A return to the classroom for Lindbergh High School's 5th Annual Career Day

Why career exposure matters more than ever

A classroom can offer students essential knowledge and a strong foundation. But no single lesson or career pathway can show the full range of opportunities that exist beyond school. Meeting people from different industries helps make those possibilities more visible and real.

That kind of exposure feels especially valuable today. Work, technology, and industries continue to change, and the skills used in a particular role can shift over time. What students learn in the classroom remains important, but the world they are preparing to enter may look different by the time they get there. Students benefit from hearing how people adapt, build new skills, and find their way through change.

Career conversations can help young people explore questions such as:

• What kinds of work are available in different industries?
• What skills or training might a job require?
• What does a typical workday look like?
• How did someone discover their career path?
• What happens when a person’s interests or plans change?

There is no single answer that will fit every student. That is exactly why a range of perspectives is so useful. Exposure to many professions can help students make more informed choices, recognize interests they may not have considered, and understand that a career path does not always follow a straight line.

Helping students prepare to pivot

One of the most important lessons students can take from meeting professionals is that careers can change. People learn, adapt, and sometimes take a new direction when their goals or circumstances shift. Seeing that firsthand can help students approach the future with openness rather than feeling pressured to have every answer right away.

This is not about expecting young people to predict exactly what the working world will look like years from now. It is about helping them build confidence in their ability to explore, keep learning, and adjust when needed. When students have heard from people in a variety of professions, they have more examples to draw from as they think about their own choices.

Career exposure also makes it easier for students to connect what they learn in school with how knowledge and skills are used in the workplace. A conversation with someone in a field they have never considered can spark a new question or a fresh interest. Even if a student ultimately chooses a different direction, that new perspective can still help them better understand what matters to them.

What we hope students took away

We hope the students left Career Day with more than a list of possible jobs. We hope they saw that there are many ways to build a meaningful working life, and that asking questions is a good place to start.

Jeff’s journey also offered a reminder that a person’s experience in one field can inform what they do next. His years in public education were part of his path to entrepreneurship. Building a business did not erase that earlier chapter; it became another way to apply what he had learned and continue growing.

Most of all, we hope students felt encouraged to explore. They do not need to have their whole future mapped out today. They can learn about different professions, pay attention to what interests them, and stay ready to adapt as they gain new experiences.

That flexibility is valuable in any community, including here in the greater Seattle area, where students may encounter a wide range of industries and career possibilities. The more chances they have to hear from people doing different kinds of work, the more tools they have to consider their own next steps.

Thank you, Lindbergh High School

We’re grateful to Lindbergh High School for inviting Jeff back for the 5th Annual Career Day, and to the school staff and fellow speakers who helped make the event possible. Bringing students and professionals together takes care, time, and a shared belief in the value of giving young people a broader view of the future.

For Jeff, returning to the classroom was a joy, and a meaningful way to reconnect with education. For our team, it was a privilege to support an event that encourages students to ask questions, consider new possibilities, and prepare for a world that will keep changing.

We’re proud to be part of the greater Seattle and Puget Sound community, and we appreciate opportunities to show up, share what we’ve learned, and learn from the next generation in return. Thank you, Lindbergh High School, for welcoming us. We hope to be part of future opportunities to connect with students and support their journeys.

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