Most Franciscan students have been asked “What’s your major?” hundreds of times. This question is usually followed by a second inquiry: “So, what do you plan to do with it?” 

The Education Career Fair on Feb. 4 helped students get a step closer to answering that question. Organized by the Career Services Office and hosted in the St. Paul VI Center from 1 to 4 p.m., the event introduced students to potential employers in the field of education. 

21 different employers filled the conference room, eager to meet Franciscan students with an array of majors. Target majors included education, special education, catechetics, theology, philosophy, English, math, science, and even marketing. While this career fair focused on the field of education, employers offered diverse opportunities within the education industry. 

The majority of employers were seeking teachers. Five dioceses, including Columbus, Charleston, Saint Paul & Minneapolis, Harrisburg, and Lansing, were recruiting teachers of various grade levels for their parochial schools. Additionally, many independent classical schools, including one charter school, were looking for Franciscan education majors. 

However, there were several options for non-education majors. One school, Valor Education, advertised that it does not require its teachers to be licensed education majors. Instead, Valor was seeking math, science, and classics majors at the career fair. 

There were other employers not affiliated with teaching careers at all. Several graduate schools, such as the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, were advertising their graduate programs. Ministries like the Culture Project were seeking committed missionaries. Finally, a Catholic recruiting firm called Sól shared its services with Franciscan students who hope to work for likeminded Catholic companies. 

Besides employers, the St. Paul VI Center was buzzing with students. Well-dressed upperclassmen with resumes in hand walked around, networking with employers. Additionally, many freshmen strolled through to explore their career options. 

One freshman, primary education and special education major Claire Perez, was positively surprised by the career fair. “My expectations were that no one would talk to me because I am a freshman, but there were actually quite a few recruiters who were willing to give me information … and even said that going to the fair as a freshman was a good idea,” she said. 

She added, “It was very chill and welcoming … they played piano music in the background, and you just felt very relaxed while you were there.” The calming atmosphere helped her and other attendees interact confidently with employers. 

From freshmen to seniors, special education majors to math majors, the Education Career Fair was an opportunity for many students to get a head start on their futures.