As high school students focus on finals, graduation, and summer plans, students at Okkodo High spent the day exploring their futures with help from the island’s professionals.

Local businesses, government agencies, and military recruiters all packed into Okkodo for a day dedicated to planning students’ futures. Assistant principal Gene Dydasco says they're thrilled with the turnout, telling KUAM News, “We’re actually really, really happy with the support and the response that we’ve gotten from the community.”

And at the Home of the Bulldogs, it all ties back to their Three E’s: enrollment, employment, and enlistment. “Well, the students definitely love it because they get to see firsthand what it’s like to be an adult. We have people coming from the community and showing them what they do on a day-to-day basis," said Dydasco.

“They’re excited to make the connections, to network, to draw some interest in things, and see careers that they didn’t otherwise think about.”

And that includes a peek into the world of media! KUAM's news and digital teams shared some insight with students, showing them that careers in journalism are just as much a part of Guam’s future as they are its present.

Across the board, companies in attendance are just as enthusiastic about investing in tomorrow’s workforce. Eliza Casibon, talent acquisition officer with the Bank of Guam, said, “The interactions with the students so far have been so great! Just feeling their young energy and knowing that they’re interested in the bank, that they’ve seen us make connections with Clutch and with non-profit organizations, really lets us know that we have strong ties with the younger community, too.”

Today’s conversations could lead to tomorrow’s career for many students. For some recruiters – like the aircraft Rescue Firefighting Division at the Guam International Airport Authority — it’s a chance to shine a light on jobs people may not even know exist.

Lieutenant RJ Lujan-Espinosa said, “We like to come out here and we like to show students who we are because a lot of people don’t know that the airport itself has its own fire department. Seeing their eyes bright and shining over what we do makes us feel good! Knowing that these [students] will potentially be our firefighters.”

And so, with the day wrapping up at OHS, it’s clear that events like this are more than just tables and brochures. Today’s Job Fair offered students an opportunity to explore potential career paths, while employers had the chance to meet the talent of tomorrow.