Vocational school boosts real-life experience for students in their desired careers
By: Marisa Maldonado
Patrick Steadman said he knew he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his uncle, a chef at the Hilton East Brunswick, and pursue a career in the food industry.
Instead of attending Monroe Township High School, he enrolled in the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School in East Brunswick, where he has studied baking for the last four years. He now intends to major in hotel and restaurant management at Middlesex County Community College.
"It’s almost going to be a breeze for me, because I learned so much," said Patrick, who moved to Plainsboro last year after living in Jamesburg. "I almost have the (college) degree already."
The 130 students who will graduate from the vocational school Monday have been working toward their careers since they set foot in the school. Each student at the vocational school takes three periods of "shop," or a career concentration, in addition to five academic classes each day.
Seniors spend half their day in their shop and help teach younger students in their concentration. In addition, many seniors participate in a cooperative education program that places them in local businesses that match their concentration.
The students all come to the vocational school pursuing different goals, senior Melissa Williams said. But the common desire of a concentrated high school education bonds them, she said.
"Your shop becomes your second family," said Melissa, who lives in Monroe and studies welding. "It really does."
Each freshman at the school rotates through the various concentrations, or "shops," which range from medical health technology to welding. Teachers then tell them whether they fit into the shop, and students choose a concentration based on their experience with the rotation.
"Our freshman year was more mature than others," said James Prendergast, a Jamesburg resident who studied medical technology. "You’re already pushing toward your career."
About 90 percent of students enter the work force immediately after graduation, Principal Teresa Sefchek said.
The medical technology shop includes courses in nursing and anatomy and physiology, all to prepare students for careers in the health-care field, James said. James, an aspiring forensic scientist, plans to study chemistry at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Teaneck campus.
His roommate will be Corey Sigur, a computer-assisted drafting student who will study electrical engineering. Both Corey and James said personal contact with members of the Fairleigh Dickinson community helped them make informed decisions.
"I liked the campus," said Corey, who lives in Monroe. "I met the electrical engineering teacher, and he was nice."
James has expanded his horizons beyond medical technology while at the school. In September he won the "Be Powerful, Be Heard" hip-hop summit in Trenton, part of the state’s program to reach younger voters.
"We had a send-off party," Ms. Sefchek said, "(and) he performed for the school."
The students will be meeting people from across the state in college also a reason why the students said they attended the vocational school.
"In regular high school, I know all the people," said C.J. Jones, a resident of Jamesburg. "I wanted to meet new people and try new things."
Melissa also found the new environment a fresh change pace from her nine years of Catholic school. She said she went from a "cookie-cutter" environment that required wearing a uniform every day to a school with a far more diverse population.
"They’re the nicest people you will ever meet," said Melissa, who concentrated in welding. "Don’t take people for what they look like, take people for what they are."
Melissa, the only female welding student, said she had to overcome the stigma of women in welding, set at the school by a former girl in the program who did not actively participate. But that didn’t deter her from studying a field she grew to enjoy, she said.
"I’ve always liked a challenge," said Melissa, who will attend Middlesex County Community College. "I go in there every day, learn something new. Four years later, I’m still improving."
Melissa, C.J. and Patrick all will attend Middlesex County Community College through the NJ Stars program, which provides free tuition at an in-state community college for students who graduate in the top 20 percent of their high school class. And C.J. and Melissa, unlike their peers, plan to veer away from their shop concentration when selecting a major.
C.J. plans to major in physical education and become a teacher and high school basketball coach. He already is the point guard for the vocational school’s basketball team and was voted the team’s most valuable player last season.
"I first chose psychology, but then I thought about it," C.J said. "I love gym, and I love sports, and I love basketball."
Melissa is going to pursue a lifelong love of horses and major in biology at Middlesex County College, followed by a major in animal science at Rutgers University with concentrations in equine fitness and farm management. She hopes to run a farm while saving money to open a welding business.
Melissa also won the school’s Caring Award last year. She sent cards and crocheted scarves for the 130 people in her great-grandfather’s retirement community an 18-month undertaking after a woman told her she had no family or friends to visit her at the home.
"I never realized that, until that lady said it, that a lot of seniors don’t have anybody," Melissa said.
That wasn’t the case for the vocational school’s graduating seniors, she said, who have relied on each other throughout the four years.
"I’m not antsy to get out of here," Melissa said. "It doesn’t feel like the end of the year.
"I’d have the hours on count (if I had gone to Monroe Township High School)."