By Fantasy Aponte ’28
Derby High School students entered the gymnasium with excitement for the first college fair of the 2025 school year. The event was open to all grade levels, allowing participants to speak with college representatives from across Connecticut and some neighboring states. The college fair is aimed at helping students prepare for their future after high school.
Our school college fair is a special event because it helps provide the most opportunities and experiences for students to get exposure to colleges and potential future careers, and to get a feel for schools that might be a right fit. It helps upperclassmen the most because they are much closer to their next educational steps in life, which are just months away. Delvalle ‘26 says, “Going up to the different tables, you get a widened viewpoint of how college will benefit you. It helps students narrow down their choices. It is helpful having representatives come to students, letting them ask questions about their desired schools.”
The college fair helps underclassman by giving them exposure to representatives early on, so by the time they are upperclassmen, they are more informed on which path they want to take after high school. Fernandez ‘28 says, ”The college fair has influenced my thinking about college as it has been preparing me, and it’s good to have because it sets everyone up for the future.”
Representative for Quinnipiac University delivered strong advice to students on how to make a lasting impression on college representatives. “They can come up to the table, introduce themselves, tell us a little bit about themselves, what area of interest they are interested in, and prepare questions for the college representative,” she says.
The college fair is more than just talking to college representatives though. It has fun activities that allow students to engage with military representatives too, like doing pushups for the chance to win lanyards and other military merchandise. It’s common to see students competing with each other, impressing peers and military recruiters, and cheering on their peers.
The Derby High School College Fair is more than just a fair; it is where students take control of their futures and point themselves in the right direction academically.
The Raider Press 