Quick look: At OC Pathways’ Student Leadership Day, high school students stepped into leadership roles, guiding peers through workshops on topics from apprenticeships to networking. The event brought together student ambassadors from 15 districts to share their experiences and build connections for future careers.
In a classroom at Santa Ana College, a group of high school students stood before their peers to explain how artificial intelligence is reshaping the job market, and how they can be a part of that change.
Around campus, other students were leading sessions on building professional networks, making an impact as STEM leaders and elevating student voice through social media. All were part of OC Pathways’ annual Student Leadership Day, an event designed to put students in the role of teachers and mentors.
More than 90 students from 15 school districts in Orange County attended last month, with some hosting workshops and others eager to learn about career exploration opportunities. OC Pathways, OCDE’s career education initiative, organized the event to bring together student leaders from across the county to share what they’ve learned with their peers and connect with regional industry partners who can offer hands-on workforce experience.
Nearly 15 student-led workshops and breakout sessions focused on career readiness — from discovering personal strengths and interests to building a professional presence online. Those new to career technical education were also introduced to OC Pathways’ student ambassador program, launched two years ago to provide high schoolers with real-world experience and exposure to a range of career fields.
At Student Leadership Day, OC Pathways ambassadors helped their peers gain insights on workforce trends and shared practical advice to step outside their comfort zones at networking events. Sessions also covered topics such as emerging technology, branding through LinkedIn and career planning across OCDE’s 58 career pathways.
For CTE ambassador Charu, the program opened doors to experiences she wouldn’t have otherwise had, including opportunities to meet educators and industry leaders. Chapman University student and OC Pathways alumna Rosha Broomand shared how her time as a student ambassador helped shape her career ambitions and give her the foundation to make an impact. She and fellow alumna Joyce De Quiros, now at UC Santa Barbara, returned to show current ambassadors how the program can build a professional network from the ground up.
“With all of this, it connected back to my roots of why I wanted to be a leader, and that was OCDE’s student ambassador program,” Broomand said.
“Being a CTE ambassador not only helps you better understand the impacts of CTE,” added Murad, a student ambassador in the OC Pathways AI network. “It also helps you be a leader of your community.”
Student Leadership Day is one of many opportunities created through OC Pathways to connect students with employers, career technical education programs and real-world experiences.
Organizers hoped participants would leave not only with notes from their workshops, but also with fresh ideas, stronger connections and the confidence to take the next step toward their goals.
Interested students or families can visit the OC Pathways webpage to learn more about the student ambassador program.