March 6th, 2019

High school starts with the stark transition between being the top dogs in 8th grade to the youngsters as Freshman. This can be a major shock for many students, but luckily at University High School there are plenty of programs and events that allows students to find their comfort zones once they are here. Still, it can be a tumultuous time for students.

Figuring out who they are is a major part of high school and college, and there is a lot of pressure to "figure it all out." We have a newsflash for parents and students: most people don't have it figured out! Sure, there are plenty of things young people can do to get on the right track and find fulfillment during high school, but it is not the make or break time it is made out to be.

There is a lot of time for trial-and-error before graduation comes around. Transitions are aplenty in various classes, especially ROP classes. Discovering new skills, honing new passions, and carving out their own unique path are all things that high school students will do in their 4 years that can transition them into fresh ways of thinking.

Transitions are what we make of them. We can take them in stride and work with the challenges that they present or we can get beaten down by them. It is not always our choice and we can be surprised by it, but ultimately it doesn't have to affect us for the rest of our lives. We can only choose to control our little corner of the world and hope that we are able to find our own version of fulfillment.

February 15th, 2019

There are so many parts of this world that try to bring us down. Having a positive mentality regarding our abilities can make all of the difference in the world, but it's never that simple! We have to actively work towards believing in ourselves. What else is there in this life?

Feeling supported and feeling like you are working towards something that means more ore will provide benefits is a great way to believe in ourselves. ROP classes can do just that, they are intended to help us in the future! Trojans who take advantage of the ROP program will get the most out of their high school experience.

Whatever route you take, just remember... you've GOT THIS!

February 14th, 2019

Here at University High School, we are getting close to completing our first month of the Spring 2019 semester. Students are figuring out their schedules, including ROP classes. We are at the point in the semester where students are really getting the chance to dig deep and learn as much as they can about the topic for the rest of the semester.

We here at Coastline ROP are excited at the enthusiasm shown towards our course offerings. Trojans are exuding passion beyond their years, and it is exciting to know that future generations will be taking on the challenges of tomorrow with open arms.

CTE is designed specifically to help students do that. It is incredible to see students so interested in industry sectors that are in high-demand and those that can solve problems for their fellow man. Future doctors, nurses, EMT's, engineers, chefs, construction managers, IT specialists, coders, programmers, hospitality professionals, and so many others are being molded as we speak.

January 16th, 2019

It's an exciting time of the school year, especially for ROP classes. Students are discovering their passions and figuring out exactly what they want to do with their creative ideas, talents, and abilities for the rest of their lives. In an effort to fully support our students on this journey, we will be taking a brief hiatus from updating this blog.

This time of year is truly exciting... but there's also a lot to do! We want to make sure University High School students have everything that they need to be successful. For that reason, we will choose quality over quantity and see you again in February. Thanks for following along.

January 15th, 2019

Who gets to decide what it means to be successful? Certainly there is not one awe-inspiring definition that suits everybody. Our society is so diverse and has so many options that it would frankly be irresponsible to decide that there is one uniform version of success that we all should strive for.

Therefore, what types of things should we be looking for when defining success? We have a few ideas:

Fulfillment

Sometimes the work we do isn't always the most exciting or creative. It may not be our passion, but being able to understand why we are doing it and not just how to do it can be very beneficial to our well-being. ROP courses aim at this by giving students both the technical skills to succeed in given fields and the "soft" skills to understand the relationships they need to build. Ultimately, ROP classes will help students gain a deeper appreciation for their work.

Measurable Goals

We don't want to undermine our successes by not having things in place to fully appreciate them. By setting measurable goals, it makes it much easier to count our successes rather than just grasping at vague memories. A great start for young students who want to create measurable goals is in the ROP program. It will teach them certain benchmarks and achievements that are important in their given field.

Happiness

We must never forget that the whole reason we want to succeed and be productive is to promote our own happiness! The point of work is to LEAVE work and enjoy friends, family, hobbies, and the other things that make us who we are. Feeling accomplished during the work day will increase happiness at night.

January 11th, 2019

We are in that time of year where students are at a crossroads; many students have finished their finals already, but the second semester still hasn't started. It is a difficult time for self-motivation, but it is also the most important time to help students develop these skills.

Self-motivation is easy when there's a lot to do. It's the reason that we go stir-crazy when we have long periods where there isn't much expected of us. That can have far-reaching effects into the future for when we are the most busy. These are the times to develop the mechanisms by which we can be motivated and efficient.

Nobody is saying that students should be 100% all the time; one of the key reasons that Uni has it's schedule this way is for students to have the chance to take a break. They absolutely need to do this! There needs to be a nod towards productivity, but it should be balanced with leisure and fulfillment.

How do we find that balance? Setting goals. Students should set moderate, low-impact goals when they have less to do. Maybe that means cleaning up their room a bit. Maybe it means working on that passion project they have put off. Regardless, it should center around self care and improving their mental standing. De-cluttering can be a major mental boost.

Setting moderate goals will instill a sense of accomplishment, and if they do not complete those goals the low-impact nature will limit any chance of guilt. Guilt is the enemy of self-motivation, and we want to limit its impact on high school students.

Long story short, students should take advantage of the times that they have far less to do. Go to the beach, see a movie, hangout with friends. All of these things are necessary for our well-being. At the same time, finding small ways to accomplish things will keep us balanced and ready for the next challenges we face.

January 10th, 2019

Empathy is...

"The action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner."

High school students have to deal with a plethora of different stimulants throughout their 4 years. These can bring up happiness, sadness, positivity, negativity, stress, enthrallment, and a litany of other emotions. It's difficult to understand what they are experiencing at any one time.

How can we get past this issue? Talk to them! If they are coming to ask you for advice or to get help with something, asking a follow-up question can go a long way to showing that you care about them and their future. They want to know that they can trust you in providing them help.

Being empathetic towards their experiences is vital. That does not mean that students should be expected to let their emotions run wild and ignore all consequences. Giving them the chance to speak on what is troubling them and helping bring them down to earth is crucial towards their successful development into adults as a part of our society.

What we are saying in this post is that there is no blanket way to fully understand what high school students are going through every day. If they are taking the time to come and speak to you about something, it is only fair that you listen before giving them advice. I find that trust goes both ways, and if they want your help, they need to know you have their best interest in mind.

January 9th, 2019

It's funny how students call almost every adult working on a school campus a "teacher." When I was substitute teaching, students would call office staff, campus patrollers, maintenance men, and essentially all adults other than administrators by the same defining term. It's a fair assumption to make, and it is not expected that students will know the working titles of all the adults on campus. That's not why they are there.

At the same time, in high school it is extremely useful for students to know the various types of student service professionals that are on their campus. A big part of my position, ROP Career Specialist, is simply letting students know that I exist. They may vaguely know of the ROP program and the types of classes they can take, but they may not translate that into action if they do not know who to talk to.

