The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

Students seek new opportunities through South Tech

Perfecting+the+right+way+to+handcuff+someone%2C+junior+Jake+Braymiller+learns++how+to+be+a+police+officer.+This+is+Braymiller%E2%80%99s+first+year+attending+the+program%2C+but+he+plans+to+continue+next+year.+%E2%80%9CThis+program+really+helps+you+get+career+ready+for+whatever+it+is+that+you+want+to+pursue%2C+and+it%E2%80%99s+really+cool+how+they+train+you+and+get+you+ready+for+what%E2%80%99s+coming+after+you+graduate%2C%E2%80%9D+Braymiller+said.+
Chantal Chandler
Perfecting the right way to handcuff someone, junior Jake Braymiller learns how to be a police officer. This is Braymiller’s first year attending the program, but he plans to continue next year. “This program really helps you get career ready for whatever it is that you want to pursue, and it’s really cool how they train you and get you ready for what’s coming after you graduate,” Braymiller said.

Walking into South Tech High School, you see a variety of different programs that help guide students on a route alternative to traditional academics.  

“I didn’t know if I was making the right decision because you miss three classes out of your day.  I didn’t want to miss important classes, but I still went ahead and attended it, and it all worked out and [I had] a good feeling that I would be pursuing what I wanted to do,” junior Halie Klase said.

Klase has found a love for animals in the Veterinary Assistant program and wants to be involved with animals when she finishes the program.

“I really enjoy taking care of animals and being around them is very fun and comforting. When I saw South Tech had a program for that, I knew I wanted to be apart of it,” Klase said.

Sarah McManus
Junior Halie Klase takes the blood pressure of a kitten. Klase has worked at South Tech for the first time this year. “When I grow up I want to be a Vet Technician. I want to be involved more with animals because I enjoy being with them,” Klase said.

South Tech also has a program for construction, which is what senior Matt Talbott decided to join.

“My sophomore year, I went to an assembly, and they talked to the whole school about the different opportunities they had. Construction really stood out to me the most because it seemed the most fitting for me,” Talbot said.

Sarah McManus
Working on a construction project called the “Ideal challenge” where he tested how quickly he could wire up a switch to a receptacle is senior Matt Talbot. Talbot plans to skip college and go straight into construction. “Before attending South Tech I’d always thought about construction, but actually going to South Tech made me realize how many amazing opportunities they had there,” Talbot said.

Also attending the program, senior Jayla Bowers pursues her love for construction as a woman in a male-dominated field

“I have always had a common interest in construction because that was the major I always wanted to do for college,” Bowers said. “At South Tech, it’s not like a regular school where you sit down and learn; it’s more of hands-on experience.” 

Bowers started her course at South Tech as the only African-American female but switched classes and found shared experiences with another female classmate.

“I transferred into another class with another female that is also African-American, and it’s more settling to have her in there with me,” Bowers said. “It’s a mutual understanding. We connect on some things that others don’t,” Bowers said.

Sarah McManus
Working on laying a wood floor, senior Jayla Bowers cuts the laminate at a 45 degree angle. Growing up, Bowers was always around construction and found an interest in it. “I feel that the more that I get educated at South Tech, the more I could possibly get paid when I finish at South Tech, and there is no better feeling than that, in a field that you love,” Bowers said.

Junior Jake Braymiller is looking down a different path than Talbott, Bowers and Klase and wants to become a part of law enforcement. 

“I felt that the electives there would help benefit my life, and it would be more beneficial for me to take those than the ones at school. They help with what I want to do with my career,” Braymiller said. “[South Tech’s program] really gets closer to the job itself, and it really helps you focus on what’s really important for the career you want to take.”

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Tre Bell, Staff Writer
Pronouns: he/him I am a senior, and this will be my fourth year on staff. At first, I wanted to do yearbook because it seemed like that's what everyone was doing, so I wanted to be with them. Klevens, however, told me she thought I would be a great writer and I took her word for it. Now, I am really glad I did. I think my friends love that I am always in a positive mood, that I always try to light up a room and that I am always there to be an ear for them when things aren’t going their way. I love hanging out with my friends. I also spend all of my time playing sports. I play football, basketball and run track, so I am always working out. I like actually listening to the lyrics of songs to understand what is being said; sometimes it’s very relatable. I hope I have a very fun and eventful senior year.
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The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High
Students seek new opportunities through South Tech