Suited for success: ASU and Chandler High School team up to prepare future working professionals

Photo credit:  JR De Chavez

For high school students, knowing where to start in planning for their future can be an overwhelming barrier to higher education. Access ASU’s programs and initiatives provide college readiness support to Arizona families and schools so that students can thrive in university and beyond.

“After today’s career exploration event, I feel like I have a better understanding of where I want to go to college,” junior Dylan Daffara said. “I have a better understanding of how to interview for a job. My first job, I didn't really have an idea, but now I have a solid idea for my second job when I apply.”

On March 28, 2024, Access ASU’s career and talent development initiative, Leverage AZ, teamed up with Chandler High School and Arizona State University’s Career Services to host an interactive Career Exploration Day, with a goal of introducing junior high school students to the tools and resources that could benefit them through their journey into higher education and in their future careers.

The 827 students who participated in the day’s activities enjoyed a financial readiness lecture, an industry panel of career professionals and the opportunity to be suited in professional attire, provided by Dress for Success Phoenix. Not only does Dress for Success provide the clothing needed for a successful job interview, but they also offer opportunities for interview preparation, job readiness programming and one-on-one coaching.

Daffara took home a new suit that will empower him to feel confident and comfortable at his next job interview. He will use the resources he gained at the Career Exploration Day to pursue higher education in agricultural engineering, with the goal of someday building submarines. He said that events like the one hosted by ASU are making a difference for students who are unsure about their future paths.

“I believe that it'll help students that don't really know what they want to do after high school,” Daffara said. “It will give them a better understanding of where they want to go, what they want to do, rather than just being oblivious as soon as they get out of high school.”

Rylee Becker, another junior student at Chandler High, attended the industry panel to learn about different career paths in-depth.

“I got to listen to different people that were all over the business world,” Becker said. “People from insurance, banking and CEOs from different places. I think events like this are super important. They allow the students to not only learn more about what life is going to be like after high school, but get the resources that they need to be successful.”

Becker, an avid swimmer, is planning for a future career in physical therapy or social media management with an emphasis in sports. She said some of the most beneficial things she learned at the career event was during the financial readiness component, produced in partnership with Bank of America. 

“I definitely learned a lot,” Becker said. “I got some great advice, and learned a lot more about how credit works.”

“It is critical that these students get exposed to and gain awareness of all the opportunities and pathways that are available to them as early as possible. This allows them to prepare and get the insight they need to make informed decisions as they get ready to graduate from high school and decide what their professional future will look like,” Vanessa Ruiz said. Ruiz serves as deputy vice president for Outreach at ASU. 

“This work can’t be done in silos. We need all stakeholders, including educational, industry and non-profits, to continue to come together to connect and sustain the ecosystem that will path these students into high wage careers and jobs,” she added.

Chandler High School junior Alyse Oxenhandler says that the presentation gave her a key starting point for financial readiness.

“The Bank of America presentation was really great to see,” Oxenhandler said. “They showed things like, this is how you can open a credit card, where you should spend money and that you shouldn't be spending money on stuff you don't need.”

With Oxenhandler’s favorite subject in school being math, she hopes to one day work in engineering or the healthcare field.

Fellow junior Chandler High School student Brandon Nevarez found the various career-focused sessions to be insightful, particularly the sessions in which students heard first-hand from industry leaders regarding interview best practices and elevator pitches. Nevarez said that after he graduates high school, he hopes to either study political science at a university or enter into law enforcement.

“I think right now, a lot of people are dissuaded from going to university due to the price,” Nevarez said. ”But when you show the difference between high school and college, and the resources to get there, students can really see where they want to go.”

To learn more about ASU’s college readiness programs and services, visit the Access ASU website.