Luckily for me (and many ROP Career Specialists) there is a wide network of support by others on-campus, especially teachers. Most teachers actively promote the ROP classes when they get the chance, realizing what a great service it is to the students. With teachers talking about ROP, it is no wonder that students often mistakes student service professionals with teachers.

The "art" of providing student support services involved maintaining a delicate balance between availability and awareness vs. pervasiveness. A key part of student services is that most of them are either voluntary or only required at certain times throughout the school year. Therefore, the challenge faced by student services professionals is to make sure that students are comfortable seeking out their advice whenever they need it.

For Coastline ROP, our biggest hurdle to jump over is fitting our services into the already impacted schedules of high school students. It is important that we make all of our decisions in the best interest of the students, and that includes allocating the right amount of time to explain to them the benefits of ROP courses. In short, we want to provide the best services possible for students BEFORE they graduates so that they can be well-prepared for whatever the future has in store.

January 8th, 2019

"Unless information is processed, organized, and applied, knowledge can become a source of frustration rather than fulfillment. Children learn to use and apply knowledge as they gain skills in planning, organizing, decision making, and problem solving. Together, these skills are the building blocks of resourcefulness -- the ability to find and use available resources to achieve goals."

-Marilyn Price-Mitchell, PhD

A common question from high school students is this: how do I apply to [insert college name]? It's an interesting question that we want to explore on today's post. One of the things that makes it so interesting is that we are living in a time where all high school students are digital natives: people who are born after the widespread adoption of new and recent technologies.

The digital native angle is relevant because many questions surrounding college admissions can be answered by simply heading to a particular school's website. Despite the fact that most high school students are growing up with an astounding amount of technology in their lives, the question of "how do I apply to college?!" persists. Many students know the colleges that they would like to attend, but don't make the connection to actually investigate the website first.

Not ALL questions, obviously, but it can be the step that students get into the right mindset. Teaching students in high school ways to think about resources and research can be beneficial for them the rest of their lives. Once they get to college, they may come to the tough realization that they are adults now and they need to seek out information for themselves.

One of the great ways for University High Schools tudents to learn resourcefulness before they graduate is to enroll in an ROP class. On this blog we have talked about "soft skills" time and time again, and in no way have we explored all of the various soft skills that are useful in life, college, and career. Often times these skills can be combined into useful versions of other skills (take a little creativity here, a little problem-solving there, throw in some communication... and voila!). Resourcefulness is one of those skills.

Problem-solving skills are vital for young people to develop because their applications are widespread and pervasive. Being able to view a problem in real-time and figure out possible solutions is important in all walks of life. How do we do that? By being RESOURCEFUL. Nobody expects you to know everything about all topics, but being able to maximize efficiency and allocate resources properly can provide major benefits.

ROP classes include soft skills in their curriculum, and you best believe that resourcefulness is a result. Being able to complete projects and work with others with scarce time and resources is something that is instilled in ROP students. And... they have fun doing it! The world is a better place when we have students who are taught these types of useful skills early and who are able to carve their own path in this life.

January 7th, 2019

The lives of young people are cyclical. They revolve around semesters and seasons. Our brains become hard-wired to accept this flow and we try our best to stay ahead of the curve and be prepared for the next step in the cycle.

One of the major steps is the commencement of high school. What comes next? For a vast majority of students, it's either a college or career pursuit. They know it is coming all throughout high school, but many are unprepared for just how the real world works once they are outside of their 1st through 6th period daily routine.

How can we make sure that University High School students don't fall into the trap of this cycle? One great way is to get them enrolled in ROP classes. Coastline ROP offers classes from 13 different industry sectors, and during the Spring 2019 semester alone there will be more than 50 class sections offered. This means that there are A LOT of options for Trojans.

ROP classes bridge the gap between high school and college or career years. They present curriculum that has immediate real-world applications, giving Trojans the unique chance to get a "head start" on their preferred industry. This can provide major benefits for these students throughout their lives, not just in the years directly following high school.

December 21st, 2018

It's that time of year again! Time to be out of school and have a few weeks to spend with family, friends, and even yourself. The holiday break is only surpassed by the summer break in its length, and it is a time of year that a lot of people look forward to... not just students, staff too.

This is a time that we can recharge and prepare for the tasks that await us in the coming months. Students will be starting new semesters where they will be able to learn new things and head further down their path towards college and career. This is the chance to shake off the clutter of the first semester and really get a head start on a solid headspace for the last 6 months of the school year.

We have to live with a lot of distractions in our daily lives. Finding the time to remove yourself from those distractions and enjoy simple things is a unique joy unto itself. We at Coastline ROP hope that all members of the University High School family find themselves with a little bit of time during this break to just be, just exist, rather than doing.

December 20th, 2018

Let's try something new. I'm going to post the major aspects of dedication to lead this post rather than integrating them in later, much like the other ROP Core Value posts. They are as follows:

• Show steady, continual effort in the completion of tasks, perseveres
• Commit to achieving personal and organizational goals
• Strive to improve systems and the organization
• Devote necessary time and resources in the pursuit of excellence
• Demonstrate a passion for helping students achieve

Honestly this one sort of speaks for itself. Dedication is that feeling deep within us to keep pushing through with whatever we have put our minds to. The ability to continue working when it gets hard is grounded in the fact that we know, deep down, that the feeling of completing a project or task that was difficult is wonderful. That feeling of accomplishment, contentment, and relaxation all at once makes dedication a worthwhile value to uphold.

We here at Coastline ROP strive to be dedicated to serving University High School students in all of the work that we do. We want the best of us to show in our work, and we hope that this is evident to all stakeholders. We are truly dedicated to CTE.

By demonstrating a passion for our work, we hope that students have a better overall high school experience. I know how much of a difference a genuine interaction with a student can make. Maybe they were nervous about coming into an office they have never been in before because they fear the news they may receive or they may get an answer they didn't want. Either way, they decided to take that chance and head in.

Maybe they got great news? That would be ideal! But let's say their greatest fears are realized. The thing they were hoping for is not going to happen. They spent their precious free time in-between classes in an intimidating office, only to be rejected. This may be a pivotal moment in their lives.

You see, if an adult on campus decides to just do the bare minimum and leave it at the bad news, the student may never actively seek out services again. They may be completely unwilling to get help they need or have a question answered. This could be a big deal for their future college and career success.

We at Coastline ROP strive to never let that happen. Even if we have to give students bad news, it always comes with empathy and an eye towards alternative solutions. Those types of solutions aren't always available, but the student mostly wants to know that their choice to seek out services was not in vain and that we as a staff truly care about their educational experience. Every effort to show that needs to be made clear to the student.

