Many students will choose to attend a college of their choosing.

Perhaps some may want to join the armed forces to defend our country.

Yet for others, a stint as a volunteer firefighter could one day be in the cards.

Those were just a few of the occupations on hand for Northern Lehigh School District’s second annual Career, College, and Military readiness fair.

About 70 vendors participated in the event Friday at Northern Lehigh High School for students in grades 7-12, up from the 54 who set up shop last year, according to high school Principal Michael Strohl.

Strohl said the goal of the event was to educate students on career, college, and military readiness and planning.

“The students are gaining a lot of knowledge,” Strohl said. “There are a lot of resources being obtained.”

Ninth-grader Makayla Carwell spent some time at the Lehigh County Children & Youth vendor table.

“It’s something I’ve been interested in for a while,” Carwell said. “I’m really interested in it; I got their card for it, and when I’m a little bit older, I’d like to do that.”

Just a few feet away, sophomore Naerobys Dawsey-Silverio listened intently as Denise “Neice Eie” Martinez, founder/CEO/President of Caring Dam Hearts in Slatington, shared some perspectives.

Dawsey-Silverio said she’s looking to do work so that it looks good on her college SATS, and college resume, and to help out.

Additionally, first responders had vehicles on display on Snyder Avenue, the street between the high school and the middle school, and near the high school entrance for students in grades 3-6.

Slatington Elementary fifth-grader Jordan Senft said he was surprised how heavy the gear he tried on courtesy of the Slatedale Fire Company was.

“It was hard to take off,” said Senft, 10. “It had a lot of layers.”

Slatington Elementary fifth-grader Logan Wanamaker said he learned about blind spots when driving courtesy of the Pitt Ohio truck that was on hand.

Northern Lehigh Middle School seventh-grader Beckett Fox said the event gave him something to think about once he graduates.

“It’s a great idea,” said Fox, 13. “I might want to work with one of these places.”

Fellow seventh-grader Andrew Mohrey said he too was glad to partake in the readiness fair.

“There’s a lot of options,” said Mohrey, 12. “I’m still thinking about what I want to do.”

That would be great as far as Star Hose Fire Company No. 1, Emerald fire Chief Tito Burgos is concerned.

“We’re trying to reach out to the younger people to come in and replace the older fellas,” Burgos said. “It’s hard to get more (volunteers).”

Burgos said the fire company gives personal tours at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Elsewhere, Slatington Elementary sixth-grader Logan McCartney said he was grateful he was able to learn from the program.

“I think it’s a really awesome program,” said McCartney, 12. “It’s cool that they spend time over here telling the kids about all these different jobs they can do when they’re older.”