Each year, the Career Readiness department of the Houston Independent School District (HISD) organizes a Career Expo, to help K-12 students in Houston discover their interests and future career paths at an early age.

Last year’s expo had to be called off due to inclement weather, so this year’s When I Grow Up EXPO on March 23 drew large crowds. It was held at the HISD administration headquarters, the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, and there were more than 100 exhibitors, from the public and private sectors, including companies, and non-profit organizations, covering a wide array of industries and career fields. HISD also invited foreign missions, including the French consulate, the Mexican consulate, and the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Houston to join the exhibitors, and help excite the students about global education.

This is the fourth year that the Education Division of TECO in Houston has taken part in the career expo. This year’s expo featured hands-on activities, workshops, train rides, school competitions, student performances, food trucks, and more. In keeping with this, and to stand out among the other exhibitors, the Education Division adopted “Study in Taiwan and Have Fun” as its theme. It incorporated a Pinball game, very popular in Taiwanese night market arcades, as an integral part of the Study in Taiwan information table. The Pinball game successfully attracted children, parents, and HISD’s staff, and they enjoyed the game so much that even shy people couldn’t contain their excitement when they won prizes.

Peter Chen, Director-General of TECO in Houston, and Sophie Chou, Director of the Education Division, interacted with the visitors, including Sergio Lira, HISD’s new Education Board Trustee; Michael Love the HISD Associate Superintendent; and Rick Cruz Chief of Strategy & Innovation Officer who came to say hello and to express their appreciation for Taiwan’s support and partnership.

The happy crowd in front of Taiwan’s information table and the queue waiting to play Pinball were a tribute to the Education Division’s imaginative approach to promoting education opportunities and scholarship programs in Taiwan to young American students.

Photo:(From left)Chief Rick Cruz of HISD Strategy and Innovation; Isabelle Chen, Program Coordinator at TECO in Houston; Dr. Sergio Lira, HISD Education Board Trustee; Peter Chen, Director-General of TECO in Houston; and Sophie Chou, Director of the Education Division at TECO in Houston, at the Taiwan information table.