In the end, they know they will have to forge their own paths and will have to learn to deal with disappointment. As educators that is the hardest part of the job by far. Coastline ROP is dedicated to being there for the students when they need help and ensuring that they are unafraid to ask for it. We may not be able to fix everything, but we will do our best to try.

December 19th, 2018

A major advantage that I see in understanding the core values of Coastline ROP is how they translate in the work we do and, ultimately, how they positively affect students. Young students pick up on a lot more than we generally like to give them credit for. They see function and dysfunction alike in the professional workplaces they are exposed to, and that helps them to understand how work plays into people's lives moving forward.

Professionalism is much like integrity; it is something that needs to be thought about and acted upon even if people aren't there to hold you accountable. It is less about how you are personally affected by your work and more about how those around you are affected. We at Coastline ROP strive to be professional in everything we do so that the benefits can be reaped by the students we serve.

It is the students that we are most concerned with. Our work is for naught if they are not given access to the best coursework, attitudes, and opportunities. Professionalism enhances all 3!

Coastline ROP has recognized the following key aspects of professionalism:

• Maintain high standards of personal performance and accountability
• Recognize that student success is our ultimate goal
• Display exemplary attitude and enthusiasm
• Work to improve performance and results
• Model commitment and lifelong learning

Something I want to highlight here is the last phrase: model commitment to lifelong learning. We at Coastline ROP are all lifelong learners who are dedicated to providing the best services possible. We embody the ideals that we present. Modelling behavior is a great way to both "walk the walk and talk the talk. We do a lot of that over at Coastline!

Professionalism is an extremely important quality for University High School students to see in those who are providing them with services. It gives more legitimacy to the things they are being presented and told. It adds some extra (and often, needed) weight to our claims. We want them to be confident that they are learning what they need to know to be successful in their careers, so being professional is a great way to ensure that message is received.

December 18th, 2018

Team work! Communication! Projects! You have to know how to collaborate in order to be successful in the modern workplace. This can take many different forms and there is no "one-size-fits-all" version of it, but you will know it when you see it.

Coastline ROP has recognized a few key aspects of collaboration that their classes and organization address:

• Create a safe environment where ideas can be explored
• Value and seeks the contributions of others
• Serve partner districts and the educational community
• Share ideas, information, and resources
• Work with all stakeholders to achieve common goals

Essentially, collaboration is about willingness to work with others who have their own unique wants and needs. Along with these wants and needs come a diversity of perspectives and opinions.

Seeing the value in what others bring to the table is extremely important in any line of work. No matter how much somebody has studied a topic, worked in a field, or is just savvy, they have something they can learn from others. That is what the heart of collaboration is.

It is not just the ability to work with others, but also the willingness. Something that you may have worked hard on and is near-and-dear to your heart may be shut down or not seen as important to others. That doesn't mean your work is invalid, it just goes to show that everyone brings their own strengths to the table.

The way to solve such a problem is to take lessons from your work that are intangible and useful for the future so that you can adjust it to better suit the needs of the workplace and those around you. Understanding those around you is the first step towards collaborating; internalizing the qualities that make them you unique and applying it to your work is the way to truly collaborate.

December 17th, 2018

As the long break approaches, University students have to take on one of the most stressful times of the year: finals week. There are a lot of emotions that come up at this time, and it is important to understand that this is all a matter of perspective. One grade won't determine your future, so it is not worth the mental anguish to punish yourself over a class performance that could have been better.

Learning from our experiences and deciding how to best apply that new knowledge to our lives is one of the most important parts of being a human in our modern society. Nobody is perfect and pretending that this isn't the case can be a great source of stress. Things will play out in unfortunate ways many times throughout a person's life; all they can do is choose to respond in a healthy way and move on with the rest of their lives.

This is not to undermine the importance of academic performance. That is always something that students need to strive for. What we are saying is that life is not decided during a single test; you know whether or not you spent the right amount of time preparing, it is just that during the test that all comes to the forefront. Stress makes us think and act in unique ways, and this is one of the ultimate forms of stress for high school students.

This stress response often results in guilt, anger, and a feeling of hopelessness. We really hope that University students aren't feeling these emotions as a result of finals, but it would be irresponsible to pretend that this week is all roses and holiday cookies. The strength of University High School is that the students are so motivated, talented, creative, and strong. They know how their high school years can affect their post-graduation plans.

That being said, they also need to be given the chance to unwind and be shown that high school is not where life starts or ends. Getting a good grade on your AP class finals is absolutely fantastic! But that alone won't determine your future success. Let's try to take a moment here and there to breathe and realize what really matters in our lives.

December 14

Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.

-Greg Anderson

The term "compartmentalization" is one that may not be a mainstay of our daily vocabulary but it represents something that successful people do everyday. It is the way that we choose to focus on the task at-hand rather than worrying about everything that can go wrong or other, unimportant issues. It is our way of removing the mental clutter and giving our full attention to what is in front of us.

That's not always an easy task in a world where most people have access to all of the combined information and knowledge from humanity's history in our pockets. A click of a button can have us viewing movies, listening to music, reading Shakespeare, learning about complex theoretical physics, and a myriad of other possibilities. That type of access can be both liberating and paralyzing.

Having too many choices can be overwhelming. There are studies out there that claim that an excess of choices diminishes our happiness because we worry that we may have been more content with an alternative. That old adage comes in hot right here: less is more!

When it comes to work, being able to narrow our focus to what we can achieve right now is an absolutely invaluable tool. Being able to hone in on the micro and forget about the macro will increase our productivity and, in-turn, our contentment. After all, people spend a majority of their adult lives doing work... it makes sense that we would want it to be fulfilling!

Think of compartmentalization in this way; a desk or a dresser has various compartments, and each one is designated with certain things. Being able to mentally put tasks in different compartments and pulling them out when we need to work on them is vital. What is even more vital is being able to PUT THEM AWAY when we don't need to focus on them!

This allows us to focus and do our best work. We can only do so much at one time. Being able to figure out what demands our full attention and knocking it out of the park is an extremely rewarding practice.

December 13

The reason that Coastline ROP has a set of core values is the same reason that CTE is even offered in high schools: applicability to the modern world. Employers are looking for young people with technical skills suited to their job openings, but they are also looking for culture fits. Long story short, the most qualified person in the world still has to be able to work well enough with others that the office remains productive.

That's why we go through the interview process. The employer (and to maybe an even more important extent, the employee) wants to get to know the other party. They need to know that the addition of this person will be a good fit for the company and also that the company's values align with those of the potential new employee.

There are certain standard qualities that employees look for. One of the main ones is the capacity for respect. Coastline ROP has this as one of their 5 core values because it is important in every workplace in the country today. They list the following as the key aspects of respect:

• Treat others with courtesy and dignity
• Honor the ethical and moral values of staff
• Regard others with esteem
• Invite and appreciate diverse perspectives
• Promote constructive communication

Learning this sort of deep appreciation for showing respect in a high school classroom can be of huge benefit for University High School students as they progress through college and career. It will help Trojans to understand the diverse experiences and unique perspectives that all people bring to the workplace.

