About 450 students from 35 high schools learned about unionized careers at the UFT Academic High School Division’s 8th annual Future in Focus career fair. The event was held on May 30 at the Boys’ Club of New York in Manhattan. Matt Ravick, a school counselor at Careers in Sports HS in the Bronx, said he was excited to introduce his students to career pathways such as welding, which one of his students now hopes to pursue. “It’s important to have more opportunities for trade programs for seniors,” said Ravick. “A lot of students want to take that route.” Speaking with representatives from 40 unions at tables around the exhibition hall, students learned about career paths in the medical field, building trades, health care, the arts and more. The students also learned about the benefits that come from belonging to a union, said UFT Vice President for Academic High Schools Janella Hinds, who spearheaded the event. “This is how we safeguard our students’ future and the future of the labor movement,” she said.