It’s hard to envision yourself in a career when you’re only 13 or 14 years old. Julie Regula, the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center’s Career Specialist for the Cuyahoga Heights Schools, is helping to remedy that quandary.
Over the course of nine weeks, Regula has been working with reading teacher Carolyn Douglas to introduce the students to 16 National Career Clusters, including Architecture and Construction, Health Sciences, Agriculture, Fine Arts, Business, Education, Finance, Government/Public Administration, and others. “This activity is designed to help students understand that, while there are countless career options, recognizing how these careers are categorized into clusters can simplify the decision-making process,” explained Regula. “They may not know the exact job title they want but through these activities, they can identify the career cluster that sparks their interest, which is an important first step in exploring their future options.”
The approach includes extensive hands-on exploration where the students can try out various skills in a particular cluster to determine if they have the skills and interests needed to be successful in that field. Each study includes a problem to solve or an opportunity to use equipment and tools common to a particular field. For example, in the health sciences cluster, students review X-rays and practice using a stethoscope and blood pressure monitor. In the architecture cluster, they study blueprints and use blocks to design a building and get a project back on schedule. In the business cluster, they make a sales pitch to retain a client. After each station, students rated their comfort level with the activity “This reflection process offered valuable guidance as they explored various career clusters,” added Regula.
The classroom work will culminate with a visit to the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center in February where students can tour the center and learn about the programs offered and the clusters they represent. “Our hope is that this experience will help them to make an informed decision about their future,” noted Regula.
Ninth and Tenth Graders Consider Future Goals
Regula also worked with ninth graders to design vision boards to help them conceptualize their goals for the future, such as success in a career, a family, and even opportunities for travel. “You can put a goal in words, but when you put a goal in images, it stays in your mind and helps you to envision what you want in life,” said Regula. “And the more you visualize it, the more desire you have to obtain it.” After winter break, the students used programs within the district’s Naviance computer platform to assess their strengths and see how they align with career paths that interest them. “We will discuss career pathways and how to choose high school courses that support their areas of interest,” explained Regula.
Meanwhile, tenth graders have been exploring their options and will tour the CVCC in February to take a deeper dive into programs that may best fit their goals. They will hear from students currently enrolled in the various programs, sit in on classes, and attend a Parent Night activity to help them make an informed decision about whether a CVCC program is a good fit for them.