The ability to empathize with others and show respect even through a difference of opinion strengthens both a young person's candidacy for employment and has the potential to strengthen the workplace. This core value is inherent in Coastline ROP courses, so University High School students will get the opportunity to learn how to convey respect when they choose to take an ROP course.

December 12, 2018

"As a career technical education provider, Coastline ROP partners with five school districts in Orange County, CA, to strengthen and broaden the students’ education experience. "

-Coastline ROP Website

Coastline ROP is the Career Technical Education (CTE) provider for 5 different school districts in the Orange County area. Providing classes and services to these 5 districts allows University High School students the unique opportunity to take an expansive range of subjects that apply directly to in-demand career paths in the local region.

Industry Sectors

Trojans can take classes on 27 different campuses throughout these districts. Available to University High School students are 13 different industry sectors in at least 39 classes, as recognized by the California Department of Education. These industry sectors are:

• Agriculture and Natural Resources (1 Class)
• Arts, Media, and Entertainment (5 Classes)
• Building and Construction Trades (1 Class)
• Business and Finance (1 Class)
• Education, Child Development, and Family Services (2 Classes)
• Engineering and Architecture (1 Class)
• Health Science and Medical Technology (8 Classes)
• Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation (5 Classes)
• Information and Communication Technologies (1 Class)
• Manufacturing and Product Development (2 Classes)
• Marketing, Sales, and Service (4 Classes)
• Public Services (5 Classes)
• Transportation (3 Classes)

Districts We Serve

The districts that we serve range from Westminster in the northwest and Tustin in the northeast, all the way down to Mission Viejo in the south. The distance between the furthest high schools we serve is less than 30 miles, meaning there are a lot of opportunities for students at University since they are right in the middle of one of the most dense areas for class availability.

The 5 districts that we provide classes and services for are as follows:

• Huntington Beach Union High School District (HBUHSD)
• Irvine Unified School District (IUSD)
• Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD)
• Saddleback Valley Unified School District (SVUSD)
• Tustin Unified School District (TUSD)

It is our goal to provide students with as many different CTE options that are conveniently located and easy to travel to. A big part of this commitment is continued and increased work with these 5 districts to ensure that we are serving their students as well as possible and providing the right opportunities to help them on their journeys towards a great career.

December 11, 2018

Coastline ROP as an organization maintains a set of core values that are represented in all of the work that we do. These are valuable for University High School students that decide to take ROP courses as part of their high school workload, because it instills within them intangible qualities that are helpful in the professional environment for the rest of their lives. Today we will focus on the first of 5 different ROP Core Values: Integrity.

"Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not."

-Oprah Winfrey

It is extremely important for high school students to learn at a young age that, regardless of who is watching or whether or not there are immediate consequences, acting in an appropriate way must always be their course of action. High school is a time where there are a lot of rules and supervision, so the experience of "going out into the world" after graduating and leaving campus can be a bewildering experience. The newfound freedom has a bit of a honeymoon period before the weight of responsibility sinks in.

This weight will be much more bearable if students are given the opportunity to understand why the world demands integrity before they even leave high school. The Coastline ROP curriculum for all classes includes much consideration of how the workplace functions, giving students "real world" experience. While it may not be as intense as some of the jobs they are seeking in the future, it provides a free, low-stakes environment where positive qualities such as integrity are praised.

This works as a great simulation for the types of things University High School students can expect once they head out into college and their careers. Understanding some of the demands of adulthood at an early age will instill in them a sense of integrity in all they do, something that will help them stay employed in great jobs and excel professionally and personally throughout their lives.

Integrity is what we do when we know nobody is watching. By no means do we expect everyone to be perfect, but being able to get into a career that is fulfilling and that makes sense can help increase the chances that a young student becomes a person who acts with integrity in the workplace. Those types of individuals want to contribute however they can because they genuinely enjoy their work, something that we at Coastline ROP hope to provide to as many University High School students as possible.

December 10, 2018

Adults spend a lot of time worried about things that most high school students never even consider. One of those things is the idea of "building a resume." And that is not to say all students are the same; there are plenty of University High School students that are putting together stellar resumes prior to exiting campus. Even so, there are certain things that become more and more clear and simple as we age and it is important to learn that personal and professional growth are not always about checking off boxes and figuring out how to spin everything that you have ever done as "relevant experience."

It's true that getting early work experience can be vital for building a resume. That idea and the ideas presented in this brief post are not mutually exclusive; building a resume is important for a young person, but the intangible things that they learn along the way are just as important as the concrete dates and job descriptions that are included on a resume. Learning soft skills and how to interact with people in a professional environment will be a major aspect of determining your career path throughout your life.

Life ultimately comes down to the decision you make. If you are not learning at a young age how to learn real lessons in the workplace and develop the type of work ethic that employers want, then your decisions may include a lot of job applications, interviews, and unfulfilling workplaces. We spend a lot of time at work in our lives, so being able to seek fulfillment in the workplace can be a determinant of happiness.

ROP classes provide University students the unique opportunity to learn about career paths and to develop those soft, "people" skills that employers desire. These soft skills can translate into increased happiness in the workplace as they drive genuine interactions with supervisors, co-workers, and clients. Being able to have small, happy moments here and there with the people you're surrounded by at work can make the day go by faster and reduce the stress of the workplace. ROP is here to help!

We're not saying this is the only way to be happy. We just want University High School students to know that we as adults have been through a lot of what they are about to experience. Whether they choose to take advantage of that knowledge being passed down is up to them, but ultimately it is their journey... we just want to help make it better!

Decmber 7, 2018

We like to be comfortable, it's just a part of a nature. Finding a routine that suits us and keeps us in a good mood is nothing to be ashamed of, but it can shield us from some of the great things that are out in the world. By seeking out changes we can discover new things in our surroundings and within ourselves.

The coolest thing, in my opinion, about ROP classes is how quickly they can translate into positive changes in a young person's life. These can be changes in their outlook on the future, changes in their daily attitude, changes in their abilities, or even changes in how they approach challenges that arise. The connection between the theoretical and rhetorical with the real world via career technical education can provide endless benefits for University High School students.

There's a catch! Isn't there always a catch? Don't worry it's a small one. In order to take advantage of the benefits of ROP classes... students need to SIGN UP FOR ROP. Novel concept.

That can be one of the first changes. Changing your schedule so that you can work in an ROP class is a great way to try something new that is both free and familiar. Students have experience with signing up for new classes every single school year, why not make it an ROP?

