These seniors are members of my Student Advisory Council at Wylie East High School, and about half of them will pursue their plans and fulfill their purpose in college in the healthcare field next year. Their journey began four years ago when they enrolled at Wylie East and signed up for their “career experience” in health occupations. Since then, they have made huge strides towards accomplishing their goals.
These students enrolled in a series of courses that expose them to, and prepare them for, careers in the healthcare industry. From medical terminology to clinical rounds in a hospital, they learn the ins and outs of nursing and are able to explore the field. Prior to graduating, students in the health occupations experience have the opportunity to earn their EMT certification, become certified nurse’s aides, or pharmacy technicians. When they graduate, they possess the necessary skills to excel in the workforce. They leave with more than a high school diploma—they leave with confidence and fortitude. And, they become sought-after prospects for a variety of jobs.
These girls, and 458 other students in Wylie ISD, participate in the health science experience. This is just one of 23 career experiences that are available to Raiders and Pirates which allow them to begin map their future. From engineering to education, information technology to agriculture, Wylie ISD offers a myriad of opportunities to students and accommodates a wide range of career interests. Students are able to choose career paths which align with their strengths and support the goals they have set for themselves. The sky is the limit, because THEY HAVE A PLAN!
PLANNING WITH PARENTS
In the coming weeks, current Wylie ISD 8th graders will choose career experiences to explore in high school. Campus and district staff members are excited to offer support to these students and help them to make decisions which will benefit them in the future.
To help parents and students be better prepared for this transition, Wylie ISD is offering two informational meetings. Details can be found below.
Many times, kids and parents become anxious about these big decisions. Please rest assured that the career experiences are designed to help students explore options and determine whether or not they want to pursue specific careers when they graduate. In the event that a student doesn’t like his/her choice, it can be changed. It’s as simple as that.
Let Parker and Emma tell you all about how our kids will map their future with #ihaveaplanWISD
Emma is going to be a nurse. Parker is going to be an engineer. Emma, Parker and every kid in every picture in this blog have set their sights on the future, and we know they will be extremely successful. We look forward to watching them grow!
While we have a ton of career experiences to offer our students, we are still focused on adding additional opportunities. Based on requests from our students, we are now offering career experiences in Sports Marketing and Social Media Marketing. If you have a career experience you would like to be considered, please contact me at david.vinson@wylieisd.net
GREAT COUNSELORS AT YOUR SERVICE
Want to learn more? Our counselors and staff have created materials and provided resources to help students and parents on this journey.
Follow these links to connect with our amazing high school counseling staff and review our course guide:
Link to Wylie ISD High School Course Guide
Link to WEHS Counselors Website
OUR GOAL – HAPPY, HOPEFUL KIDS
We want our students to love high school. Our hope is that Wylie kids will discover their strengths and passions and match them with a plan, purpose, and engaging career to pursue following graduation. If we can provide them a map for their future, they are much more likely to be happy and hopeful adults who will give back to the school and the community.
During January, February, and March, our Wylie Way focus revolves around helping kids to map their future. You can help by talking with your child about his/her strengths and passions and asking him/her about future plans and career goals. It’s never too early to help our children to see their potential. It’s never too early to help our children soar.
We thank you for your support in these endeavors, and we are excited for the future. Preparing our kids for a successful life beyond high school is the Wylie Way!
