Career Pathway Day 2025: Inspiring Berrien County’s Future Workforce

On October 17, nearly 2,000 students gathered at Lake Michigan College for Career Pathway Day, a dynamic, hands-on event designed to help youth explore careers and connect with industry professionals and workforce partners.

The event was a powerful collaboration between Youth Solutions, Berrien RESA, Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, and Lake Michigan College, showcasing how Career and Technical Education (CTE) connects to real-world opportunities.

Students from across Berrien County participated, including those from our Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) programs at Hartford High School, Bridge Academy of Southwest Michigan, and Eau Claire High School, as well as our YS Foundations school, River Valley High School. They spent the day exploring career sectors, meeting professionals, and imagining their futures.

This year, Youth Solutions was proud to support Career Pathway Day by engaging with students on the floor. Our Berrien, Cass, Van Buren JMG specialists used virtual reality headsets to provide immersive career exploration experiences, giving students a first-hand look at potential career paths.

VicShonda Newbern, BCVB JMG specialist shared, “I always love attending Career Pathway Day. There's something special about watching young students explore new possibilities and discover opportunities they never knew existed. Seeing them tinker with tools, ask thoughtful questions, and walk away with fresh ideas about their future is truly rewarding. It's a reminder of why creating these experiences matters so much.”

Preparing Students to Make the Most of It

Ahead of the event, Youth Solutions hosted a custom pre-event lesson for JMG and YS Foundations students to ensure they arrived prepared to engage meaningfully.

Lesson objectives included:

• Understanding the six Michigan Career Zones

• Exploring careers within a specific zone of interest

• Learning to ask thoughtful questions to industry professionals

• Knowing what to expect and how to make the day count

These lessons empowered students to confidently engage with employers and walk away with valuable insights about their futures.

Building Confidence, Curiosity, and Career Awareness

The energy at Career Pathway Day was undeniable. Students gained hands-on exposure to local industries, a better understanding of how classroom learning connects to careers, and a chance to build confidence and curiosity about their futures. At the same time, local employers had the opportunity to engage with the next generation of talent—strengthening the region’s future workforce pipeline.

Seeing students light up with new ideas, ask thoughtful questions, and imagine their futures—that’s why we do this work.

Post-Event Reflection: Turning Inspiration Into Action

To build on the momentum from Career Pathway Day, participating JMG and YS Foundations students continued the learning with a focused post-event reflection designed to help them connect their experiences to their future goals.

Activities included:

• Group Discussions: Students reflected on what surprised them, what careers sparked new interest, and what skills or education paths were common among the professionals they met.

• Individual Deep Dives: Each student selected one career or company that stood out to them, identified key takeaways, connected it to relevant coursework, and set one small next step—like researching a local training program or talking with a counselor.

These follow-up activities helped students build on their excitement, translating inspiration from the event into actionable steps along their career pathways.

Continuing the Journey

By combining pre-event preparation with thoughtful post-event reflection, schools help students see how career exploration ties directly to their learning and future goals.

Youth Solutions is proud to partner with others to help students take their first, exciting steps toward careers aligned with their skills, passions, and goals. We can’t wait to see where these young people go next!

If you're interested in helping local youth explore career pathways and build brighter futures, reach out to us here.