For Spring ISD students, planning for life after high school became a little more tangible on Monday as colleges, universities, scholarship organizations, military representatives and community agencies gathered at Dekaney High School for the district’s annual College Fair.

The event gave students from across Spring ISD an opportunity to explore colleges and career pathways, speak directly with admissions representatives, learn about financial aid and scholarships, and begin making plans for their futures.

For students such as Dekaney High School P-TECH sophomore Kylie Burns, the fair was an opportunity to explore possibilities before making a decision about her future.

“I’m here to research some colleges to get a grasp of what I want to do in the future,” Burns shared.

Burns said she has a particular interest in the creative industry and was using the fair to explore schools that offer programs aligned with her interests. She is also considering the financial realities of attending college.

“Out-of-state colleges do cost a lot of money,” she said.

For Dekaney sophomore Angelica Gomez, the fair was an opportunity to explore options connected to her interest in engineering and computer science.

“I’m here looking for my options after high school for my career path in engineering and computer science,” Gomez said.

The University of Houston is currently her first choice, but she is still researching other possibilities.

Gomez said attending the college fair is important because students benefit from exploring their options before they reach their senior year.

“It’s important to look at the options you have now instead of later when it’s already too late,” she said.

For Spring High School senior Moises Discua, the College Fair was about more than choosing a college. It was about building a pathway toward a career serving the district that helped prepare him for his future.

Discua plans to major in elementary education and hopes to return to Spring ISD as a teacher after college. Among the schools he is considering are The University of Texas at Austin, the University of North Texas, and Stephen F. Austin State University.

“I’m here to find out more about the educational programs because I want to major in elementary education so I can come back and teach at Spring ISD,” he said.

Discua said he was excited to have the opportunity to speak directly with college admissions representatives and ask questions before beginning the application process.

“I feel like Spring ISD gives us so many opportunities to give us all the resources we need to go out into the real world,” he said.

His experience as a Spring ISD student has also shaped his desire to return to the district.

“I hope to come back and become an elementary teacher at Spring ISD,” he said. “I recommend Spring ISD because I feel like it’s for everyone. They give you so many resources and it’s a really good district and I’ve really grown here as a student both in and out of school.”

Carl Wunsche Sr. High School junior Darell Speares is already thinking about how his interests in technology, robotics, business and design can translate into a future career.

Speares said he is exploring a career in systems engineering while also developing his teamwork skills, pursuing scholarships and gaining experience through robotics and business ventures.

“Being at Spring ISD has helped me learn more about what the future will be like is really important,” Speares said. “This is really going to help get everything prepared.”

Speares also has an interest in architecture and hopes to eventually work with blueprints and building design.

“That’s really my passion because I really like drawing,” he said. “I’ll be able to use my math skills and apply them to my job and help the community build stable buildings.”

The event also included a transition fair designed to connect students receiving special education services with agencies and organizations that can support them as they prepare for life after high school.

Jennifer Barnes, Coordinator of Post-Secondary Success for Spring ISD, emphasized that the goal is to help students see the many possibilities available after graduation.

“This fair is an opportunity for our students to transition to the next level,” Barnes said. “We have tons of agencies here to help them with that. The New Spring offers opportunities like this because it is important for our students to start thinking about college early.”

College and career preparation continues throughout the school year, with each Spring ISD high school hosting fairs in the fall and spring, giving students more opportunities to discover their interests, make meaningful connections and take confident steps toward their future.