Wood teacher Joe Sanchez runs a clean and expensive shop up in the Industrial Tech zone. Photo courtesy of junior Bear Plemons.
Students at San Luis Obispo High School struggle each year to determine their class assignments. With all the options offered, it’s extremely hard to choose classes. Considering this, students should consider taking industrial classes (Wood, Auto, and Welding), which provide hands-on, real-life experience that students take into the real world.
“In academic classes, you’re learning book smarts, and in these hands-on classes, you’re learning street smarts,” said welding teacher Timothy Fay.
In Industrial tech classes, like welding, learning real-life skills that apply to life after school are prioritized. Due to this, students are prepared to enter the world, with some even landing jobs straight out of high school. Core classes, such as math and English, help you learn things that primarily only apply to the classroom, and the grades you get from these classes help you get into college.
“I have students working at SpaceX, Tesla, and local companies. Guys have started their own businesses doing this stuff,” said Fay.
The things taught in industrial tech classes help in life beyond the classroom. These alumni who work for extremely prestigious companies or who own their own are clear examples of the skills that these classes give you.
“I think that taking these classes really prepares me for a real job because they teach me the fundamental ideas of being blue-collar and how to use the machines required for the job. I took Welding I my junior year, and I regret not taking it in my freshman year because of how much I loved the class. I learned so much from it while also having a great time,” said senior Nolan Weller.
According to the American Staffing Association, 1 in 3 Americans recommend that high school graduates attend trade school rather than attend a four-year college.
Going into a trade rather than a four-year college right after high school allows students to quickly enter the workforce. This means that they make more money faster, along with the fact that they do not have to bear huge amounts of debt.
Clearly, industrial tech classes are definitely worth taking due to the valuable skills taught, along with the fun you get to have in the classes. You can also take the skills you learn into the workforce, allowing you to gain more job opportunities that otherwise would not have been available.
Source: americanstaffing.net