As educators,we care about our students and want to see them have successful fulfilling careers. I believe the vast majority of us want to help our students accomplish these goals. But I see a GULF between the high schools and what is needed in our economy. For starters, I see academically strong students graduating from high school with NO SOLID PLAN for higher education. One major obstacle is that students have no idea what today’s jobs look like. They know doctors, teachers and whatever their family members did. They do not know what skills are needed for these career options or how or where they can develop these skills. Too often, that ‘no plan’ ends up with debt or unplanned pregnancies — things that make it difficult to go back to any type of school to develop skills. The result is that if employed, they are employed at unskilled jobs which pay minimum wage. They don’t have full-time positions, health-care, vacation, retirement or other benefits. Their work is not fulfilling and doesn’t encourage growth. I don’t believe you want to see your students take this path. If they leave high school enrolled in higher education (not solely university), they are much more likely to pursue skill development. There are many institutions of higher education — many of them. And in Arkansas, some of these are very affordable. But as educators, we need to take the time to help our students access these opportunities.
My husband firmly believes that your passion stems from your childhood. I am not sure I am in agreement but he is a landscaper who designs water features. As a child he liked to play by the creek and build bridges and pathways. That makes him happy. He has spent 40 years operating a business where he gets to do those things. As a child I would rake the leaves in our yard into house plans. It was so easy to move a wall, window or door to result in a better design. Perhaps I should have completed architectural and design studies, but that is a different story. I do find a very happy place when I design things. I share this as an introduction to consideration of your students passions? What do they enjoy doing? Where is the intersection between their passions and jobs needed for tomorrow’s economy? The number of possibilities are totally overwhelming to career educators, let alone young people, and their families. Many interest profiling websites exist. Some can be found on this Livebinder. I invite you to share in the comments the ones you have used and found helpful.
Numerous organizations and media sources are sharing the need for career and technical education programs to fulfill job market openings. This article on high paying trade jobs from NPR suggest that students start exploring career paths at the 7th grade level. Due to the lack of understanding of today’s career alternatives, I agree with this. I think it needs to be more authentic than a one semester class that discusses career paths. If each class had two guests speakers who worked in fields using that content, students could connect that subject with possible careers. Even better, if one was college educated and one had pursued an alternative path to skill development, it would show alternative paths to skill development. The career exploration should continue until the student has a solid plan and has applied for her skill development education. Not every student wants to spend the time or the money to attend college. And for some, for many reasons, it may not be the best decision. Technical careers can start students at an average salary of $50,000+. A local entrepreneur reported salaries starting higher than that for electricians, plumbers and HVAC workers. According to Forbes, college attendance no longer promises the same financial rewards or employment alternatives as it did in the twentieth century. Some students study subjects they love but have very few job alternatives. Some of those students accrue high levels of debt. College loans are not forgiven by bankruptcy so they are with them forever. College bound students should be academically prepared and have a realistic career goal in mind. The biggest stumbling block I see for college students is their level of mathematics understanding that slows or prevents their degree progress. Advanced and rigorous science education is also necessary for STEM fields. For successful and timely college completion, students also need to be financially responsible and understand how to be frugal and minimize their debt. This might involve driving an older model vehicle! 🙂 The best alternative to pay for college in my opinion, is for parents and grandparents to save for their college or higher education — but that has not been a common practice. Before a child is one year old parents or grandparents can open a higher education savings account. For some students, they may prefer to work in jobs that need skills that can be attained in alternative routes as suggested by this Forbes article. Please don’t get me wrong —- all students NEED skills as suggested in the first paragraph. But these could be learned through certificates, certifications or associates degrees. These can sometimes be attained through internships or apprenticeships coupled with classroom training. This education can happen at the company, at a community college, at a technical institute or even workforce training offered by universities. These links are not exhaustive but rather serve as examples. There are alternatives across the state for this type of training. Many students can live at home while developing their skills. Technology and health care are two growing career paths that offer many alternatives for varied employment. Students can begin with one certification that enables them to get a job in a field they enjoy. While earning more due to their skills, they can add on certifications opening up additional employment alternatives and higher pay. They can later get a four year degree if it is needed or desired. The Arkansas Chamber of Commerce will bring a semi-truck trailer to your school that introduces students to technical career paths, called Be Pro Be Proud. Economics Arkansas provides summer professional development opportunities around the state titled Connecting Educators to Industry.
