Many local students are receiving guidance through a new method with technology and working toward their careers.
Each high school student participating in the Student Success Academy program has a college student consultant to guide them through classes, help them achieve goals and take steps to land a job in the field they choose.
Program director EJ Carrion says, "We have vice president of student council. We have those types of students. The very ambitious, very relatable. A lot of them are first generation. Bill Gates Millennium scholars. People who are doing really cool things. And we select them basically by a sense of their passion, a sense of their energy. Could they inspire students. Could they relate to students. And what they do is teach them the missing subject in high school. And that's the subject of success."
The consultants connect with students via Skype and help them decide what to major in, teach them how to contact professionals in careers they're interested in, and goal planning.
Student program participant Sean Boyles says, "I got a hold of an actual PT (physical therapist) and got to interview with her and ask her questions, which helped me a lot in my career. And I got to watch her too, hands-on."
Another student Catie Sebastian says, "I've gotten a chance to discover things that I didn't even know because with the consultant you get to talk about things and open up new ideas." And Mercedes Lofton says, "I always knew I wanted to be, a lawyer. But I never did anything to pursue it. And because of Soriah, I'm now more ready for the real world. And I contact people now."
Right now the services are offered at the Richard Milburn Academy in Amarillo, but they're looking to reach out to more area students. Carrion says, "We're also opening up a membership for families. So let's say a student doesn't come to a Richard Milburn Academy school, or a charter school, and to that matter. They can actually invest into the program, and do it at home at the comfort of their own computers."
Canyon schools say they're also looking into offering these services.
Jessica Abuchaibe, NewsChannel 10.
