Amid the holiday lights and decorations at Foothills Mall this December, visitors were greeted by tables filled with projects and eager students ready to share their work at the Poudre School District Career Tech Center Exhibition of Learning.
The Career Tech Center (formerly the Futures Lab) is a PSD program for high school students to explore careers, develop in-demand skills, and earn industry-recognized credentials and college credit.
This annual showcase brings together the hard work, talent, and passion of students from across ten career preparation programs offered at the CTC, giving the community a glimpse into the future of skilled professionals.
One student in her last year at Rocky Mountain High School, Naomi Witty, shared her portfolio with other students and visitors who stopped by the table for the Early Childhood Education Pathway.
Witty said this experience helped her step into a professional role by building upon her social skills and giving her a head start after graduation.
“Not only is this giving me college credits, but I get a certificate at the end of this for early childhood," said Witty. “Basically, it’ll allow me to go into most jobs that require some level of understanding of childhood development.”
Whether students explore the world of early childhood education, learn about how the brain works in behavioral health, or participate in any other pathway, these projects represent months of growth and demonstrate a mastery of skills and knowledge, proving that hands-on learning can create endless possibilities for students.
Jay Reich, a Poudre High School sophomore, already knows he wants to be a counselor or psychologist after graduating. Reich described that throughout the semester, students in this pathway have learned about the brain, how to help connect with other people, and went out into the community to use their new skills. Behavioral Health Pathway students have hosted counseling groups at middle schools, interviewed industry professionals, and learned about possible careers while earning college credit this school year.
“It's strengthened my knowledge, and by connecting with my classmates and getting new perspectives on things, it has made me want to go into psychology even more,” Reich said.
Visitors to this exhibition also had the chance to learn, ask questions, and see firsthand how PSD students are already making a difference in the world. Each pathway had a list of prompts, including asking students what they enjoyed in these classes, what they would like to learn more about, and how they have grown in their pathways.
Cedar Jones, a junior at Polaris Expeditionary Learning School, showed examples of wood products and tools used in forestry while explaining how the Natural Resources Pathway opened a world of new possibilities.
“I was actually planning to go into the medical field and become a diagnostic radiologist, but I always had this passion and love for trees and I’m really happy that I got to explore one of my passions,” said Jones. “I feel like the field work aspect of it was super important because you don’t get a lot of opportunities to actually practice a career that you might be looking into.”
