More than 900 students and their families explored various careers, career pathways, and postsecondary options at the Socorro Independent School District’s 10th annual Career Awareness Showcase at Pebble Hills High School in September.
At the event, fourth- to eighth-grade students met with representatives from businesses and industry partners, including organizations such as CVS, the El Paso Fire Department, El Paso Community College, and more. Students also assessed future career opportunities available through Socorro ISD’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs and academic academies.
CTE Director Dr. George Thomas said the showcase provided students with the opportunity to explore potential careers and connect high school endorsement pathways to career opportunities. In eighth grade, students select an endorsement or area of interest, or skill to focus on in high school, laying the foundation for their future success.
"The whole intent of this program is to get them excited about a career," Thomas said. "And we know that they're going to explore, and they're going to think they want to do something, and then they're going to choose something else. It's as good for them to identify what they don't want to do as it is to identify what they want to do because you can check those off the list."
Eighth-grader Joaquin Pasillas from SSG. Manuel R. Puentes Middle School thought he wanted to be a teacher, but now he’s considering a nursing career.
He and his father, Salvador Pasillas, stopped at the SISD Health Professions Academy (HPA) booth to speak with some of the students about their experiences in the program. The students demonstrated how to perform CPR on a baby mannequin.
“I'm looking forward to being a nurse when I enroll in college because it's pretty unique how they do a bunch of these procedures and all that stuff,” Joaquin Pasillas said.
Salvador Pasillas brought not only his son but also his daughter, who is a fourth grader at James P. Butler Elementary School, and his nephew, who is a sixth grader at Puentes Middle School.
Salvador Pasillas said it was important for children to start thinking about their future careers from a young age.
“My son’s in eighth grade, and I explained to him that he should start thinking about his future,” Salvador Pasillas said. “I didn't get these opportunities, so I didn’t start thinking about my future till about my 11th or 12th grade year in high school.”
Karina Cruz was with her three children: Jazlynn Avila, a sixth grader at William D. Slider Middle School, and her brothers, fifth-grader David Avila and fourth-grader Leonel Avila, who are students at Helen Ball Elementary School.
David Avila was interested in the law enforcement program and a possible career as a police officer. He chatted with police officers about their jobs and got to look inside their squad car.
“I think so far the best thing I saw was like seeing how a cop does his training and stuff and seeing what gear they have,” David Avila said.
Cruz was excited to learn more about SISD’s early college high school and P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) programs. These programs allow students to earn a high school diploma and an associate degree or college credit simultaneously. The Montwood High School graduate wished she had these opportunities when she was in school.
“Let's get ahead of the game!” Cruz said. “I would love for them to all come out of high school with some sort of associate degree or some sort of certification.”