Wayne Magazine Back to School 2019 | Page 36

education A PCTI STUDENT PRACTICES HIS CAMERA WORK COSMETOLOGY NADIA ABOUKARAM GRADE: Rising sophomore HOMETOWN: Wayne STUDYING: Cosmetology. “I’ve been doing it for a while, and I really like doing hair, makeup, nails and all that. I one day want to own my own salon and get involved in the business aspect of it — hopefully have my own brand.” What made you choose a technical/ vocational school instead of going to the school in your town? It’s really beneficial LINDSAY FIORELLINI FIORELLINI What made you choose a technical/vocational school instead of going to the school in your town? “My district school is Wayne Valley, and my older brother and my older sister went there. They had a fun time, but my other older sis- ter came here and she liked it. I wanted to try a new experience and meet new people, and I think it’s really benefited me.” How has your thinking regarding education and career goals changed since you started at PCTI? “I learned here at PCTI to work more, and that it’s only going to benefit you.” What do you feel you are missing out on by not going to the local school you would have attended? “I feel like I def- initely gained more coming here. I got the experience of playing varsity sports and of the concentrated area I’m studying. I think that’s a huge gain, instead of just going to college, trying things out and being like, ‘Oh, maybe I don’t like this,’ and wasting money. Here I get to experiment with it and do what I want with it before I step into the work field.” What’s a highlight at PCTI? “Definitely interviewing people. l do a lot of documentaries for the shop, and I actually got to interview a couple of past opioid addicts and see their experience through their own eyes. I sat in a room with them for a couple hours, and just listened. That’s been a big tool I learned at PCTI: just listening and telling people’s stories.” 34 BACK TO SCHOOL 2019 WAYNE MAGAZINE for me to go here, because if I pass my State Board test I’ll graduate with my license [in cosmetology]. So, ultimately this school will give me a boost for my career in the future. Whether I follow this or go more down the business route, I’ll always have this [license] as a back-up. Other high schools, I wouldn’t have that.” How has your thinking regarding educa- tion and career goals changed since you started at PCTI? “There are definitely a lot higher expectations when you come here, because they want you to be the best you can be, especially since you have an extra class on top of your regular classes. So they want you to just excel in whatever you do. But in my opin- ion, it’s not pressure, it’s motivation.” A PCTI STUDENT PRACTICES PAINTING NAILS What’s a highlight at PCTI? “Definitely ‘Wellness Day,’ where I got to experi- ence working on real people and interacting with them. People came down to the gym, and they could either get their nails done, or they could get a back massage. So that was really cool to experience the two different things.” Any advice for parents or students on the fence about whether to apply to a vocational school? “Just don’t give up.” ■ VIDEO PRODUCTION GRADE: Rising senior HOMETOWN: Wayne STUDYING: Video production. “When I was little, I watched a lot of YouTube, and I liked the way that people told stories. So I kind of wanted to try it out myself, especially after visiting the school. I saw the studio and fell in love with it. And so that’s what I applied for during my eighth grade, and I got in for it.” ABOUKARAM