On Thursday, October 23, 2025, Skyline College hosted an enriching Career Retreat for students from Peninsula High School’s Herman@s Connection to College program. Led by Dual Enrollment Counselor Iveth Lopez Obeso and Career Services Coordinator Kalia Chavez, the event provided high school seniors with early, meaningful exposure to the college environment and essential career readiness skills.
The retreat was designed to foster both personal and professional growth. It began with an inspiring student panel featuring leaders from key campus programs, including the Undocumented Community Center, the Women’s Mentoring and Leadership Academy, Black and Brown Scholars, Dual Enrollment, and Career Services. These student leaders shared authentic insights from their experiences as students and student assistants, offering valuable peer-to-peer consejos (advice) to the high school participants. A special shout-out to student leaders Estefania Rodriguez, Leilani McAllister, Adam Rodriguez, Carlos Escala, and Ana Aragona. Skyline colegas (colleagues) also joined the event, sharing information about their programs and warmly welcoming students. A special thank you to Project Change Coordinator Mario Wash and Undocumented Community Center Coordinator Fernanda Castorena.
The students then engaged in hands-on activities, such as “Think Like a Hiring Manager,” where they analyzed a job description and reviewed three candidate resumes, discussing in groups who they would hire and why. They also reflected on skills developed through their life experiences, using these insights to begin shaping their career narratives and to highlight transferable strengths for their resumes. The retreat concluded with students creating career vision boards, emphasizing the importance of having goals and dreaming without limits. Participants remained fully engaged until the final moments, also enjoying community-building over lunch and receiving professional portraits from Career Services Visual Communication Coordinator, Claudia Paz.
We look forward to continued partnership with Peninsula High School and hosting more students for future career-readiness experiences.
Article by Iveth Lopez Obeso and Kalia Chavez
Photos by Gustavo Lopez
