On April 14, the “My Future My Pathway” event kicked off at OPRF. This event included a job and internship fair, where businesses around the Oak Park and River Forest communities set up tables in the fieldhouse with information about hiring opportunities. Displays included the Oak Park Public Library, the Lake Street Theater, Fitness Formula Club (FFC), and Brookfield Zoo. There was also information available for the Army, Marines, FBI, CIA, and more. There were 14 OPRF based programs, 16 external partners, and 17 businesses involved. About 1,600 freshmen and sophomores, 150 juniors, and 20 seniors participated.

Brookfield Zoo representative Vanessa Meininger explained the entry-level positions, often part-time and in the gift shops or restaurants. The minimum hiring age is 15.

Doug Green from Lake Street Theater says the theater is mainly hiring for the summer since it is expected to be “a busy summer for movies.” Positions include box office cashiers, concessions workers, and ushers. This is a popular job for students, as Green said that “most of (the) staff is students.”

Mandy O’Neil from FFC showcased jobs that were “perfect for high school students and those graduating,” including summer camp counselors and Kids Club workers.

Marche Pernell and Dean Horkavy from the Oak Park Public Library also promoted job opportunities, including entry-level materials handling. The minimum hiring age at the library is 16. “A lot of (employees) started as students and worked their way up. Our new teen specialist was an OPRF student,” said Horkavy.

OPRF senior Sule Agiste said he “saw a wide array of jobs” during his time visiting the job fair. “I think it’s important for those who don’t really have a sense of direction… it’s a lot easier finding jobs.”

OPRF junior Clara Dodge also attended the My Future My Pathway event. “I thought it was really cool that the school organized this and there were a lot of different options,” said Dodge. “There were some groups that were for summer jobs, and some of them were more career-wise after high school… it’s a really easy way for students to get involved and start thinking about their futures.”

Allison Meyers, an English teacher who was also at the job fair, described the event as “phenomenal,” and a possible resource for students who “don’t pursue a college degree after high school, and prefer to go into alternative careers like entrepreneurship.”