What’s Next: OnTrack Celebrates 10 Years of Opening Doors for Bay Area Youth

For every generation of students, there’s a moment when the question shifts.

It’s no longer “What classes are you taking?” or “What grade are you in?”

Instead, it becomes “What’s next after school?”

For some, that question is exciting. For others, it’s overwhelming. The future can feel full of possibility – and uncertainty – all at once.

For the past 10 years, United Way Bay Area’s OnTrack has been creating a space where young people don’t have to navigate that question alone.

OnTrack Career Expo Helps Students Explore Career Pathways

This year’s OnTrack Career Expo, held at San Francisco State University, celebrated the program’s 10th anniversary by bringing together students, employers, educators, volunteers, and community partners for a day of conversation, career exploration, and connection.

OnTrack is designed to help students build confidence, explore career pathways, and connect with professionals who can help them take the next step toward their future.

The milestone event also welcomed a special guest, San Francisco Supervisor Myrna Melgar, whose journey – from immigrating to San Francisco at age 12 to becoming the first Latina elected to represent her district, and the first woman to represent any district – mirrored many of the themes at the heart of OnTrack. Speaking to students on the campus where she once studied, Supervisor Melgar encouraged them to build connections, ask questions, and take advantage of the opportunities around them.

That message echoed throughout the day.

Industry professionals share career advice for the future of work

Students met with professionals across industries, including healthcare, biotechnology, public service, engineering, higher education, and skilled trades. They explored career paths, asked candid questions, and heard a recurring reminder: very few careers follow a straight line.

That perspective was reinforced by longtime OnTrack partner AbbVie, whose volunteers returned for the sixth year to help students see themselves in careers they might not have previously imagined.

“We keep coming back because of the impact we’re having on the students,” said Elodie Chalmette, Manager, Employee & Community Engagement at AbbVie. “We hope many of them will see that becoming a scientist is an option for them – that it’s a real opportunity they can pursue.”

Looking ahead, conversations also turned to the changing world of work. As technologies like AI reshape industries, Chalmette encouraged students to focus on something that won’t go out of style: curiosity.

Careers evolve. Industries change. Technology advances. But helping young people build the confidence, connections, and perspective to navigate those changes remains just as important today as it was when OnTrack began a decade ago.

Events like this are only possible because of the organizations and individuals who invest in the next generation. We extend our sincere thanks to our presenting sponsors and partners, including AbbVie, San Francisco Bay University, and Valley Water, as well as our in-kind partners, Costco, Rainbow Grocery, Peet’s Coffee, Target, and Tommy Hilfiger. We’re equally grateful to the volunteers, Career Chat Guides, employers, educators, and community partners whose time and expertise transformed a single day into countless conversations about what comes next.

Ten years in, OnTrack continues to prove something simple: students don’t need every answer before they take the next step. Sometimes, they just need someone willing to help them see what’s possible.