YOUR FUTURE, YOU DECIDE
Migrant youth from 25 Central Washington School Districts
gathered in late March on the campus of Wenatchee Valley College to focus on
career choices and post-secondary planning.
Approximately 300 eighth- and ninth-grade students benefited from the collaborative efforts of North Central ESD’s Migrant Education Regional Office (MERO), the Wenatchee Valley College, and area businesses.
The purpose of this event was to expose migrant students to role models in the business and educational community and to provide migrant students with information and contacts beneficial to their future goals.
“The 10th Annual Migrant Education Student Career Fair was our greatest success. Students will take the information they received back home to begin dreaming of the career they desire,” says Ismael Vivanco, managing director of the Migrant Education Regional Office for the North Central Educational Service District.
“The collaborative efforts of our MERO staff, college and community leaders will result in student success and lifelong learning,” he says.
Role models with similar backgrounds to the students discussed their current professions in law enforcement, secondary and post-secondary institutions, law, and military and civil services.
Presenters challenged students to consider the decisions involved in planning their careers.
“Our future is in motion,” said Detective Keith Kellogg.
The message was reflected in this year’s conference theme: “Your Future, You Decide — ¡Tú Futuro, Tu Decides!”
The keynoter was ventriloquist Nacho Estrada of San Antonio. He encouraged students to be great listeners and to make good decisions in order to expect success in their future.
“My thought is to always have a good ‘meta’ (goal),” he says.
In addition, students were able to choose from among 10 different workshops presented by college/university representatives or professional agencies in the community. These business and community leaders inspired students with stories of their successful efforts to overcome obstacles and obtain their dreams and goals.