The Chantilly Academy program offers a variety of collaborative, project-based, enriching classes that teach students specific career-related skills that will transfer into the real world.
The program transports students from South Lakes and other schools in the area to Chantilly High School, where students are given the opportunity to participate in the numerous engaging classes that the Academy offers.
Though the Academy provides many opportunities for students to immerse themselves in a variety of specific career fields, raising awareness and excitement to students about these classes has its challenges, one of them being the maturity of highschoolers.
As young adults, many of us are unsure of our post-high school plans, which makes us hesitant to try new things or explore certain career paths they haven’t considered before. As a student, I was not aware of many of these Chantilly Academy courses until my late sophomore year.
Another prevalent challenge in introducing the program to students is the intimidating idea of having to apply and be accepted into these classes. Though it may seem difficult to try something new out in a different school or get into the class, it is attainable. The application process just takes time, effort, and consistency.
This year as a Senior, I am taking a carpentry class. Carpentry is a field in construction which specializes in woodworking, which is a job field I am interested in. There are many different types of carpenters and many different career paths you can take within the field.
Given that I have had an interest in becoming a carpenter for the past couple of years, I began seeking career opportunities. Upon choosing classes during my sophomore year of highschool for Junior year, I came across a class called autotech. I asked my counselor what other trade-related classes there were, and among those options were electrician, autotech, carpentry and HVAC courses, which are some of the few classes offered.
Of course, I chose to take carpentry, and I began to ask my counselor what I needed to do to get into the class. There was a google form that needed to be filled out, and there was an option to visit the class during your class selection period during the school year.
Taking this class has been a wonderful experience so far; not only are the classroom environment and the material we are learning informative and interactive, but the privilege of being able to go to a school as nice as Chantilly is awesome. So far, this class has taught me a lot; ranging from leadership and communication skills, to facts you never would have thought of when it came to working in the construction field.
Not only are we learning the basics of carpentry and construction, but we are also learning how to work as a team. As an athlete, these skills of working with other students on projects in carpentry correlates with playing sports.
It is important for students to take a class that teaches core values similar to trade-related classes like carpentry. It builds character and teaches principles that are essential to be successful in a classroom environment and beyond high school.
