How CareerCon Helped Josie See New Possibilities

A single conversation can change the way a young person sees their future.

A few weeks after CareerCon, we were still reflecting on the moments that made the day meaningful.

Josie, a high school sophomore, came to CareerCon with a friend. She was interested in education and healthcare, but was still figuring out what her future might look like.

She wasn't looking for all the answers. She wanted perspective.

Throughout the day, Josie spoke with professionals about college, careers, and life after high school. One conversation in particular stayed with her: a healthcare professional introduced her to a career path she had never considered before. It was a different way of thinking about healthcare, and it opened her eyes to opportunities she didn't know existed.

That conversation didn't tell Josie what she should do. Instead, it gave her another possibility to explore.

Since CareerCon, her interest in education and healthcare has continued to grow. She has also taken the next step by applying to become a Catalyst summer intern, where she hopes to gain more hands-on experience and continue exploring her options.

Josie's experience reflects what CareerCon is designed to create: meaningful opportunities for Oakland youth to connect with professionals, ask questions, and discover paths they may not have encountered otherwise.

And the student feedback showed that those moments made a difference.

• 97% of students said they would recommend CareerCon to a friend.

• Students' average self-rated readiness for their future increased from 2.8 to 4.2 out of 5 after the event.

• One student rated their readiness a 1 before CareerCon and a 5 afterward.

When asked what they took away from the experience, students shared:

“I learned that networking is the most important thing to move forward.”

“It's okay not knowing where to start, and it's okay to explore.”

“Follow your passion, no matter what people say.”

These reflections point to something bigger than a single event. Career exploration is not always about leaving with a specific career in mind. Sometimes, it begins with meeting someone whose experience makes a new path feel possible.

That is why the people who show up for CareerCon matter.

Volunteers gave their Saturday morning to talk with students, share their experiences, and answer questions. Those conversations may have lasted only a few minutes, but for a student like Josie, they can leave a lasting impression.

CareerCon is one way we create more of those moments: connecting young people with people and experiences that can help them imagine what comes next.

For Josie, it started with a conversation.

And sometimes, a new possibility is all it takes to begin moving forward.

Stories shared with permission. Student names have been changed to protect student privacy. Help Create the Next Possibility

Every student deserves the opportunity to meet people, explore careers, and see paths they may not have known were possible.

Want to help create more opportunities like this for Oakland youth? Learn more about Catalyst Youth Network and find a way to get involved.