This is a career resource event that I participated in. It allowed me to meet new people and gain increased knowledge about the fields around me and the ones I am interested in.
The first career resource opportunity I have partook in was the ‘Owls Serve Volunteer Fair’ hosted by The Department of Student Volunteerism & Service on January 26th, 2023. I went with my sister, who is not a KSU student but has an interest in several of the organizations that were present. The fair had a lot of organizations set up, not unlike what I remembered from career fairs in high school, everything from the YMCA to Autism Speaks. The first booth I had an interest in was the one brought by The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive history. I went to this museum as a kid myself and I have a big interest in history even today. I collected a pamphlet and talked to the representatives there about volunteering to teach kids about the civil war and the great locomotive chase that featured the steam engine that now sits in the museum. After that, we talked to the Cobb County Library where they had a chess booth set up, advertising their chess club. I also signed up for “be a book”, a program where several students studying to be something sit at tables and kids rotate to talk to them. I would of course be the “book” about being an English major. After that we talked with The Kennesaw Mountain Trail Club, Georgia House Rabbit Society, City of Acworth, Mostly Mutts & Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Most of it gave me some insight into some productive activities that I could fill my freetime with and if I had less on my plate I’d consider it all. I’d be volunteering to walk dogs, teaching kids and cleaning up national parks all on the same weekend. But alas, the pamphlets, brochures and business cards all sit dormant in my bookbag where I put them that cloudy day in January. Honestly, I do want to do at least one of these things and most likely it will be something related to the Kennesaw Mountain Trail Club because it sounds exciting, physical and related to history and I could find some like-minded folk by being a part of it. Overall it was a good experience to go to the volunteer fair and I’m glad I went. I enjoyed the ease of getting in, even for my sister who once again is not a KSU student. There were also prizes such as a T-shirt for visiting a certain number of booths. I’m glad that these fairs exist because it helps to connect students to the local areas around campus and can open up avenues for careers for those who are interested in the topics brought to the table.