A benefit that many may not understand when taking an ROP class is how the registration process mirrors that of colleges and universities. The priority-based, first-come, first-served registration process used by Coastline ROP is reminiscent of institutions of higher education. It gives some insight to students as to how they will register for college classes when they get to whatever campus they decide is right for them.

High school is filled with changes, so it's important that Trojans understand the changes that they can use to benefit their futures. Taking charge of the changes in their lives can start by enrolling in an ROP class today!

December 6, 2018

We spend so much time in our own heads, running through scenarios and how we would like them to play out. As students progress through high school one of the most prevalent scenarios that they envision are their options for college, career, and life. Often times the most challenging part of their vision is that first step taken towards the person that they want to be. Coastline ROP provides University High School students with the unique opportunity to take an absolutely fantastic first step before they even graduate.

"Before the internship began, I expected it as my first and most important step to my future career... I found that my expectation is definitely right. The intern perfectly aligns with my career goal. "

Yani Liang, UPenn Student

The most exciting opportunities that we offer University High School students are internship courses. These combine traditional classroom education with work in real, local businesses that can lead to paid jobs and careers. The hands-on aspect of these classes is major, as they are tasked with working at a business as if they have been hired. Internships are invaluable for experience, building resumes, and networking.

The internship course is the ultimate connection between the classroom and the real world. Coastline ROP boasts more than 10 different internship courses that are available to University High School students during the Fall and Spring semesters after school. These include courses in many different industry sectors, from Agriculture and Natural Resources to Public Services and everything in between.

Outside of our internships we still carry an extensive range of courses that can suit the needs of almost any desired career path. Every class has a hands-on focus that enhances soft skills for employment, so they will receive an education that benefits their future professional lives greatly.

Choosing an ROP class may be that first step towards a great life and career after high school. Discovering something that you are passionate about early on can pay large dividends later in life. But we get it, not every student is in a mindset to figure those types of things out while they are in high school. That's fine! They should still try to take a couple ROP classes to see what interests them... better to knock out the classes that DON'T interest them early when it's free!

December 5, 2018

Interpersonal skills are the most broad when it comes to soft skills in the work place. This is what a lot of people would call "people skills." And it can be defined as just that; the ability to understand that you are going to work with people from different backgrounds that have unique experiences. Learning to respect those differences and work through them to create a healthy, productive workplace is vital for employment in Orange County.

Employers want to know that new employees will be able to work well with others as they are integrated into their organizations. They also realize that your own unique background is valuable in tackling problems through new lenses and perspectives that may not have been represented in their organization previously. Being aware of these concerns can help a young person stand out in the search for a new job.

I have heard from many ROP teachers that students are surprised by the amount of time their classes spend developing interpersonal skills. Career technical education is not just a slick sounding name. Irvine Unified School District partners with Coastline ROP as its CTE provider due to the great things that students can learn within the program that they will be hard-pressed to learn elsewhere.

Technical skills for certain careers are a major part of this, but soft skills (or people skills as interpersonal skills are sometimes called) also play an important role. ROP teachers teach students how to apply technical skills to a resume, to the job-seeking process, and how to incorporate them into their work. The interwoven nature of technical skills and soft skills provides University High School students with the unique opportunity to become competitive in high demand industry sectors from an early age.

Ultimately, this series on soft skills was an adventure into how ROP classes can bridge the gap between the abilities they are taught in class and how they can translate into potential career paths. Even rocket scientists have to know how to do paperwork and deal with people, so every single profession benefits from soft skills. We want Trojans to take ROP classes and learn the soft skills early so that they will benefit the rest of their lives and not have to labor over the logistics of securing employment. We want you to do great things, and we believe that this is the way to start.

December 4th, 2018

Everybody defines success in their own way. There are no universal tests for a successful person, nor should there be. We value certain parts of life as being preferential: a good job, living in a nice house in a nice neighborhood, having a family, etc. Those are all great things for those who pursue them, but being able to define your own personal success is what will benefit you most throughout your life.

Try as you might, you cannot get away from yourself. Chasing money, chasing fame, chasing status, all of these things can be considered successful, but you have to do them because it is who you are and what you want. At the end of the day you will have to look yourself in the mirror and decide if you still see yourself.

This is important for students to think about as they are planning for their college and career choices. They need to make sure that they are making choices in recognition of who they are and what they want, defining their own personal success. If they want to try to go to Harvard and become a Nobel laureate, they are free to do so. If they want to become a blue collar worker that makes a living by using his hands and solving people's problems, that's great too.

What it comes down to is whether or not those pursuits are what will define your own personal success. It's not about how others perceive you, nor what you think others want you to do. There's not way to completely get away from those factors, but they do not have to be what guides us. We should be free to make our decisions and carve out our own path to happiness.

That can start with an ROP class. A major goal for Coastline ROP is to inspire. Simply seeing a list of class titles can inspire a student to take a chance down a certain career path, and we work hard everyday to ensure that University High School knows as much as possible about the things we have to offer. Keeping students informed is one of our main priorities.

It is only if they are informed that they can be allowed to define their own personal success. Taking a class in Construction Technology or Business or Culinary Arts might very well be that first step towards a long life of happiness. Getting the chance to understand your work and become the best version of themselves is a tried and true method of being happy with your place in the world.

Being happy with our place in the world is something that is invaluable. Defining our own personal success is one way to get to that place, and ROP classes can be where that journey starts for University High School students.

December 3rd, 2018

It's hard to tell what exactly life is going to throw at you. You may be on autopilot for a day, week, month, even a year before something really jumps out and surprises you. Having a routine is something that is desirable in the modern workplace, but that routine is ill-founded if it doesn't include the possibility of new information, updates, and potential crises. It does not serve you nor the people around you if you are unwilling to be flexible and adapt when new things come up.

Getting a job offer for a position that has a well-defined job description that you can wrap your head around is fantastic, there's no problem with that. The problem that arises, however, is the sense of complacency. Don't expect everyday to be simple. There is a major chance that something will come up right away that falls outside of your job description, but that you are expected to work on nonetheless.

In the workplace this is what I like to call "being able to wear many different hats." Sure, you may be assigned to a certain department within a company, but you will be expected to work closely with other departments. Therefore, you will be expected to DO WORK with those departments... which may not be explicitly written in your job description. That job will lose its value to the employer quickly if you are unwilling to take on these new challenges.

This doesn't mean that you are expected to be a jack of all trades. You don't have to know everything! That is far from the point of being flexible and adaptable. It is just important to understand that things change in our modern, dynamic workplaces, and being on the side of "willing to change" can only help personal and professional growth throughout our lives.

Students in ROP classes have this revelation every semester. They sign up for a class expecting this or that, only to find that the scope of the class may be wildly different than what they were hoping for. In instances where there is just no reconciling future goals with current infrastructure of the class, yes, they should remove themselves and dedicate their time to something more beneficial.

