By Gustavo Buenrostro
Students engaged in booths during the second annual East Los Angeles College Majors Fair on Thursday in front of the E3 building.
All departments had booths and gave information to students about what the department offers.
“I am out here just exploring. I want to see what the other majors have to offer,” said Computer Science major Sally Chung.
She said that the Major’s Fair is good for students who are undecided on a major because they can make connections in the major they are interested in.
Psychology major Veronica Cruz said that the event was important for students, especially for those undecided. She said that this fair was different from others because it gave a sense of community.
Student Luis Benitez is undecided and said that he liked looking at the different options.
He said that it was an opportunity to learn about different majors.
“The fair feels open. It makes it feel like people are engaging with each other and the booths,” said Benitez.
There was a Career Lounge where students could meet with a counselor and discuss their major.
Career counselor Ryan Bishop said that students come to the lounge and he helps them figure out what major they might have an interest in.
He said the counselors pinned down what the student wanted to do and if what they were interested in was a class then they made a path for the student to follow.
Then, they looked at the goal and set up a day they could meet for a longer discussion.
Students who have declared a major were also encouraged to go to the lounge to see what classes they still need to take.
First-year Theater Arts Department students performed a play called “What’s Wrong with Mr. White?” Faculty member and director of the play James Buglewicz said he wanted to show what a year of being in theater can do.
The Engineering Department displayed a robotic submarine that navigates using sound.
Mechanical engineer major Errol Oscar said that the fair was great because the department can expose what they do more and hopefully get students to join.
The Majors Fair was organized by the Office of Career and Continuing Education and Workforce Education.Connie Cervantes was part of the planning committee of the fair.
“I was surprised. Usually I see students at the games but this time, students were at the booths and asking about the information,” said Cervantes.
Cervantes said that this year’s Majors Fair was more successful than last year’s.
She said the fair had greater success this year because the location was better and the booths weren’t as spread out.
Last year, the fair was in front of the library. This year, it was in between the E7 and E3 buildings so students just coming out of their classes could participate said Cervantes.
She said the Majors Fair was also meant to promote certificate programs.
While students work on their major they can also work on a department’s certificate Cervantes said.
“Many students weren’t aware of certificates departments offered,” said Cervantes.
A Majors Fair at South Gate is today in the parking lot and will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.