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.”
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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