In most cases, however, it is good for students to stick with the class and see what they can take from it. Clearly if they signed up for a class in Hospitality or Health Sciences they are interested in the field, and a free semester-long class can help them decide what they really think of that field before they spend thousands of dollars in college. This is part of being flexible, and it will strengthen the ability to adapt for the rest of their lives.

Obviously at Coastline ROP our goal is to provide University High School students with the optimal experience to prepare for their future career paths, but this is a step along the way. If students have the perfect experience where every class they enroll with is the exact opportunity they were looking for and they wouldn't change a thing, that's fantastic! For every other student, sticking with a class despite obvious roadblocks can be a soft skill-builder that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.

Who knows, maybe after the first few weeks they may change their minds! That's why we're here, to help students with either choice.

November 30th, 2018

"Give yourself a gift of five minutes of contemplation in awe of everything you see around you. Go outside and turn your attention to the many miracles around you. This five-minute-a-day regimen of appreciation and gratitude will help you to focus your life in awe."

Wayne Dyer

"There can only be one state of mind as you approach any profound test; total concentration, a spirit of togetherness, and strength."

Pat Riley

In our everyday lives it is useful to understand the difference between contemplation and concentration. While both are useful and can be extremely helpful in our work, relationships, and personal growth, understanding when one is useful rather than the other (even posthumously) can bring clarity to our lives and help us solve our problems.

Contemplation is the time that we take to take in the world around us, just existing as a part of the world. We see beauty in art and the natural world, we see patterns forming around us that we may miss on a regular basis, and our eyes slowly open just a little bit more. Contemplation helps us to re-organize our thoughts and appreciate our place in the world, and it helps us to understand how we can bring positive effects to the people and things around us.

Concentration, on the other hand, comes as a result of contemplation. The things we notice while we contemplate our surroundings lead t curiosity and a desire to explore things more deeply. Reaching a true state of concentration allows us to make breakthroughs and utilize our unique perspectives to solve problems, both common and uncommon alike.

That is exactly where we hope that University High School students can get to when they decide to enroll in an ROP class. Coastline ROP works to provide Trojans with as many different career path exploration courses as possible, all while teaching students technical skills that will be immediately useful in the workplace.

Guess what? Students need to make their own choices on the types of classes that are most valuable to them. They've taken time out of their young lives to contemplate the world around them and decide what interests them and demands their concentration. Starting in high school will allow students the opportunity to gain deeper and deeper concentration in their chosen fields througout their lives.

Here's to using the weekend to contemplate all that life has to offer... we will be here for when it's time to turn that contemplation into a concentrated pursuit.

November 30th, 2018

"I've viewed myself as slightly above average in talent. And where I excel is ridiculous, sickening work ethic."

Will Smith

Work ethic may be the most personal of the soft skills. Work ethic shows that a person has integrity and is willing to get the job done regardless of recognition or fear of retribution. Having a strong work ethic means that you are going to work hard even if nobody is watching.

You may even excel when nobody is watching! Developing a strong work ethic is a personal pursuit that gives professional life more meaning. It is not the work that you do to impress a manager or score a new job, it is the work you do that strips you down to your soul and shows you what you're made of. It is the work that you think about on a Friday afternoon driving home from the office, where you tell yourself "you did good."

Work ethic is a legitimate concern in the modern, fast-paced workplace. Finding meaning in work can be elusive, so work ethic should focus on personal growth that can be translated to professional success. It is hard to avoid the disillusionment that comes with the realization in the digital age just how big the world is. That feeling of insignificance is a real, shared experience that we all feel from time to time.

But fear not, for there are ways for University High School students to hold off some of these feelings and developing a fulfilling sense of work ethic in their everyday lives. Coastline ROP provides career technical education, which gives students a head start on certain career paths and jobs that are in high-demand in the local region.

How does this connect to work ethic? It helps students understand the "why" of their work. The first step towards being fulfilled by professional achievements and developing a strong work ethic is understanding the deeper implications of work. By learning about careers at a young age, students who take the chance on ROP classes can benefit for the rest of their lives. ROP students have the unique chance to start early towards the development of integrity in their work.

November 29th, 2018

As I sat down at my desk to write today's blog post, I realized that I was having trouble coming up with the right ideas to develop an interesting narrative. My mind was a bit cluttered with ideas, and it prevented me from narrowing my focus on to just one or two thoughts to explore more in-depth. Then it hit me; being unable to come up with an idea can be the idea itself! Today's post will be concerned with "hitting a wall" in our creative thinking.

There are many different phrases associated with this idea: writer's block, mental block, logjam, and of course, "hitting a wall." It doesn't just apply to writing, it applies to all sorts of projects that we put our minds to. These are the moments when we really learn how we feel about the world around us and how we fit into it.

The truth of the matter is that no matter how passionate or informed we are on a topic, some days are just going to be more of a grind than others. The hardest part about these types of days is resisting negativity and staying focused on the task at hand. It's easy to get distracted and feel a sense of disillusionment in these moments, but we have to work hard not to let these feelings win. We are stronger than that.

One of the best techniques to over come this kind of adversity is to find ways to stay present. Focus on the little things that you can control rather than the deeper meanings behind your work so that you can stay conscious of the moment. Take the small victories in stride. This feeling will pass, and being able to look back on the day and feel productive will be helpful for the next time these feelings arise.

It is one of the goals of the ROP program that students get to "find their calling" for their college and career plans. Being able to do something that you genuinely enjoy can make all the difference in limiting the amount of days that you "hit the wall."

November 28th, 2018

"All is big, until it is solved to become small."

Mladen Đorđević

Problems persist day after day, and we must find ways to solve them. Being able to put things into the right order and develop a healthy attitude when it comes to solving problems is a trait that will be largely beneficial throughout a person's life. At University High School, students are given the chance to expand their abilities to think critically and problem solve in any ROP class they choose to take.

Employers Need You to Solve a Problem

It's true that there are plenty of reasons that an employer seeks out new employees for their organization. Maybe somebody was promoted. Maybe somebody moved to a new company and now there is a gap to fill. Maybe even, somebody was fired. All of these create opportunities for new employees to come into a company and impart their own unique perspectives and approaches for solving problems.

What is often not bought up as a reason for employers seeking new employees is the idea of problem solving. Essentially, employers have a problem that they need solved, and the only way they can do it is by bringing in a new employee with the right set of skills to solve their problem. Thinking about the hiring process this way may help young people in the workforce find the right edge to land their dream job.

As it was said before, employers may have a problem that involves a missing employee (promotions, moving out of the company, firings, etc.), but that is still a problem that must be solved. The absence of an employee can become a problem itself.

Those aren't the only types of problems that employers worry about. Maybe a new project is coming up and they will need to the help to finish it. Maybe they are realizing that they need to create an entirely new position in order to alleviate the workload on other employees. Maybe they just need a new perspective to solve an old problem.

