Tuesday, June 17, 2025
The auxiliary gym at Oceanside High School was filled with energy on April 29, as some 20 vocational programs set up interactive displays, hands‑on demonstrations and career counseling stations for the school’s annual Vocational Fair.
What began several years ago as a modest gathering of five or six programs in the main lobby has this year blossomed into a full‑scale expo, organized by the school counseling team in partnership with the technology education department, designed to expose students to career pathways beyond traditional four‑year colleges.
“We wanted to expose our students to more options after high school, besides college,” said counselor Jackie Sileo, who spearheaded the expansion along with colleagues Tricia Pizzo and the rest of the counseling staff. “This year, we thought, ‘Let’s blow it up.”
The event specifically targeted students who might not be college-bound or are seeking practical, hands-on career training.
Andre Buntin, a representative from Lincoln Tech Trade School in Queens, highlighted the event’s significance.
“Not everyone is going to college, and that’s okay,” Buntin said. “We offer pathways in electrical work, mechanics, welding, culinary arts, and healthcare.”
The fair comes at a critical time when college costs continue to rise, making vocational training an increasingly attractive alternative. Eileen Smith, Dean of Student Affairs at the New York Auto Diesel Institute, noted that some of their graduates are securing jobs paying near $100,000 at just 19 years old.
“We train students to become auto tech, collision repair tech or diesel repair tech,” she said. “They can get a certificate, or they can get their Associate Degree in either automotive or diesel. … We have a career office that will help place them and help them get ready for the interview … to work in that field.” She added, “We had a partnership with Pilot Program State Farm. They came in, they got a paid internship. All six of the students were hired, and for more than I was making several years ago.”
By midday the gym was packed: students debated apprenticeship requirements others donned safety goggles to test automotive electrical circuits; a line formed at the cosmetology station for quick hair‑styling tips. Counselors circulated, helping students set up campus tours, informational interviews and even paid internships.
The event represents a significant shift in educational thinking, emphasizing skill development and practical career preparation over traditional academic paths.
Counselors noted a shift in student attitudes: rising tuition costs and competitive admissions have made vocational training increasingly attractive.
“College has become so expensive,” Sileo said. “I think more and more students want to work with their hands. They want to start working right away. They want to make money. … We question, ‘Why do you want to go to college?’ … Not every career requires a four‑year degree.”
