No matter what their future career choice may be, Lake Orion High School seniors are getting a leg up on the competition through the Career Pathways program and exit presentations that are done like mock job interviews.
Every senior must go through a presentation, where they present their high school experience and career pathway choice to a members of the administration and teaching staff.
‘They talk about what skills they have learned from their classes, and what they want to do in the future,? said LOHS assistant principal Chris Bell. ‘That’s our goal…that all our students, when they leave our doors, have a plan for the future.?
Students must submit a portfolio outlining their accomplishments inside and outside of the classroom, as relating to their career pathway.
They also submit a resume example, and are expected to dress professionally as they would for a real job interview.
‘It’s a great concept to get kids to exit as they should from high school,? said Ken Snage, a speech teacher at LOHS who evaluates some of the seniors? exit presentations.
‘It’s showing, I can read, I can write, I can talk, and I can carry myself with some poise,? he said.
The Career Pathways program began in the Lake Orion district three years ago, and the Class of 2005 are the first to complete the program, and go through the exit interview process.
‘We coach them through the interview, but they develop their resume and choose what to present,? said Bell. ‘If they don’t receiving a passing score the first time, they will go through the presentation again until they pass it.
‘It’s formal, but yet informal,? explained Bell.
Students receive scores in such areas as content, including the completeness and explanation of their chosen focus area, and their academic focus area; as well as their delivery, including posture and poise, eye contact, evidence of preparation, voice (volume and inflection), professional appearance and grammar.
‘They only find out of they passed our not, they don’t actually see what they scored,? said Bell.
Senior Calli Long, who is president of student leadership, formerly known as student council, and a captain on the varsity competitive cheerleading squad, recently conducted her exit presentation, and passed with flying colors.
Long’s career pathway is arts and communication, and she presented analysis sheets discussing work she has done in class relating to her pathway, as well as a sample resume.
‘I’ll be attending Michigan State University, and focusing on the marketing management major, but what I’m going to do, I’m not sure,? she said.
‘I’m a very outgoing person, and I can talk to new people,? Long said. ‘I’m thinking about going into pharmaceutical sales.?
Long added that after interning for LOHS associate principal Sarah Manzo, she was also considering administration.
‘I think my experience here at (LOHS) has started me on the right path…I have the right ideas,? she said.
‘It would not surprise me to see Calli back in education,? said Bell. ‘She’s very driven and she has direction.?
Long and about 40 other seniors completed their exit presentations on Dec. 20. Bell said about 80 were done so far this school year.