Long story short, no matter the reason, being a problem-solver will always be a soft skill that employers seek out. Coastline ROP includes"thinking and problem solving skills" in all of their class descriptions. This is because we recognize how useful problem-solvers are in an industry sector and we want to help create the next generation of valuable employees!

November 27th, 2018

ROP classes are a great way to add value to college applications. This can happen throughout high school, not just on the final stretch towards college applications and acceptance. That being said, when completing college applications, those little extras here and there can be a major boost to a student's candidacy.

Here's the thing: colleges want students that will contribute to their communities. Yes, academics are first and foremost in ACADEMIC institutions, but that is far from all that matters. Extracurriculars, sports, clubs, personal businesses, and many other things can enrich the lives of students attending certain colleges, and admissions counselors are looking for those students who will bring fresh, new ideas to campus.

You may be thinking: how does this apply to ROP classes? Great question! ROP classes allow University High School students to have more experiences that are more unique than other high school classes. Taking a class with an internship or a class that teaches a student to 3D print or how to fight fires can open doors to possibilities that students may not have realized were there before, and now they cannot imagine a world with that door closed.

Providing students with experiences that connect the theoretical to real, tangible actions can forge connections that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. Being able to move ideas from their minds to paper to a final result is what makes the world run, and students who take ROP classes are the ones who are getting a head start in that way of thinking.

November 26th, 2018

It has been 5 long days since we have been at University High School, thanks to the holiday weekend. Hopefully it was filled with time well-spent with family, friends, and all the important people. It wouldn't hurt if there was plenty of good food to be had along the way!

Now is the time for Trojans to hit that final stretch of productivity and good work before Winter Break. We should be recharged and ready to take on the next challenges that are put in front of us. With finals looming, this is the time to stay positive and remember that everything happens for a reason. One bad test grade or a few stressful social situations won't define the rest of our lives.

Being able to get into this sort of clear headspace will be the most valuable thing that we can teach ourselves as we get older. So much happens around us that we don't get to truly appreciate because of the weight of our various responsibilities and personal challenges. If we can develop methods by which we strip away some of the layers of our lives, we can enjoy it more while succeeding in our endeavors.

That is no small task, and in no way would I assume that it is something that can happen overnight. Even as an adult I struggle with these types of concepts, but I know that I am better for exploring them and how they affect me on a daily basis. Being conscious of these things at a young age may not change them, but it may provide some clarity for the stressful moments.

In the end, you have to do what is right for yourself and your own personal growth. That can take many different forms; no two students are alike. Whether or not you are preparing for the end of a semester-long ROP class, we at Coastline ROP wish you all of the success possible in recharging and finding your second wind down the final stretch of this semester.

Who knows, maybe it will inspire you to come to the College & Career Center and take an ROP class... that could be your first step on your future journey!

November 20th, 2018

One of Coastline ROP's main goals is to provide its students with the ability to define their own path and make a mark on the world. They can be empowered early by gaining real experience that can benefit them personally and professionally for their whole lives. This frees them up for the important things in life, like family, friends, and fun.

Ultimately, that's what Coastline ROP is all about. We want to ensure that students are able to experience as many career paths as possible while in high school so that they can spend their free time enjoying their lives rather than stressing about their next steps. The whole point of work is to do something you understand and enjoy so you can head home and spend time with the ones you love!

Being that Thanksgiving is coming up,it seemed like it was an interesting time to explore these ideas. The ability to understand the "why" of a job and not just the "what" of a job can save students a lot of stress and allow them to enjoy their lives more deeply. Getting a head start on a possible career path in high school can pay unforeseen dividends down the road for University students and alleviate some stress.

Long story short, we at Coastline ROP want to do everything we can to enrich the high school experience for our students so that they can enjoy their lives down the road. To this end, we want to make sure that they are aware of all of the opportunities that are available to them before they graduate.

Have a great Thanksgiving break, Trojans... and we will see you when you get back!

November 19th, 2018

"Individual commitment to a group effort--that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work."

Vince Lombardi

Teamwork may seem like the most obvious soft skill in theory, but in practice it can be a major challenge. There are tons of factors pulling people in different directions and leading them to develop their own unique perspective. Coordinating all of these perspectives can be difficult, and sometimes even impossible.

That is why Coastline ROP encourages its students to learn to work together and collaborate often during their various courses. Every workplace is going to have some element of teamwork necessary, from fire fighter to facilities management. Being receptive to the thoughts and concerns of others that you are working with closely can lift barriers and facilitate the proliferation of new, effective ideas.

Everybody wants to be productive! We live in a society dominated by individualism. The modern workplace seemingly limits that individualism, but we must not let that mentality take over. Individual perspectives are as valuable as ever in the digital age, and being the person who has the idea that nobody else has thought of or the point of view that is unique can be a game-changer.

Teamwork and collaboration can be the vehicle by which those unique perspectives move. Collaborating with others in the workplace may move an idea from hypothetical to real. One person's unique perspective can spark the same in another, so on and so forth.

By teaching students to work together on projects and ideas in the classroom, Coastline ROP provides University High School students the chance to discover their individual perspective in the workplace. They start the process of learning how to work well with others while putting their special spin on things. In the end, everyone benefits!

November 16th, 2018

"The law of work seems unfair, but nothing can change it; the more enjoyment you get out of your work, the more money you will make."

Mark Twain

Everyone wants to work a job that they love. It helps us to see the work as a means to an end rather than just an endless cycle of repetition. It gives meanings to our lives and it helps us stay happy day-in and day-out.

Maximizing the enjoyment of the workday is not a luxury that a lot of people have in this world, however. Whether it is because they are not qualified to do the job they truly want, they aren't opening their minds to see things from a more positive perspective, or, more importantly for this post, they chose a career that they thought they would love only to find out that they HATE it.

Maybe it's working closely with people, like in the medical field. As a student it sounded like the ideal profession. They excelled on the academic side, and it seemed like they had everything figured out. Then the reality sunk in; medical professions are people-serving professions. People can get on your nerves if you don't mentally prepare... and it can cause a lot of problems in both professional and personal lives.

Maybe it's the opposite. Maybe the person thought they were fine working behind a desk all day long with minimal human contact. They thought they could bury themselves in their work and emerge everyday without being affected. Turns out that not everyone is wired to do something like that.

Here's the rub; ROP classes are great opportunities for University High School students because they allow them to explore their future career options at no cost. They can find out if that career path they have been interested in since elementary school is the right one for them. They can also find out that they hate it when the stakes are low.

Now, hate is a strong word. They may just end up disliking it. That's fine. The point is... they have the chance to do it now rather than in the second semester of their sophomore year of college when they have already spent thousands of dollars on a major that they are only just realizing doesn't suit them. THAT is what the ROP program can help students avoid.

