Many options for students planning their futures
Students preparing for their futures have a variety of options to choose from including considering careers in the trades.
Carol Stewart, career counsellor with Portage Collegiate Institute, spoke at Portage Rotary Club on Tuesday about opportunities for students considering careers in the trades as well as the overall benefits that are available to students in connecting with business in Portage.
She said the community can liaison with students to benefit both parties. Through establishing connections with employers, students can gain valuable experience while employers or other organizations can benefit by having eager young people to help fill their needs.
"We have had the career centre since amalgamation, so it's been a few years," said Stewart. "We are hoping that we can connect the youth at PCI with the many different groups in Portage. It's a wonderful opportunity for business to hear about how they might hook up with students at PCI as part-time employees, as volunteers, anything like that. If we can connect those students with those groups now, I think that not only do you connect with (youth) now, but you have the connections with them as they move on to adulthood."
Employers or groups can call Stewart at PCI if they know they are looking for volunteers or part-time employees.
In her role as career counsellor, Stewart can assist in matching them with students who are interested in getting involved.
"A lot of other schools do not have one certain person they can connect with ...," Stewart said. "If something does come up, they know who they can now contact at the school."
PCI offers training for variety of trades, such as hairstylist, auto mechanics, and building construction trades, to provide youth with skills they can use on the job.
During her presentation to Rotary, Stewart said having added skills also make students more readily employable when they complete their high school education for those who are interested in a particular field.
She said the high school years can be challenging time for teens and not all of them have decided what path they will take, so having any added skills in a field is often an advantage.
For youth who are considering preparing for fields that are in demand they may want to focus on careers in health care and the trades.
"That is what they are telling us. If students are interested in finding employment as soon as the school part is done, that those are some of the areas (in demand)," Stewart said. "They talk about computers also. There aren't very many jobs out there that don't have something to do with a computer."
Coming up on March 6, the City of Portage will be hosting the youth career opportunity expo at PCI, as a chance for businesses and organizations to showcase what they have to offer graduating students.
"It's a wonderful opportunity for the businesses here in Portage to connect with the students at PCI and make them aware of what kinds of opportunities are found right here in Portage," said Stewart. "I know a lot of students are thinking they will be moving on and moving from Portage, but the reality is that quite a few will be here. Maybe only for a few years after high school before they move on, but at least it does make them aware of the many opportunities found right here in Portage."
Whether students are looking at pursuing a post secondary education or gaining experience in the work world, Stewart said in her role as career counsellor she is there to help them in working towards reaching their goals.
Story courtesy of Angela brown and Portage Daily Graphic