ISD Academies Continue to Show Students Future Career Possibilities
Story By: Autumn Garrett
The Independence School District, and William Chrisman High School, is giving students an early start on their future career path with the Academies.
The career-based academies, including Arts and Education, Business, Industrial Technology, STEM, and Public Service, are here to help students gain the opportunity to learn more about the career that they wish to do in the future.
“It goes a lot more into depth with the aspects that you need to know.” said senior Carrie Robinson, an ambassador for the STEM Academy.
The academies have been around for five years and has already impacted many students, the opportunities being too good to pass up. The academies leaving behind important chances that need to be taken by the students.
“It’s a unique opportunity that not many schools have.” said Robinson.
The academies are meant to help students gain knowledge on what what they want to do, so they are ready when they leave high school for the bigger world outside of the school environment that they have been in most of their lives.
“It helps kids get a head start in the work field.” said sophomore Ke’Ara Burnett, an ambassador for the Arts and Education Academy.
The impact of the academies stay with the students even after graduation. Giving information that the students can carry with them through the years as well as connections in the business community and a network in their future career path.
“The Public Service Academy has taught me a lot of discipline and has helped with connecting with people that I used even after I left, it has helped me find jobs that I could do right after highschool. ”said Nicholas Arnold, a 2017 past graduate from Chrisman.
Arnold used what he learned during the academy after graduation to receive his EMT license and work for the city of Independence, while also volunteering at the Inter City Fire Department where he works in the ambulance. He is also currently set up for the fire academy.
But not all students experience these same benefits as most students during or after high school.
“I don’t feel like it helped me personally,” said Amber Wilkin, a 2017 past graduate from Chrisman.
The academies can not extend to everyone the specific way that most students and staff would want them to but there are always ways to work around the obstacle of the academy not having their specific career path.
“The Academies can be for everyone. Sadly we focus on the pathway, which in some ways we should, but the reality is, whatever pathway they choose, it should help them develop the soft or essential skills which are transferable to whatever career pathway they really want.” said Aaron Smith, the Career and Technical Education Coordinator.
The academies helping students find what they want to do, but also give students the opportunities to try fields and find areas they might not want to work in as well.
“Branch out more and look into all the courses...more options for students to choose from, they could interview the student body to learn more about their interests.” Said Wilkin.
“They are doing all they can right now, but they can always open up to new courses.” said senior Christa Johnson, an ambassador for the Public Service Academy.
The Independence School District, and William Chrisman High School, is giving students an early start on their future career path with the Academies.
The career-based academies, including Arts and Education, Business, Industrial Technology, STEM, and Public Service, are here to help students gain the opportunity to learn more about the career that they wish to do in the future.
“It goes a lot more into depth with the aspects that you need to know.” said senior Carrie Robinson, an ambassador for the STEM Academy.
The academies have been around for five years and has already impacted many students, the opportunities being too good to pass up. The academies leaving behind important chances that need to be taken by the students.
“It’s a unique opportunity that not many schools have.” said Robinson.
The academies are meant to help students gain knowledge on what what they want to do, so they are ready when they leave high school for the bigger world outside of the school environment that they have been in most of their lives.
“It helps kids get a head start in the work field.” said sophomore Ke’Ara Burnett, an ambassador for the Arts and Education Academy.
The impact of the academies stay with the students even after graduation. Giving information that the students can carry with them through the years as well as connections in the business community and a network in their future career path.
“The Public Service Academy has taught me a lot of discipline and has helped with connecting with people that I used even after I left, it has helped me find jobs that I could do right after highschool. ”said Nicholas Arnold, a 2017 past graduate from Chrisman.
Arnold used what he learned during the academy after graduation to receive his EMT license and work for the city of Independence, while also volunteering at the Inter City Fire Department where he works in the ambulance. He is also currently set up for the fire academy.
But not all students experience these same benefits as most students during or after high school.
“I don’t feel like it helped me personally,” said Amber Wilkin, a 2017 past graduate from Chrisman.
The academies can not extend to everyone the specific way that most students and staff would want them to but there are always ways to work around the obstacle of the academy not having their specific career path.
“The Academies can be for everyone. Sadly we focus on the pathway, which in some ways we should, but the reality is, whatever pathway they choose, it should help them develop the soft or essential skills which are transferable to whatever career pathway they really want.” said Aaron Smith, the Career and Technical Education Coordinator.
The academies helping students find what they want to do, but also give students the opportunities to try fields and find areas they might not want to work in as well.
“Branch out more and look into all the courses...more options for students to choose from, they could interview the student body to learn more about their interests.” Said Wilkin.
“They are doing all they can right now, but they can always open up to new courses.” said senior Christa Johnson, an ambassador for the Public Service Academy.