As a follow-up of the college fair that was held at the end of October, S3 Grant Coordinator and Career Counselor Kevin Oki visited junior and senior classes to welcome them to the newly opened Career Center.

With the help of the guidance counselors, Oki’s goal is to provide students with information and skills to help them prepare for college and getting them ready for a career of their choice.

Currently, counselors are focused on helping seniors with the process of applying for universities, college entrance tests like the SAT’s, grants, and scholarships.

Juniors are being prepared to use an online program called Bridges where students build their personal portfolios that would help them determine their career interests and to be used as a resource for college and career research.

In the future, Oki said that different workshops will be held during lunch, like showing students how to apply for jobs and presenting videos on how to prepare for job interviews. College representatives are also being planned to host these workshops and to give presentations to students.

“I’m hoping it (the Career Center) will help me meet my deadlines, and give good advice and tips on college,” senior Rajada Ealey said, “especially with fee waiver applications.”

In preparation to opening the Career Center, Oki’s “first step was to find a designated place” — the library— and to replace the old computer tables, then to make sure computers were available and able to function.

The Career Center will be open Tuesdays to Friday, during lunch, and after school from 1 to 3 p.m. Students who meet the a-g requirements will also be pulled out of their classes to meet with counselors until the end of the month. Otherwise, head counselor Chan Sam stresses that students who don’t meet the requirements but are applying to private or vocational colleges need to meet with their counselors immediately