The decision about their future careers should be made by the students and based on the students’ interests, preferences and family support. The Forbes article describes the history and concern about profiling low-income, first generation, ethnic and racial minorities into vocations rather than encouraging college. I have had this practice recently reported to me by very bright Latino students from one of the state’s most progressives districts. As educators, we can help to guide them to the path that best fits each student. From my personal experience, one of the best things you can do is believe in the student, thereby helping her to believe in herself. Learn your students aspirations. Then share possibilities and encourage them. That belief by someone they respect can go a long ways.
Paying for any type of higher education in the United States is the challenge. The NPR article suggested proposed bipartisan legislation to expand Pell grants to cover technical training. In Arkansas, Governor Asa Hutchison enacted a little know program, Arkansas Futures Grant, that pays for Arkansas students to get certificates of proficiency, technical certificates or associates degrees in regional high needs areas or STEM fields. These usually include several alternatives ranging from technology, health care, criminal justice, automotive, hospitality, cyber security, information science, environmental management, horticulture, welding technology, aviation pilot and many more. The needs and financial support vary by region of the state. In exchange for tuition costs, students work with a mentor, must volunteer 15 hours a semester and work in the state for three years after graduation. For many students, there will be something here to provide the initial skill development they need. Please spend time with your students making sure they know the opportunities. And for those who excel academically and may be college bound, please encourage them to take the ACT early and often. Admissions and scholarships currently depend primarily on this score. Students who received free or reduced lunch can take it for free once every year. They can also get some college application fees waived.
Several Arkansas school districts are re-conceptualizing career education such as Bentonville’s Ignite program. In Ignite, students have repeated interactions with the business world through job shadowing, projects and internships. They work along side professionals in both the school and workplace. The exposure to the workplace helps students discover the path they may want to pursue. Their programs include health sciences, technology, global business, education innovation, culinary arts, visual production, and construction management. Schools like Rogers’ New Tech and Springdale’s Don Tyson School of Innovation work with instructors from the community college to teach classes needed for certificates and associate’s degrees. I wonder what scholarships are available to students with associate’s degrees. Many scholarships are for incoming freshmen. Please comment if you have an understanding of this.
Regardless of what skills you offer to the workplace, students need to be continuous or life-long learners. This blog focuses on entrepreneurs and what knowledge and characteristics they must possess to succeed. The one common characteristic I have heard repeated time and time again, is their drive to continually learn. Entrepreneurs thrive on the thrill of solving problems. Recently, I had a conversation with Rob Kimbel, who founded Kimbel Mechanical Systems. Rob, spent three years in college studying architecture but it wasn’t really his passion. He took a break from school to work with his dad as a plumber. His father, Miles, suggested he buy the company. After some persuasion he agreed. He took the plumbing business from revenues of 2.5 million in 2002 to 150 M in 2020. He now has over 800 employees and they provide electrical, plumbing, and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) for commercial and market housing projects. The most important characteristic he looks for in an employee is someone who embraces continued. These people can be compensated with over $100,000 after a few short years and project management training. Read here for the full story.
So, even though your plates as educators are overflowing, integrating an understanding of the future workplace and helping your students to develop a plan, would make a significant difference in their lives and in the lives of all of us. I invite you to comment on ways you do this. Check out some of the podcasts recommended on this blog that tell about companies, entrepreneurs and tomorrow’s workplace. And watch for the next post on a Kimbel Mechanical that shares one possible career path that does not require a four year degree and much of the education can be done at work.
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