine Clophus, school curriculum coordinator, said research shows that today’s students, known as “Generation Z,” already have a career path in mind once they reach high school. She said this is likely because technology exposes them to a variety of careers and jobs. Ideally, the college and career fair helps most students confirm that path.

Louisiana’s new diploma types also play a major role in how students look at their future, she said. Industrial-based credentials and dual enrollment opportunities place students on a “strategic path from the very beginning,” Clophus said.

As a freshman, Bethany Manuel assumed she would find a way to make her passion, art, a career. Now a senior, she said her thoughts about her future have evolved, with the career fair playing an important part.

After meeting area providers, like the Academy of Interactive Entertainment, Manuel said she began to consider different possibilities for life after high school.

“I was like wow, there’s just a lot of other options,” she said. “I thought it was always just only McNeese.”

Kristian Herring, a sophomore, said the event was eyeopening, even with two years left until graduation.

“I need to start planning ahead,” she said. “I’m afraid everything’s going to fly by and I won’t know what to do.”

{{tncms-inline content=”<p><span style="font-weight: bold;">‘I need to start planning ahead. I’m afraid everything’s going to fly by and I won’t know what to do.’</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kristian Herring</span></p> <p>Sulphur High sophomore</p>” id=”bbc28b21-af92-4570-9a02-02d3ea08f299″ style-type=”quote” title=”Pull Quote” type=”relcontent”}}

Tyrella Bushnell, Sulphur High School teacher, said the college and career fair is vital for the long-term success of students and businesses. Early planning will help prevent job dissatisfaction down the road for future employees, she said.

Bushnell said businesses also understand the benefit of exposing students early to their career options.

“They want the students to succeed because inadequate preparation will cause companies to fall,” she said.

‘I need to start planning ahead. I’m afraid everything’s going to fly by and I won’t know what to do.’

Kristian Herring

Sulphur High sophomore