Fairfield, CA – Matt Garcia Career and College Academy (MGCCA) is proud to honor its namesake by empowering students through career and college exploration opportunities. This spring semester, students are engaging in dynamic career workshops designed to expand their horizons and prepare them for future success.
The workshops, led by School Counselor and College & Career Specialist, Jerilea Jones, feature interactive presentations and activities utilizing Naviance online accounts. Naviance is a college and career readiness software that partners with schools to provide students with college planning and career assessment tools.
Students also have the privilege of hearing from esteemed guest speakers from the Vacaville and Fairfield communities, including Officer Anderson from Fairfield Police, Ed King, Commissioner of Agriculture, and Sarah Olsen and Kaitlyn Scott Moxon from the Vacaville Museum.
Jerilea Jones, school counselor, emphasized the importance of early college and career conversations: "I am honored to be at a school where college and career conversations are happening early! Research is clear that college-going identity is often adopted well before high school, making it critical that this exposure happens in elementary and middle schools.”
For students like Raylonni Foster, the career workshops have been eye-opening experiences. "I learned that there are a bunch of different ways to have a career in the Arts. The career workshops are important because they help you with careers earlier in your life so when you get older you can choose a college that will help your career," shared Raylonni, highlighting the impact of early exposure to diverse career pathways.
Middle school marks an ideal time for career and college exploration, providing students with the opportunity to discover a multitude of possibilities for their future. Teachers at MGCCA are dedicated to integrating career and college readiness into their plans and lessons, ensuring that students are well-prepared for the journey ahead.