Editors Note: Student Stories is a project designed to showcase stories, events, clubs, and opinions authored by students in Santa Cruz County. This is offered through our Lookout in the Classroom program where students receive free access to all of our content as well as workshops and curriculum for local educators. Learn more here.
As a college intern with Your Future Is Our Business (YFIOB), I’ve had the chance to see firsthand how powerful career exploration can be for young people in Santa Cruz County. Before joining this organization, I didn’t fully realize how many resources are available to help students figure out what they want to do after high school.
YFIOB is a nonprofit dedicated to bridging the gap between education and the working world. By connecting schools with local businesses, YFIOB helps students make informed choices about their futures. Whether through career expos, speaker panels, or internships, the organization creates opportunities for students to learn directly from professionals in a wide range of industries. That kind of real-world exposure is something you can’t always get in a classroom, and it makes all the difference.
One of YFIOB’s most impactful programs is Trades Day, an annual event that brings together over 600 students and dozens of vendors representing fields like construction, forestry, plumbing, landscaping, and more. Hosted in partnership with the Construction Industry Education Foundation (CIEF), the event allows students to meet face-to-face with people working in these essential trades. This year, Trades Day will take place on October 9, 2025, at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
What makes Trades Day so valuable is the hands-on learning it offers. Students can walk through exhibits, try activities, and have genuine conversations with professionals who enjoy sharing their experience and advice. For many, it’s the first time they’ve been able to imagine themselves in a career outside the traditional “college-first” track. The event opens doors to stable, well-paying jobs and helps students discover interests they may not have considered otherwise.
Looking back, I wish I’d had an event like Trades Day when I was in high school. It’s easy to assume you have to have everything figured out by graduation, but opportunities like this remind us that there are multiple paths to success — and exploring them early can give students a huge advantage.
YFIOB’s work underscores an important truth: investing in students’ futures means investing in our community. When young people feel supported and informed about their options, they’re better prepared to step into careers that fulfill them and strengthen Santa Cruz County as a whole.
Cathy Romero is a student at UC Santa Cruz and an intern at YFIOB