Students explore careers that don't require 4-year colleges
Cosmetology and fire fighting are about as different as two careers can get.
Yet they are similar in at least one respect -- neither requires a four-year degree. And that's why West Aurora High School students who are interested in careers that don't require extensive post-secondary education are embracing the opportunities at the Fox Valley Career Center in Maple Park.
Last school year was the first in which West students could attend the career center, and six participated. That number has quadrupled this year, with hope for more in the coming years.
"I'm impressed with all the students attending the career center," said Debra Quinn, director of guidance at West High. "It has been a great program for them and for us as well. They're embracing it, taking it seriously, and it helps them see the relevance of education to their careers."
The career center also includes students from Batavia, Geneva, Burlington Central, Kaneland and the St. Charles high schools. It is housed at the Kaneland campus, but some classes take place off campus.
Classes include automotive technology, welding, computer technology, graphic communications, cosmetology and fire science.
Most high schools don't have the ability to offer classes in these specialties, especially because many have focused more on college-prep type courses in recent years rather than vocational-type career prep.
"When I started at West High 22 years ago, I started as a drafting teacher," Quinn said. "We had auto shop, wood shop, electronic shop, welding shop, drafting and printing graphics. Now we're down to wood shop, drafting and graphics.
"I think there is still student interest in those areas; it's just difficult to support" because of the expense and lack of teachers.
Students attend the Career Center for three periods out of the school day. In addition to the classes at the center, they might get actual building trades experience at a home site, take a class in law enforcement at Waubonsee Community College and learn about cosmetology at a school in St. Charles. And some of the courses are eligible for college credit at area community colleges.
"It's a step ahead -- even if it's not what they want to do, they find that out in high school," Quinn said. "For the majority of them, it has solidified what they want to do. Now they leave here with college credit or, at the very least, some experience in that field."
Quinn is trying to spread the word about the center. She conducted a presentation about it last year and passed out about 400 fliers. Of those, 30 people turned in applications. She hopes the numbers will keep growing.
"We need to offer a variety of options for students for life after high school," she said. "You need more training beyond high school to compete in today's economy, but it doesn't have to be college if that's not what your passion is and see yourself doing. We'd like to be able to support students in whatever post-secondary plans they have."
Blackhawk Bulletin Board
• A Fall Choir Concert will be from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday at the West High Auditorium.
• The next Board of Education meeting is from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 2 at West High, Room A-206.
• Parent Conference Night will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 4 at West High.
• Conferences will take place Nov. 5, with no school in the afternoon.
• There is no school on Nov. 6 because of an institute day.
By Mike Chapin, community relations director for School District 129.
