What is CTE? What does it do? 

CTE, or Career Technical Education, is all about helping high schoolers figure out their future careers. It’s like a guiding hand, showing us what we might want to do before we step out into the real world. It’s about exploring interests now, while we’re still in school, so we can start chasing our dream jobs with a clearer path. With CTE, we’re not just guessing about our future careers. It helps us plan our journey, find colleges that offer the right courses, and lay out the steps to reach our goals. Plus, CTE connects us with people who’ve already made it in the fields we’re interested in. They share their stories, advise, and show us tips and tricks. And it’s not just about sitting in classrooms. CTE gets us out there, on trips where we can learn more about our chosen careers. It’s like a test drive, helping us see if our skills and interests match up with what we want to do. Plus, we get to get some hands-on experience, picking up valuable skills along the way.

Question 1: What career are you planning on doing? And how is CTE helping you in the pathway?

I’ve got my vision set on teaching as my future career. CTE has been a game changer for me on this journey, throwing me into all sorts of educational-related experiences. I’m constantly meeting new people and getting involved in different aspects of schooling. With CTE, it’s not just about what I see, it’s about what I learn. I’m picking up skills left and right, stuff I know will come in handy as I pursue my dream of becoming an educator. CTE isn’t just a class, it’s an investment into my future. All the work I’m doing now is going on my resume, it’s also showing future employers that I’m getting real-world working experience. Right now, I have 80 hours done and I’m ahead of the game.

Question 2: How much do you love being in CTE with Mrs.Vaughns?

I love being in CTE with Mrs. Vaughns. She brings in different guest speakers who share valuable information with us, and she consistently checks in on us to ensure we’re doing well. Thanks to Mrs. Vaughns, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in the majority of our class trips, where I’ve been exposed to a wide range of learning experiences and seeing new people like me as well from different schools learning about the education field. During these trips, we were allowed to visit schools, where we were given tours of their campuses and insights into how they run things. I’ve also learned numerous new acronyms along the way. As someone who enjoys and thrives on learning, being in CTE with Mrs. Vaughns is a perfect fit for me because I’m constantly expanding my knowledge.

Question 3: What type of academics do you want to study in the future? And what do you see yourself in the future?

In the future, I’m looking into studying psychology among other subjects. I figure understanding how people’s minds work would be a game changer, especially when I’m running a class with all sorts of characters. Knowing their struggles inside out would help me guide them through tough times, giving them the help or guidance they need. I picture myself down the road in my classroom, shaping minds and growing as a person right alongside the students. I’m all about learning from mistakes and striving to be the best version of myself. Any challenges along the way I’m ready to face them. When it comes to teaching, I’m set on ensuring my future students get it. I’ll think back to my own school days and pull in everything I wished my teachers had done. Building trust and bonding with the kids is key. I’m all about showing care, but I won’t shy away from a little tough love when needed. Every student’s got potential, and it’s up to us to help them shine and I hope to have a little part of that.

Question 4: How has this year changed your mindset on your career? And how have you grown this year from last year?

This year has changed my mindset on my career by coming to believe that with hard work and dedication, I can slowly but surely get closer to my dream of becoming a teacher. It’s been a real eye-opener, making my career path visible. Sure, I used to toy with the idea of being a lawyer or a dispatcher, but deep down, I knew my heart belonged to education. I’m all about helping others now, not just chasing my own goals. Sure, I still check out other career options, but teaching keeps calling me back. Just thinking about it fills me with excitement and joy. I can see my dream being a possibility if I just take action on the opportunities I’m given. I have grown this year from last year, physically and mentally. I’m getting tons of hands-on experience and getting all this knowledge stored in my brain. Being around staff and teachers has also been eye-opening, to see all the hard work they do and its admiration.

Question 5: How would you describe yourself? And what aspects of character do you strive the most at?

I’d say I’m determined, kind, patient, creative, and curious. Whether it’s schoolwork or chores at home, I’m all about giving it my best effort. Being kind just comes naturally to me, I think everyone deserves a bit of respect and kindness. It’s my motto, Treat others how you’d want to be treated. Listening to others is super important to me, making people feel heard is key. I’m pretty cool, calm, and collected, not quick to get frustrated. If things start feeling overwhelming, I just take a breather. I love planning stuff out and getting creative. Adding a splash of color here and there, It’s my way of expressing myself. And I’m super curious about people I love getting to know. I strive to continue to be kind and not let anything change that.

Question 6: What impact has CTE been on you? And what was the reason you wanted to join?

The impact that CTE has had on me has been life-changing. It not only helped me clarify my future career path but also provided me with valuable learning opportunities. It has taken me out of my comfort zone, exposing me to different environments and challenges that have contributed to my personal growth. My decision to join CTE was somewhat accidental but a blessing. Initially, I enrolled in Education One during my freshman year to get the credits. In this course, I learned about child behavior and gained insight into various factors influencing children. I decided to take it again when the opportunity came across. When I enrolled in Education for the second time, I gained hands-on experience working with children. I had the chance to read to them and engage in teaching activities, such as lessons on concepts like Glow, Grow, Go, and Catch. Now, I am a Teaching Assistant for that class, continuing to interact with the young learners.