Event Shares Pathways Available for Students
Workforce Solutions for South Texas
September 20, 2018
WSST celebrated the Youth Career Exploration Event
LAREDO, Texas — (September 2018) — Workforce Solutions for South Texas held its 2nd annual Youth Career Exploration Event. More than 2,000 students participated in the 2-day event at the Sames Auto Arena on September 12 and 13.
The Texas Workforce Commission partnered with local workforce boards and provided funding to make the event possible and the City of Laredo sponsored the venue.
Students from the 8th, 11th, and 12th grades had an opportunity to talk to 56 different employers/organizations and find out what type of skills are required jobs of the future and also experienced hands-on opportunities with the tools of the trade from different industries.
“Students are required, coming out of the 8th grade, to pick up a career choice, a career path, so when they go into high school, they have to take a certain type of courses and get endorsements,” Rogelio Trevino, Executive Director for the Workforce Solutions for South Texas explained. “Today we are giving them that opportunity to talk to different industries and get ideas on the careers that might interest them.”
Juniors and Seniors also took advantage of the event which gave them an opportunity to see what type of job or postsecondary education they might want to pursue.
“We are very proud to be able to bring this program to you, because we know you are our future, and we know that in the next few years, you’ll go into college and the workforce, and we want to give you as much information as we can so you can make wise decisions,” Trevino said.
Attending the event were students from the Laredo Independent School District, United Independent School District, private schools, Laredo Job Corps Center, and Gateway Academy.
The cadets from the Laredo Job Corps and students from Texas A&M International University also participated as volunteers.
As a guest speaker on the September 12 event, Pete Saenz, Mayor for the City of Laredo, said to the youth that if they succeed, the city, the state, and the county will succeed too.
“But it takes choices, decisions. Nobody is perfect, we all make mistakes, but we all have the capacity to correct ourselves,” Saenz said.
Andrea De La Garza, Project Director for the Workforce Solutions for South Texas, participated during the ceremony on the second day of the event, explaining that every decision a person does, is an opportunity to be better.
“Even if you make a mistake today, it doesn’t mean you’re going to make it tomorrow. The next day you’ll get up and keep going. And that’s the whole point of life,” she said.
De La Garza also thanked the companies and organizations for taking time out of their busy schedule to participate and talk to the students.
Trevino added a thankful note to the Superintendents, teachers, sponsors, and counselors for the support of the event and for understanding the value of the Youth Career Exploration Event.
