Are shop classes simply a graduation requirement, or do they truly prepare students for the real world? At Edison, students choose CTE shop classes meant to introduce them to potential career letpaths. The bigger question remains, do students actually enjoy their shop classes, and do they see a future in what they are learning?
At Edison, students take CTE shop classes to explore careers, learn practical skills, and prepare for life after high school. Some students find a direct connection between their shop and their future career goals, gaining early experience in fields. Some students may not pursue a career in their shop, yet they still take away skills that will benefit them long after high school. Beyond technical knowledge, these programs give students the chance to try new things, discover their interests, and build confidence in a real world setting.
For some students, shop classes directly align with their career goals. Arianna Khan, a junior who is in the Medical Assisting shop, said she plans to pursue the field beyond high school.
“I do plan to pursue it as a career, ’cause I want to be a nurse, and I feel like that’s a great start to further my career. In my shop, I learned time management and the ability to get work done in a timely fashion. My shop has taught me the basics on how to go into medical care, which is important to my career. And overall, I wouldn’t even think about changing my shop class, as it aligns with my career goals for my future,” Ariana said.
Similarly, Mehrin Mortuza, a junior in the IT Security Shop, said that while she knew she wanted a career in technology, her shop helped refine how she learns and approaches schoolwork.
“I knew I wanted to do tech as a career but not really cybersecurity, however as long as it was technical, I would be okay with that,” Mehrin said. “I’ve definitely learned from my shop classes how to study efficiently using different resources. For example, I have a close friend in my shop where we use AI to create study sheets and talk about the topics like how we would in regular conversations. These methods really help me retain such knowledge and understanding.”
Mehrin added that the class has changed how she approaches her responsibilities, pushing her to complete assignments early and manage her workload more effectively.
Not all students are pursuing their shop as a career, but many still value the skills learned. Irisha Chowdury, a junior in the Electrical Installation shop, does not plan to pursue the field but found the class useful.
“Regardless of whether I want to pursue electrical engineering as a career, the skills I’ve learned can definitely be put to use in the future,” Irisha said. “For example, learning how to wire and install switches and lights while following the national electrical code will help me avoid hazards in everyday life.”
When asked if she would change her shop, Irisha added “I’d pick something related to my actual passion, like IT or web design. Knowing electrical skills is great, but I don’t have interest in this field, and another shop would align more with my future goals.”
Similarly, some students in Graphic Design such as Alyssa Ali Junior, explains that her shop class would not be something she sees as a career.
“I don’t see a future in my current shop class as graphic arts is not something I see myself pursuing, and I would rather work in different fields. Although my shop has taught me skills such as time management and creative thinking ideas, which I could use in the future. But in general I believe that CTE courses do prepare us for the future, as they teach us valuable professionalism skills even though you may not want to pursue it. But if I could I would take medical instead as it shapes into something I see more of a career in,” Alyssa said.
Like Alyssa, some students enjoy the skills their shop teaches even if they wouldn’t pursue it as a career. Avinash Sukul, a junior in the Automotive Refinishing and Collision shop, said he enjoys the class, noting that “maintaining your car, keeping everything organized, and following procedures helps develop responsibility.” Still, he would switch to a shop more aligned with his interests
“I would go to IT because it’s more about modern technology and something I’d love to do as a career after high school,” Avinash said.
Outside sources confirm the benefits of CTE programs, such as the American Institutes for Research, which explains that “CTE has statistically significant positive impacts on several high school outcomes, such as students’ academic achievement, high school completion, employability skills, and college readiness. There is no discernible impact on student discipline or attendance.”
Ms. Agard, Guidance Counselor for the Automotive department at Edison, spoke about the impact of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs on students’ futures, explaining that these courses help students build valuable skills beyond the classroom.
“Students have the opportunity to learn many different skills in their shop classes which allows them to prepare skills that can be used in the real world and they can continue to practice these skills outside of school besides just their academics,” Ms. Agard said. “ Our CTE programs offer students the opportunity to obtain practical skills. Compared to when I was in high school, we mainly focused on academics. Which has a benefit that students not only gain academic knowledge but also they gain experience for the real world. Students learn great skills especially by being able to network with many people and overall it gives them a palette of different skills they can use in their futures.”
Ms. Agard added that the value of CTE programs extends beyond preparing students for a specific career path.
“Even if students decide not to pursue their shop classes as a career, it still gives them valuable skills and stronger experiences that can help guide them throughout not only their careers but through their journey in life in general,” Ms. Agard said.
