Freshman Merrick Han showcases his work and the tools that he uses during  class. Photo courtesy of freshman Jackson Kelly.

  San Luis Obispo High School offers many advanced CTE (Career and Technical Education) pathways and industrial classes for students to take. 

  CTE teacher Timothy Fay is the instructor for the Engineering Design pathway and the Welding pathway. These classes teach students technical skills and prepare them for apprenticeships in similar fields. 

  The hands-on activities taught in industrial classes have shown many benefits for enrolled students. Students learn how to operate tools and design projects, while also developing critical thinking and collaboration skills. 

  “Students are not just memorizing; they are doing. They design parts on a computer, cut materials on a machine, troubleshoot a circuit, or weld a joint,” said Fay. “The direct, tangible feedback from the material world is more immediate and motivating than just a grade on a test.”

  These classes allow students to develop a deeper understanding about how things work technically in the world. They learn how society evolves and how they can keep doing the work they love even in an ever-changing world. 

  “Many of these tasks will be aided with the implementation of Artificial intelligence, but AI can’t weld a bridge together, or fix a broken pipe under a house,” said Fay. 

  CTE students are also enjoying the benefits of learning with advanced tools such as CAD (Computer Aided Design) and a strong instructor. Students in the class must respect the advanced design equipment they get to use as it is a privilege to be offered these opportunities. 

  “Like a lot of people tell me, we do CAD. That seems interesting, because [it] seems like that’s like a very important aspect in the future,” said freshman Merrick Han. 

  Students like Han look forward to using advanced technology and enjoy the class due to the seamless transfer from their artistic talents into the class. 

  “I’m interested in engineering and I was always talented at drawing. So this class seemed fun.” said Han. 

  Other students have taken classes with Fay for a different class, welding, and enjoy the advantages that the classes give them the second they get out of high school. 

  “They teach you a lot of trade skills right out of high school and you can become a mechanic, welder, or other jobs like those,” said junior Michael Kurkeyerian. 

  SLOHS offers great opportunities for students to learn skills that they can use in real life scenarios; not just a formula to memorize, but rather a car to fix, a plate to weld, or wood to cut. Use the things you learn in all your other classes and use them to make changes in the real world. 

  Interested? Talk to your counselor about trying out this elective pathway next trimester.