Nearly 900 students from the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System attended a fall "Ready to Work" job fair that featured about 50 vendors, a student said.

"We wanna give our students choice filled options," Student 1, an SCCPSS student, said, summarizing the event's stated purpose: to expose students to career, training, college and military pathways so they can make informed decisions.

Students described face-to-face access to employers, training programs, colleges and the military. "And to have those professionals here, to have those industries here, we give our students the opportunity to make those informed decisions," Student 2, an SCCPSS student, said. Student 3, an SCCPSS student, said, "This fall ready to work job fair attracted nearly 900 SCCPSS students and 50 vendors."

Participants cited a range of organizations and employers. "Different businesses like Chick-fil-A, the school board, City of Savannah. We got a Georgia ports, like, a lot of big brands, carpenters, all everybody here," Student 4 said. Another student pointed to Savannah Tech as an example of a local training pathway: "One of my personal favorites was making aircrafts in Savannah Tech," Student 5 said.

Students described the event as a way to keep options open. "I've been thinking about the Air Force, and I've also been thinking about college because I didn't wanna go to college, but I'm just keeping my my options open," Student 1 said. Student 2 added that students could record conversations with professionals to refer back to later: "So for these students to be able to walk in here and meet these these professionals face to face, they can ask questions. And now with technologies, they can record the conversation to refer back on it."

Some students also raised concerns about the cost of postsecondary education. "Many students at the high school doesn't have, like, a lot of money to pay for their tuition, and this could help them as well," Student 6 said.

"It's preparation leading to options leading towards success," Student 3 said, and identified himself: "For SCCPSS, I'm Ken Slatz."