Oct 20, 2017 by Robin Inscoe
An estimated 200 high school students and their parents attended the education fair at the Mississauga Valley Community Centre last week designed to help local youth navigate through the post-secondary school admissions process.
The free, public event, hosted by ICNA Relief Canada, gave students and parents an opportunity to meaningfully connect with guest panellists, asking university program-specific questions.
There is growing concern that high school guidance counselling is insufficient and further complicates decision-making while university admission requirements are becoming increasingly competitive, leaving students and parents unsettled when it is time to apply for post-secondary school in Grade 12.
The event featured a panel of doctors, engineers, teachers, business professionals and current university students who each took their time to answer individual questions from the audience. Questions ranged from co-op placement and career options to prerequisite course selection, military college, and post-secondary mental health tips.
Representatives from ScholarshipsCanada.com and Volunteer MBC were on hand to familiarize the students with the various post-secondary scholarships, contests, and volunteer organizations available by program interest. There was also a presentation identifying mental health challenges faced by post-secondary school students, increasing student confidence in dealing with post-secondary pressures, and tips on how to cope with a more rigorous academic schedule after high school.
Iqra Khalid, the MP for Mississauga-Erin Mills was in attendance and gifted ICNA Relief Canada an Award of Recognition for their ongoing efforts in youth development throughout the GTA.
Peel District School Board Trustee, Nokha Dakroub served as a panellist for students and parents where she apprised the audience of the importance of volunteerism within the community, particularly among high school students. “This was a chance for families to meet teachers, counsellors, and professionals and ask questions about the courses and post-secondary options and ultimately make headway in tailoring the next steps of their students’ lives, we hope to do as much as we can to help them effectuate their personal goals” says a representative from ICNA Relief Canada.
This is the second year that ICNA Relief Canada has hosted the education fair for the community in effort to strengthen post-secondary school applications and provide clarity in choosing the right career path for each individual youth. ICNA Relief Canada plans on hosting smaller, more focused information sessions for students interested in engineering, medicine, and law this winter.
Article Courtesy: Mississauga News
