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Tech. Ed. Briefs
SkillsUSA-WI .... "Champions at Work"
By Ryan Ubersox
Waunakee HS
WTEA Student Committee Chair
The SkillsUSA theme is, and always will be, Champions at Work. Each year to two years, the sub theme changes to reflect a specific focus. This year's sub theme is Connecting the Opportunities. Within TE as teachers we more easily see how opportunities align to guide a student toward their future career. The important part to keep in mind is to allow the students the power to connect their own opportunities. They get all kinds of advice from parents, guidance counselors, and teachers, and other sources, but experience is the only thing that can truly help them understand what they enjoy. Through experiences in SkillsUSA students have a multiple opportunities to connect to their future career whatever it may be. SkillsUSA is an extension arm of TE that connects the classroom to experiences outside our brick and mortar school. Sometimes these opportunities are the only way to get through to students and empower them to broaden their own horizons.
This past week, Southwest Technical College hosted their second annual SkillsUSA Regional Competition. I grew up in the southwest corner of the state and had visited Southwest Tech as a high school student once. I was blown away by the school and facility. This was an OUTSTANDING opportunity both for my students and me. A big thank you goes out to Southwest Tech for hosting such a great event. Attendance appeared to double from last year's event and all of my students came away learning something valuable that I couldn't give them inside the walls our our school.
I encouraged all of them to compete in both a technical event and a leadership event. SkillsUSA isn't just about technical skill it is about building leadership. One young man in particular was very stubborn and did not want to compete in his leadership event, Promotional Bulletin Board, in any way shape or form. In asking him why, he said "I have to have a resume`, be involved in an interview, and think about stuff." After I explained he would need to develop a resume to get a job, go through an interview to get hired, and think about stuff for the rest of his life, I coaxed and prodded him until he was somewhat convinced that it wouldn't be that bad. By the end of the competition, he was one of three of my students who did not earn a medal. To my surprise, he had a big smile on his face. On the way out the doors, I asked him how his day went. He smiled and said, "That wasn't so bad! I can do this."
When we got home, he thanked me and went on to talk about the upcoming state competition in April. I think that young man is starting to connect his opportunities to move toward his future career. Who knows, he might even learn some leadership along the way!
On behalf of your students, thank you for helping them connect their opportunities.
© Copyright 2010 by WTEA-WIS.ORG
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