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Claire Grissom may have summed it up best when she said, “If you can’t see it, you can’t dream it.”
As Director of Career and College Readiness for Hollister High, Grissom was talking about the different job opportunities available to students with or without a college degree.
Many of those opportunities were on display during Hollister High’s fifth annual Central Coast Trades Show on Nov. 6, where Grissom said about 1,500 students were expected to come to learn about different apprenticeships, private companies and career opportunities.
Anzar High and Live Oak High (Morgan Hill) students were also at the event. The Anzar students received a tour of the high school’s auto, metal and agricultural shop facilities. They learned about careers in auto racing and mechanics, agriculture and welding from Grissom.
Six years ago, a parent approached Grissom about doing an event where students could learn more about building and construction trades. “I thought it was a wonderful idea,” she said.
The quality of the trades show has improved over the years, she said, noting that a lot of the companies bring interactive materials and activities for the students to try. “We want it all,” she added.
Kids are appreciative and excited to participate in the event and “they love to see what’s out there,” she said. She also praised the engagement between students and companies, noting company representatives have taken time off work or taken vehicles out of commission for the day to participate.
The goal of the trades show, Grissom said, is to allow students to see what is possible for them, and for companies to meet prospective employees.
Kelly Bianchi, program specialist for regional K-12 pathways at Hollister High, helped with the vendor turnout. She acknowledged kids are not always sure what they want to do after high school and whether it will involve college. “We want to give that option,” she said.
Bianchi said the trades show is a chance for students to apply life skills, such as an elevator pitch, which is a 30- to 60-second summary of a person and their background.
She said she enjoys seeing the students interact with the companies, as well.
Several of the firms have hired interns from Hollister High School. Mission Bell hired two interns over the summer, she said, of which one has been hired full-time and another will come back to work during breaks from college.
Tim Pierson, who was representing Safety-Kleen, said the company has a multitude of opportunities for those with or without college degrees. Driving, warehouse, administration and sales jobs there do not require degrees, he said.
Safety-Kleen is the largest hauler of hazardous materials and re-refiner of waste oil in the country, he said. Pierson said he enjoys knowing the work of his company is protecting the planet.
Students Maddie Berlanga, Will Donati and Kate Skow have been involved in preparing for the trades show.
“I think it’s amazing,” Donati said. A junior, he said he would like to work in agricultural business, adding that he enjoys the agricultural mechanics program at school.
Berlanga, a senior, said the trade show “is a cool event” and something not all schools provide. She said she’ll be attending Chico State after high school and plans to major in agricultural business.
Skow said she likes coming to the show, adding that a person does not have to go to college to be successful. She said her plans after high school are either to attend Cal Poly and work for John Deere or go into cosmetology.
The BenitoLink Internship Program is a paid, skill-building program that prepares local youth for a professional career. This program is supported by Monterey Peninsula Foundation AT&T Golf Tour and Taylor Farms.
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