Equip, a local non-profit organization that serves high school students with disabilities in Jefferson and Shelby Counties, on Tuesday will hold its 5th Annual Career Expo at Valleydale Church for area students to learn about various careers and what a “day in the life” looks like for the jobs.

The event, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., is organized in collaboration with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS).

The Career Expo benefits kids by introducing them to a variety of career field alternatives once they graduate from high school, organizers said. The students get to experience what it’s like to work in the many fields featured, as well as the education/training needs and potential pay levels.

This year Equip will be hosting around 30 different careers at the expo and expects around 300 students to attend, according to Equip..

Equip, founded in 2018 in Shelby County, now serves more than 33 high schools in Shelby and Jefferson County.

Blake Huynh, Equip’s founder and Executive Director, says he loves his job and can’t imagine a more rewarding or meaningful profession.

“Equip is an organization close to my heart. Serving students and individuals with disabilities has been a passion of mine since a young age. I can’t imagine a job more rewarding than helping others find their passions and build their futures,” he said.

Hunyh had some advice for high school students. “For any high schooler, your career is starting now through experiences you are having. Go observe and learn about as many different careers as possible. It is a big decision, and it will be on you sooner than you know it,” he said.