Wednesday, March 27th, was a day filled with anticipation and energy as SUNY Cortland geared up for its Career and Experience Fair. On this day the function room of Corey Union transformed into a hub of opportunity. From 1-5 pm, many students eagerly attended this event, ready to explore potential career paths, network with industry professionals, and, figure out if they could land themselves any summer internships.
Upon arrival to this event members of our very own career services department at SUNY Cortland warmly welcomed us, providing helpful information on the layout of the event. They explained that booths were organized alphabetically, guiding us seamlessly through the fair. Additionally, they handed out a helpful paper listing all the booths, ensuring we didn’t miss out on any opportunities.
As I entered the function room of Corey Union, I found myself in a sea of booths, each representing a different organization or company. From household names like City Year and Walgreens to organizations like Hidden Valley 4-H Camp and Primitive Pursuits, the variety was impressive.
Each booth was decked out in their company’s colors and equipped with pens, stress balls, stickers, you name it, they had it all. I grabbed items from each booth, all sporting company logos. You can never have too many pens and those stress balls… They’re going to be a lifesaver come finals week.
What truly stood out, though, was the atmosphere of the event. The representatives from each company weren’t just there to hand out free stuff—they genuinely wanted to connect with students. They were friendly, approachable, and eager to chat about internships and career paths.
The Fresh Air Fund
One organization that particularly intrigued me was The Fresh Air Fund. While they are known for their summer camps, what caught my attention was their year-round environmental educational programs. These programs, located in the Hudson Valley at The Fresh Air Fund’s Sharpe Reservation, focus on essential skills such as team building, environmental education, problem-solving, critical thinking, and effective communication. It was inspiring to see an organization dedicated to empowering students through immersive learning experiences.
Throughout the day, the function room continued to buzz with energy as students engaged in conversations with representatives from various industries. It was great to see fellow students confidently discussing their career aspirations and learning from professionals who’ve succeeded in their respective fields.
By the time 5 pm hit the career fair came to a close and I left feeling empowered and excited about the future. Armed with new connections, valuable insights, and a bag full of goodies, I was ready to take on the world—or at least the next job application.
The Career and Experience Fair wasn’t just about finding a job—it was about discovering possibilities. It showed me that there’s a whole world of opportunities out there, and SUNY Cortland is here to help me seize them.
As I walked away from the fair, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the experience. It was more than just an event—it was a reminder that my university is invested in my success and that the future is full of possibilities.