Earlier this month we celebrated the senior class’s achievements in career and technical education (CTE), recognizing students who have excelled in programs that prepare them for real-world success after graduation. The ceremony showed their dedication, skills, and goals for careers in fields like health science, automotive technology, etc.
At first, joining a CTE program wasn’t in mind, but after hearing about the Educational Aid class during school, the program sounded interesting enough to give it a try.
“I was part of Educational Aid (Early Childhood) Honestly I wasn’t going to do anything CTE related but my friend told me about the program and it sounded interesting so I decided to join,” senior Juliana Morales said.
Earning the award meant putting in time both inside and outside the classroom. Helping in the daycare and staying on top of class assignments were both important parts of meeting the requirements.
“To earn this award I basically did a work study where I went into the daycare and helped which then earned me the hours that I needed to get certified. I also did all the work I needed to do inside the classroom like making lesson plans and activities for the children,” senior Fernanda Ramos said.
Difficulties were faced along the way, but with hard work, focus, and determination, getting through them was very possible and worth it in the end.
“The biggest challenge throughout everything was having to be able to push through and keep working even when I was exhausted,” senior Karlo Rodriguez said.
Support from the teacher made a big difference by giving clear guidance and helping with anything that was confusing. Having someone the kids respected also made the experience smoother and easier to manage.
“Ms.Lakin was a wonderful teacher, she would answer any questions we had and would be there when we needed help which was great because the kids listened more to her than us. She also gave us step by step instructions on how to do certain things because it was unfamiliar to us,” Morales said.
The best advice is to go into the program with an open mind and choose a path that feels right, because enjoying what you do makes the whole experience more meaningful.
“I would tell newcomers to choose a program that matches their interests, because doing something you enjoy can make the experience feel less like work and more like something to look forward to each day. It helps make the tough days easier and keeps you motivated to keep going and do your best,” Rodriguez said.
Written by Renzo Cruz