Hearing the news earlier this month that the Rochelle-based News Media Corp. was shuttering over two dozen newspapers across the Midwest - with four in Illinois - was a hard hit not just for journalists and the communities these local papers served but for democracy in general.

But what we're seeing now and in recent years, including how the internet has decimated my profession, is nothing compared to how technology is changing the landscape in so many professions and industries. A recent Chicago Tribune editorial pointed to Goldman Sachs projecting that by 2045, advances in generative AI and robotics could fully automate up to 50% of jobs.

Certainly parents I've spoken to are concerned about how to discuss career opportunities with their kids. Likewise, educators are seeing more uncertainty among students as they "realize what they had imagined in high school may look very different by the time they graduate," noted Arin Carter, associate vice president for student success and motivation at Aurora University.

"The pace of change can feel overwhelming, but that is where proactive career counseling makes a difference," she said.

Among students' biggest concerns is how difficult it can be to get noticed by employers who increasingly use AI-powered applicant tracking systems, Carter pointed out. And that's just one example of how universities must help students navigate how AI is reshaping the job market.

Likewise, Steve John, lead counselor at West Aurora High School, said more students are expressing uncertainty about their paths into the workforce, but they are also far more aware of how AI will shape those careers.

And because this is such a "tech savvy" generation," they are "intrigued by the possibilities that AI holds," he continued. "They want to know how it can reshape their careers ... they see how it is changing."

All of which is why career exploration must be an early part of the process, insist high school and college educators, who realize their role is even more important in guiding students to think more critically about the skills needed to be successful.

Indian Prairie District 204 has been "intentional about exposing students to careers, starting in elementary school and expanding that learning in middle and high school," said District 204 Director of Innovation Brian Giovanini, who also pointed to the district's partnership with Digital Promise, a nonprofit that focuses on education, technology and research to improve learning opportunities across all grade levels.

At West Aurora, this focus on skills and mindset in a rapidly-changing landscape is identified as "Blackhawk Ready," said John, and includes a team of educators and counselors who "continue to acquire new information" that can best be shared with students and the community.

It all comes down to preparing students to use AI thoughtfully in whatever path they choose, insisted East Aurora District 131 Superintendent Robert Halverson. That means pairing technical understanding with "uniquely human skills including creativity, problem-solving and empathy."

Students who are busy with school, jobs, sports and other extracurricular activities are already using it in many ways, both personally and academically, as a "co-pilot" to increase efficiency, he said.

"For example, math AI can generate practice problems or act as a tutor" while in "other subjects it can support organization, expand thinking and offer different perspectives," he said.

And that must be accompanied by a mindset of lifelong learning, as well as an understanding of what AI is, and just as importantly, "what it is not," noted John.

"By framing AI as a tool to enhance problem-solving, creativity and critical thinking, we can ensure that students are not only familiar with the technology itself but also equipped with the ethical judgement and adaptability" needed to thrive, he said.

At Aurora University, structured opportunities such as mentorship, job shadowing and career assessments are provided to help them identify their interests and strengths early on, said Carter, also noting the university is using AI-powered tools like a resume reviewer and virtual interview practice platform so students can gain hands-on experience while working with innovative technologies.

"I believe the universities that thrive will be those that embrace AI as both a tool for student success and a driver of curricular innovations while still holding fast to the human connections and mentoring that define the value of a four-year education," said Carter.

Likewise, Waubonsee Community College knows the vital role it plays in upskilling students to meet these fast-paced changes. Through its AI Taskforce, WCC is launching initiatives that prepare students for future opportunities, and is also working with faculty to explore the possibilities of AI in teaching and learning.

The college is especially proud after recently being selected as one of two Illinois schools to join 60-plus other schools in the Aspen Institute's Unlocking Opportunity network. Over the next three years, says Stephanie Wennmacher, executive director of marketing and communications, WCC will partner with this think tank to review and enhance programs to "ensure they align with workforce needs and transfer opportunities."

Last week also marked the opening of WCC's new 100,000-square-foot Technical Education Center, a state-of-the-art facility that houses the college's award-winning automotive programs, where students are working with AI collision estimation software and AI-enabled paint matching and mixing technology.

This hands-on experience, says Wennmacher, shows students how AI is transforming longstanding industries, preparing them with the skills employers demand right now.

"Ultimately, the goal is not to let AI think for students but to help them think more deeply, more creatively and more responsibly," pointed out District 131 Superintendent Halverson. And that also means preparing students for an AI-driven world by "helping them engage with the technology rather than fear it."

John agreed, noting that when student concerns arise about their future, it often centers around uncertainty about how AI might reshape the careers they are preparing for, and whether they will need to retrain down the road.

But the West High counselor sees a "healthy balance" to this "optimism and realism" because it shows students are eager to engage with new technology tools, yet also realize they must learn to adapt.

"Our role in education is not just to prepare students for their first job," he said, "but to prepare them with skills and mindsets for a lifetime of learning in a world where change is constant."