Frank Lopez, an instructor with the Commercial and Residential Electrician program, gives Brownsville Premier High School students a tour around the training facility used by his students at the Texas Southmost College ITEC Center on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. CTE Exploration Day gave students the opportunity to take a closer look at the kind of high-quality training they can expect from a variety of different programs as they begin thinking about what future careers they might like to pursue.
October 2, 2024 – Seeing is believing. This is a phrase that skeptics often use to urge a second party to convince them of the validity of a statement. In the case of Texas Southmost College’s Career and Technical Education Career (CTE) Exploration Day at TSC’s International Technology, Education and Commerce (ITEC) Center, it was an opportunity for the meaning of that phrase to be put into practice.
Students from Premier High School Brownsville were given a unique opportunity to visit the ITEC Center, where they were taken on a tour of the various training facilities available to students who enroll in TSC’s Workforce Training and Healthcare Professions programs. Faculty were on hand to show the students the various hands-on training facilities, providing them a firsthand account of the different types of training areas and equipment that students in the program can use as part of the high-quality training they receive.
For many high school students, its not uncommon for them to begin thinking about what awaits them after they graduate. However, in most cases, it can be intimidating for them to confront the issue of having to identify a career pathway or area of focus in college when they have such a limited amount of experience with exactly what kind of vocations are available out in there, let alone which one may be a good fit for them.
CTE Exploration Day directly addresses this issue by literally opening the doors of the classrooms and training facilities of TSC’s Workforce and Health Professions programs. Students are allowed to take in the sights and sounds of these areas, and they are urged to know that, once they graduate from high school, these programs are here for them to take part in should they find themselves interested.
“This experience has been incredibly eye-opening for the students,” said Humberto Cisneros, CTE Lead Teacher at Premier High School Brownsville. “They’re gaining a clearer understanding of the in-demand jobs and the growing opportunities in the workforce while realizing the constant need for skilled workers.”
Automotive Technology, Structural Welding, Pipefitting, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) and Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC) were just a few of the different programs which welcomed the students into their areas to give them a full glimpse of what each has to offer in terms of training and future job prospects.
Showing the students the content available within these programs is just one half of the event’s goal—the other half is creating the context for why any of the programs could be beneficial in creating potential pathways for their future careers. Frank Lopez, an instructor with the Commercial and Residential Electrician program, also addressed the students by illustrating two perspectives on a single issue.
“We usually give them the example of a broken light fixture,” began Lopez. “Are you going to pay somebody to fix it? Are you going to try to fix it yourself? If they learn how to repair on their own, they not only save on the cost of having to hire someone, but they have the satisfaction that they were able to fix it themselves. If that same student feels like they can possibly make a career out of repairing things, they can look into our program and not only learn all of the crucial skills that they need but also get them on the pathway to get certified and start working soon after they finish the program. It’s a win-win situation.”
For the Premier High School students, including Vivian Vega and Sergio Guzman, the event was an eye-opening experience, leaving quite a few with a greater sense of clarity of the options they have available once the time comes to take the first big step into their future careers.
“I feel like there are so many opportunities for me to learn here,” said Vega. “I used to think I could never do something as complex as electrical wiring, but after hearing about their training programs, I believe I could learn those skills, too.” Guzman added, “A lot stood out to me as well. My grandfather was a handyman and plumber, and I used to help him sometimes, so I knew the basics. Now, after seeing everything here, I realize there’s a way to build on what I already know through these programs.”
CTE Career Exploration Day
A major talking point of all presentations were the practical applications of what each area teaches, as well as how they translate into future job opportunities.
CTE Career Exploration Day
Rolando Euresti, an instructor in the Texas Southmost College Automotive Technology program, shows students how participants in the program are able to get hands-on experience working in the same environment as a typical auto repair shop.
CTE Career Exploration Day
Premiere HS Students were eager to ask questions about the high-tech medical training equipment as Mary Kasprisin, Texas Southmost College Director of Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program, explained how they assist students in practicing the skills they learn.
CTE Career Exploration Day
A student in the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program explains how they read and interpret the digital imagery as a scan is being conducted.
CTE Career Exploration Day
Dr. Ariel Villanueva, Program Director of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program, gives students some insight on the training students go through, as well as the benefits that graduates of the program experience once they prepare to enter the workforce.
CTE Career Exploration Day
Frank Lopez, Texas Southmost College Program Coordinator for the Commercial and Residential Electrician program, shows Premier High School students how those in the program are able to actively practice the skills they are learning.
