“We are exposing students to what could be the next phase of their lives,” said Terrain Chambers Reeves, an ELA teacher and the chapter leader at Edward R. Murrow HS in Brooklyn.

Two college and career fairs hosted by the UFT’s Academic High Schools Division this fall introduced that phase to some 5,500 high school students, including a group of 103 students chaperoned by Chambers Reeves and her colleagues.

At Brooklyn College on Oct. 9 and at the Borough of Manhattan Community College on Nov. 7, high school students circulated and received information from about 75 colleges and universities, as well as from recruiters with the city’s fire and police departments.

“Teachers know that supporting students’ success is work that extends long past the classroom,” said Janella Hinds, the UFT vice president for academic high schools. “To thrive, our students need to understand the wide range of possibilities open to them. We are proud to host these college fairs to ensure our students are fully prepared for a successful life after high school.”

Martin Castro, a social studies teacher at International Community HS in the Bronx who brought 40 students to the Manhattan fair, said he views the events as a window into the wide world of college experiences and a chance for students to practice researching postsecondary education options and advocating for themselves in the college process.

“They get practice communicating with college representatives, which they are going to have to do,” he said.

Castro gave his students a bingo game that turned the event into a kind of scavenger hunt, prompting them to visit different booths, learn about various colleges and universities, and interact with representatives. He also provided a list of questions and a short script that students could use to introduce themselves at each table.

Chambers Reeves said the career fairs are especially valuable for students who will be the first in their families to attend college. She describes the college fair as an “a-ha moment” for many of her students: “They think, ‘I can go home to my family with this information and explain it to them, because this opportunity is now available to me. It’s not just a dream anymore.’”