Forging Ahead
A lot of high school students daydream about their future jobs. Only Butler High School juniors have to draw up a concrete list of steps to reach their career goals and present it to a representative in their chosen field.
Last week, 400 of the 470 students in the Class of 2020 took part in career action plan interviews in the high school gymnasium opposite Keystone Exam testing. The interviews ran four days from 7:30 to 10 a.m.
Shannon McGraw, school to career and college tech prep coordinator at the school, said 70 members of the junior class took part in a test run of the interviews earlier this year.
“The entire junior class comes up with a career action plan. Here they sit down with professionals in their chosen field and go 'Here's my plan, what are the roadblocks?'” said McGraw.
“It's unique to Butler. It is the only district that is doing these plans and interviews, sharing their plans with someone in the field,” she said.
The juniors identify the skills needed for success in their future careers, list what steps they have taken to further their job plans and list potential stumbling blocks to their goals, and come up with a 'Plan B' in a worst-case scenario.
John Wyllie, the Butler High School principal, said, “The career action plan interview is the culminating activity to our kindergarten-through-12th grade guidance.”
Wyllie said the juniors' English courses have been given over to the preparation of the career action plan, as earlier social studies courses concentrated on career exploration and math classes dealt with financial preparation.Wyllie said, “ It's a piece of our curriculum. It's really good for them and we want them to do it.”Wyllie and McGraw said students in lower grades start to identify their interests and abilities and decide what they are good at and what they would like to pursue as a vocation.Wyllie said, “In high school, it's time to start putting the plan together: What does it take to get to the job?”Before the Tuesday-through-Friday interviews, juniors sent their career action plans to the representatives who would interview them, and then they arrive at the interview with a resume.The 71 interviewers are volunteers, McGraw said.“We sent out a letter to the parents in the district, and we have done a lot of networking, speaking at Rotary and Chamber of Commerce meetings,” said McGraw.Wyllie added, “ A lot of them were referred to us by those who have done it already.“The interviewers run the entire gamut from HVAC to hairdressers to veterinary techs to lawyers to doctors,” he said.“This provides them with the interview experience and a realistic and unbiased opinion of their plan,” said McGraw.After prepping with a list of sample interview questions, the interviewers begin the process of meeting and interacting with the juniors.Most industry representatives volunteer for one morning, interviewing five to six students for 10 to 15 minutes each.The volunteers write feedback for each student which allows the student to revisit and fine-tune the plan, said McGraw.Dr. James Mortimer, a pediatrician with Next Generation Pediatrics on the Benbrook medical campus, said he interviewed six or seven juniors about different aspects of the medical field.
Mortimer said, “I kind of stick to the background questions: 'Why did they choose to pursue medicine?' 'Where do you want to go to school?' 'How are you going to pay for it?'“That's a huge question,” said Mortimer. “They are looking at six to seven years of schooling. This is what to expect. I tell the students the pros and cons of my job,” said Mortimer.“There are things you won't like. Even if you are not going to be a doctor, a strong scientific background is needed if you are going to be a physician's assistant or going into physical therapy,” Mortimer said.Junior Katlynn Lawrence had an interview with Ron Pate, special agent with the office of the state attorney general.“I am interested in forensic psychology, looking into criminals and why they did what they did, figuring out everything.“He asked questions about why I am interested and what I plan to do about school,” she said of her interaction with Pate.“I was talking about Butler County Community College. That's a pretty good school that's close and cheaper than most schools.“He said that is a pretty good idea and to keep working hard,” she said.Another junior, Brooke White, also interviewed with Pate.She said, “I want to be a criminal investigator. He said I presented myself very well.”White's career goals have changed as she investigated her options, she said.“I started out wanting to be a CSI but the blood work...” she said. She's now shifted her sights to joining a police academy and maybe trying to become an FBI agent.Another of the interviewers was Debbie Walker, the human resources generalist at Arconic Kawneer Cranberry, the window manufacturer.“I interviewed six that were interested in manufacturing and attending the vo-tech,” said Walker.She added the million-square-foot facility is always looking to add to its 550-member work force.“We are always looking for people. There is a huge gap in manufacturing skills out there,” Walker said. “We look for those with a passion for building things, putting things together.”As for the career plans of the juniors she interviewed, she said, “I think they were pretty much on point. They had a clear path to where they wanted to go already and that was exciting.”
The path could get smoother for some of the students interviewing this week, said McGraw.“These interviews are bringing about offers for job shadowing, internships and offers to be a mentor,” said McGraw.“We were not expecting that. That wasn't the end goal, but it was one of opportunity,” she said.“These interviews are 15-minute slots and what we are hearing from the interviewers is that it is not long enough,” said McGraw.“It's hard to express enough gratitude to these people.“They are really investing in these kids. They are not just asking questions and walking out the door,” she said.White said of her interview with Pate, “He told me what I needed to do for my future, and I feel a lot more confident about what I have to do.”
