Saturday, May 10, 2025
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Bright futures ahead

DEVIN WEEKS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 1 month AGO
by DEVIN WEEKS
Devin Weeks is a third-generation North Idaho resident. She holds an associate degree in journalism from North Idaho College and a bachelor's in communication arts from Lewis-Clark State College Coeur d'Alene. Devin embarked on her journalism career at the Coeur d'Alene Press in 2013. She worked weekends for several years, covering a wide variety of events and issues throughout Kootenai County. Devin now mainly covers K-12 education and the city of Post Falls. She enjoys delivering daily chuckles through the Ghastly Groaner and loves highlighting local people in the Fast Five segment that runs in CoeurVoice. Devin lives in Post Falls with her husband and their three eccentric and very needy cats. | March 23, 2023 1:05 AM

Future fire marshals, photographers, forensic scientists, trauma nurses, art teachers and engineers were dressed to the nines Wednesday for the Post Falls Reverse Job Fair.

"It's going great so far, I enjoy every aspect of it," said Post Falls High School senior Holden Stefani, who has his sights set on working for a big company, like Microsoft or Samsung.

"I want to be a software engineer," he said.

Holden, who wore his dad's blue tie, said he was feeling pretty confident as he spoke with community members about his aspirations.

"It's great, getting to talk to people about careers," he said.

The Post Falls Chamber of Commerce has held the Reverse Job Fair for 16 years. It's an opportunity for students to earn scholarships, as well as interpersonal communication and public speaking skills.

This year, nearly 260 seniors from Post Falls High, New Vision High and Genesis Preparatory Academy presented exhibits displaying research on their desired careers, while more than 120 community members interviewed them about their research.

Post Falls High's Kaley Bohl has been interested in photography since she was in middle school. Her display included photos of colorful sunsets and gorgeous landscapes.

"I've always loved to capture the moment, it's something I'm very passionate about," she said.

Eden Hardison of Post Falls High plans to follow in her dad's footsteps to be a chiropractor. Her exhibit used small model skeletons to show different pain points throughout the body.

"My whole life, I've grown up with seeing my dad help people, them walking out and just feeling better," she said. "Ever since I was little, I've been like, 'Man, that seems really cool.'"

New Vision Alternative High senior Nevaeh Bartell has dreams of being an elementary school teacher.

"What has inspired me is I feel like growing up, it's important to have that one teacher that sticks by your side and never gives up and is a mentor for you," she said. "I really want to do that for someone else."

Another visionary from New Vision is Matthew Tavares, who has grand plans to be an entrepreneur, own a skate shop for youths and someday create an indoor skate park.

"I feel like opening my own shop, especially somewhere in the Northwest where there hasn't been one in over five or six years, would be a perfect opportunity to give people more of something to do, to experience and keep going forward when it's winter or rainy out," he said. "They could go to a skate park that's indoors."

Kylie Cutler of Post Falls is a civil/environmental engineer with J-U-B Engineers. She volunteered to interview students because she loves being involved in her community. She volunteered last year as well.

"I think it's great to be able to interact with these young adults," she said. "They're just so impressive. To hear the wisdom that they have, that I didn't even have at their age, it's amazing."

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DEVIN WEEKS/Press

New Vision High School senior Matthew Tavares on Wednesday discusses his dreams to own a skate shop and someday open an indoor skate park in the Inland Northwest. He was one of nearly 260 students who participated in the Post Falls Chamber's Reverse Job Fair at Real Life Ministries.

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DEVIN WEEKS/Press

Nevaeh Bartell from New Vision High discusses her plans to be an elementary school teacher Wednesday during the Post Falls Reverse Job Fair.

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DEVIN WEEKS/Press

Future chiropractor Eden Hardison of Post Falls High shows on her display board the different tools chiropractors use as they work with patients.

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