Last semester, a group of 9th and 10th graders at Pritzker College Prep got the chance to dip into the tech world and the soda fountain at McDonalds’ HQ. Forty students walked into their building in the West Loop to attend one of their Grab-A-Byte events, which the company holds to inspire and educate young women about careers in technology.
Students attended workshops led by different tech departments, gained career-building resources, networked with women in tech roles, toured the HQ, and got unlimited trips to the soda fountain! For many of our students, this was their first time exploring a top-level corporate environment.
This unique opportunity arose from Pritzker’s partnership with Junior Achievement, a nonprofit organization that empowers and prepares students for their future professional and academic ventures. Through this partnership, Junior Achievement has helped Pritzker students connect with professionals from all kinds of backgrounds and fields— allowing them to envision future careers and see the possibilities ahead.
For 9th graders like Makayla Velez and Paola Cazada, learning more about the tech field and the day-to-day of these professionals left them with a broader view of their career options. Here’s what they said about the experience:
Q: How did meeting professionals in this field your perspective on your career opportunities?
Makayla Velez: It was very impactful, and it changed my mindset. I didn’t realize how relevant cybersecurity is for a company like McDonalds. It made me think about my career path, future jobs, and made me wonder if there would be roles in cybersecurity for me if I wanted that.
Makayla (standing) presenting for her group at one of the workshops at the Grab-a-Byte event.
Q: Has this experience influenced your academic and/or career choices?
MV: I have an idea of what I want to do— I want to either be a doctor or a lawyer. This made me think about the importance of the security of clients’ information and how cybersecurity can be implemented. This experience opened my eyes to the different things I can do. Technology and cybersecurity roles are relevant for so many careers and fields.
Q: Is it important to have career exploration opportunities like this as a high school student?
MV: It’s important and could be very impactful because you get to learn from a specialist about their career, about their journeys, and how they picked this career… These are experts in their field. They have probably gone through different experiences and struggles similar to the ones you will face. That may be helpful later when you are making important decisions. It can also inspire you to do something you hadn’t considered before.
Q: Did you have any impactful or memorable conversations with anyone at the HQ?
Paola Cazada: I had a conversation with someone who started at the restaurant. She worked her way up to the headquarters. That conversation really stuck with me because it shows that you can start small, but if you have faith in yourself and put in the work, you will grow, regardless of where you start.
Paola Calzada (on the right) with a classmate and Grimace at the Archive in the McDonald's HQ.
Q: Is it important to have career exploration opportunities like this as a high school student?
PC: It’s important because, if you don’t have knowledge about different careers, it can make it more challenging to decide in the future. I didn’t know what this experience was going to be like. I thought I was only going to be interested in business. I never thought there would be more opportunities I would love. After this trip, I started looking forward to maybe having a career in technology. I really like technology and have a real interest in learning more about it after this event.
Q: How would you advise other students who have an opportunity to participate in similar career exploration events?
PC: Take advantage of the time you have and ask as many questions as you can. Ensure you understand fully about what it is they are talking to you about. I regret not asking more questions. I didn’t realize I was changing my vision, and now wish I had asked more about technology.