November 15th, 2018

Communication is one of the keys to success in any career. Communication skills can actually be the vehicle by which all of the other important soft skills move fluidly through the workplace. You may have one or more of the other soft skills necessary for a job, but without communication, it may be hard to find sustained success.

Communication is not merely the act of talking to one another and moving information back and forth. Truth be told that is an aspect of communication, but it is more nuanced than that. Omnia Group says that there are 5 key components necessary that will facilitate successful communications:

1. Verbal
2. Nonverbal
3. Aural
4. Written
5. Visual

All of these forms of communication have their place and when an individual employs the methods of each, they will be a successful workplace communicator.

Verbal communication is the most obvious form; the ability to speak clearly and concisely. On the other side of the coin we have nonverbal communications. This is the ability of the individual to project strong body language and a positive attitude without saying a word. Being able to speak confidently and look the part play well together!

Aural communication is concerned with the ability to listen closely and truly absorb what is being said. It is the person in the meeting or presentation that does not simply go on "autopilot" as other people present them information. It is the way that professionals can have a genuine dialogue.

Written communication goes hand-in-hand with visual communication. When is a simple text the solution? When is it not enough? When does a report have to be spreadsheet after spreadsheet, and when does it have to be a multimedia, audio-visual presentation that fully engages the audience? Knowing how to properly employ techniques of written and visual communication in proportion can be extremely beneficial.

Communications are the way that we prove that we are a key part of any team. It can be how we get the job, how we excel at the job, and also how we stand out. You have a ton of great ideas... knowing how to communicate them properly is the next step on your ladder to success!

November 14th, 2018

Everybody should strive to become a leader. Leadership qualities are useful in all levels of an organization, and it doesn't just have to be the person in charge. Skills associated with leadership can be applied in many different ways at many different times.

Leaders aren't just CEO's cashing in the big paychecks and living lives of excess and luxury. Leaders are the ones who are willing to do what it takes to be an asset to their organizations and exercise the necessary skills to fix problems inherent in their industries. They take the initiative and do things not for recognition, but because it is the proper path to take.

Being a leader benefits both the organization that an employee works for and the person exhibiting the leadership qualities. The act of recognizing a problem and working to solve it can be extremely rewarding on both a professional and personal level. Working past a roadblock will facilitate further effective solutions moving forward.

Coastline ROP realizes the necessity for leaders in our local industries. We provide classes in 13 industry sectors and allow students to develop their abilities as leaders everyday. Our approach to Career Technical Education incorporates the reality of what employers want: employees that can cultivate relationships, assess situations, motivate co-workers, build teams, resolve conflicts, and contribute to company culture.

Leadership is a desirable quality in the workplace, and it takes many forms. Students should take ROP classes because it allows them the opportunity to learn what it takes to do the work to become an effective leader.

November 13th. 2018

It's no secret that it can be a difficult road to find a dream job. High school students are told stories that push them to set lofty goals that may or not always prove to be the most realistic. It is our human nature to strive for the very best for ourselves, but what is often lost in translation is how to make our dreams become a reality.

One of the ways that Coastline ROP seeks to connect dreams to reality is by ensuring that our class offerings give proper respects to teaching the "soft skills" that are necessary in any workplace environment. Soft skills are the personal attributes you need to succeed in the workplace. Taking courses in college and getting a certain degree are certainly steps that all students should take in order to be successful, but soft skills can be much harder to learn and to illustrate when pursuing a job.

Omnia Group: The 7 Soft Skills You Need to Be Successful

The Omnia Group identifies 7 key soft skills that young people need to be successful in the professional workplace:

1. Leadership Skills
2. Communication Skills
3. Teamwork
4. Problem Solving Skills
5. Work Ethic
6. Flexibility/Adaptability
7. Interpersonal Skills

Somebody who has an appropriate technical background and exudes these types of skills will be the ideal employee. Regardless of how technical a profession is, people have to work with other people. They want to know that they can be as productive as possible when they need to collaborate, and emphasizing soft skills can be that foot in the door to show that you are willing to be part of a great team.

Coastline ROP's Commitment to Soft Skills

In all of the Coastline ROP courses, soft skills are one of the key considerations for curriculum. Communication skills, problem solving and critical thinking, and interpersonal skills are all explicitly written out in our course descriptions. That being said, there are still plenty of opportunities for the other soft skills (leadership, teamwork, work ethic, and flexibility). Students will learn to be a functioning member of a professional team throughout the course of any given semester.

November 12th, 2018

It's not always the easiest sell to get a high school student to add a class onto their schedule that they see as extra. Sometimes, that's how University High School students view ROP classes. While there is some truth to that, the benefits of adding on a CTE class can be major for the rest of their lives.

ROP classes are meant to be lifelong learning lessons. They will learn skills that they use both immediately and in the long run. The former skills, immediate, are the technical skills, qualifications, and certifications that are concrete and applicable to certain industries. Call these hard skills.

The latter skills, lifelong, are the less tangible and more "soft" of the skills. These are mannerisms, abilities, and other important aspects of a holistic approach to becoming a great employee and contributing to our society. ROP classes address soft skills in a way that is approachable because they are presented within the context of whatever class the students are enrolled in.

So here we see the dichotomy of the types of skills that employers want: technical skills and soft skills. Being able to do the actual job is important, but being able to learn on the go and work with other people is just as important. No matter what profession is chosen, there will always be the human element.

We are not saying that the only way for Trojans to strengthen their skills is through ROP, but it is an accessible, free, and familiar way to do it before they leave high school. So making the choice to "do more" and add a class that may have future benefits for years to come seems like a good choice all of a sudden, right?

November 9th, 2018

There are countless areas that students are expected to excel in during the high school years. Taking AP classes, being on a sports team, doing community service, joining clubs, working, and even more things take up all of their free time. Suggesting to a student that they should take on yet another responsibility is a hard sell, but this is one that will serve students well: ROP classes.

ROP stands for "Regional Occupational Program," and the meaning is in the name. The goal of the program is to provide hands-on career and job training (occupational) for the industries most in-need in the immediate area (regional). The ROP provider for University High School is Coastline ROP.

ROP classes are wide-ranging and give students the chance to diversify their academic experience while in high school. Taking classes such as Animal Health Care, Construction Technology, Engineering Innovations, or any other ROP offering can be eye-opening. It can expose students to a whole new world of academic pursuits and open the door to how professionals in certain fields succeed day-in and day-out.

And that is the core of what we mean by ROP having the ability to "diversify" the high school academic experience. Certainly these classes can be seen as atypical, but the atypical is where life happens. Learning the principles of computer graphics or how to fix a car is not only a boost to academic transcripts, it allows students to head down a less-beaten path and become the individual that they always knew existed deep down.

ROP is for all students, and it can be the first step on a great journey.