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Judith Vargas wasn’t unsure about the future and wasn’t sure if he wanted to earn a four-year degree when he attended the College Fair over a year ago.
“I didn’t know what I wanted for my career. I was nervous because everyone in my class was thinking about what they wanted to do,” Vargas recalled.
At the College Fair she stopped at the Occupation Center Station in North Valley. And the idea of becoming an aircraft mechanic was intriguing.
At that moment, and a timely collaboration between the Los Angeles School District and Vista Aircraft Maintenance, now a 19-year-old high school graduate, heads towards a career in potentially payroll operation in aviation that does not require a university degree.
Vargas was part of a court effort that became an acquisition and learning program in the Los Angeles Unified School District last summer. Her burgeoning success story represents the ongoing and practical reshaping of public education as many students and families weigh the value of a four-year university degree that is costly for specific job-response training.
The new programme will receive $1,000 this summer, showing off occupational skills in the high-demand sector, including aviation, construction, healthcare and high-tech maintenance. The program has a waiting list.
Judith Vargas, 19, spoke about her current position as a service representative in Vista aircraft maintenance during an event in Wilmington this month. Vargas was able to do this because he took part in the “Acquisition & Learning” program.
(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)
Amidst the rapidly evolving workplace needs, preparing students for careers is challenging, and many are increasingly debating the benefits of traditional university education and the focus of professional vocational training.
Data show that university graduates earn more than non-university graduates. But the whole picture is complicated. Some degrees lead to higher wages than others. College costs can be liable for debt. And many students have not completed the university or have not completed it immediately.
“Not all students want to go on the university route, not all students need to do that,” said Renny Neyra, executive director of adult and career education at LA Unified. “We need an X-ray technician. We need a welding machine at the port. We need people to repair the planes we are flying to.
But even without college, piloting towards a successful career means getting an education at the right time for the right skills.
“At the heart of this, education should not just open the doors, but help you build lifelong skills, confidence and tools,” said Isabel Acosta, vice president of programs at Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation.
The foundation is funding $1,000 payments to seniors and recent graduates completing a five-week summer program introducing students to various transactions. This money helps students from low-income families take part in free, all-day training where there is less pressure to hold back external jobs.
Vargas funds were not available last year, but the free training was. It took place at Vanneis Airport, which is also the local headquarters for maintenance of Vista aircraft, a company that students visited as part of their coursework.
Vargas had the opportunity to introduce himself to employees at the company. She continues to train at the Occupational Center at LA Unified’s Adult School Program.
“In my first class, it was a general knowledge of aviation, so everything was a bit,” Vargas said. “The class that just finished was the structure of an airplane.”
About two months ago, Vista offered her an entry-level job, but gave her the flexibility to continue training for Vargas to become an aircraft mechanic.
She already earns a minimum wage and helps schedule aircraft in and out of maintenance care at Van Nice and other facilities.
More plane workers are needed, according to Louis Delorio, president of Vista Aircraft Maintenance. “I want people to know that this is a really good option for them. … You can work on the whole plane. One day you are working on the engine. One day you are working on the aircraft. You may be working on the landing gear.
“That’s my passion and teaches young people what corporate aviation opportunities are,” DeLorio added.
She is also becoming a passion for Vargas, who was the only woman in her aviation class last summer.
“I want to inspire other women,” she said.
Career training and work experience opportunities can help students in a variety of ways.
Saphira Ramos has just graduated from Belmont High School with a 4.0 GPA and will be attending UC Riverside and Biology majors. She is taking part in a health career class to start jumping on her employment route.
“The funniest [part] “They’re 18 years old and registered with the East Los Angeles Occupational Center in Boyle Heights,” said Ramos, who is 18 years old and registered with the East Los Angeles Occupational Center. And what we are learning is how oral hygiene is so important. I think it’s pretty cool that you can help others keep their teeth clean. ”
Through La Unified’s mentoring department, different career-related programs allow high school students to spend the summer on hourly wages, usually minimum wage.
During the school year, students will first be designated as “internship ready” when they demonstrate basic skills, such as preparing a resume or cover letter. They will then be able to demonstrate their knowledge of financial literacy, participate in mock interviews and earn a “work ready” badge after completing an internship, said program administrator Esther Dabagyan.
Career-related skills that all students need include career-related skills, such as “being critically able to think, speak professionally, be able to give presentations, or be able to put together a collaborative resume, or have basic technical skills.”
From 2024-25, LA Unified Students won 2,890 “Internship Ladies” and 1,185 “Work Response” badges.
The Broad Foundation provides some funding for this effort.
This summer, approximately 550 students have participated in the internship. Many students work in the LA Unified Office.
Leonardo de los Santos, 17, works at the Best Buy Teen Tech Center and supports the technology classes offered to teenagers at Western Avenue in South La Delos Santos.
De Los Santos is a senior senior at nearby Hawkins High School and is set to become a mechanical engineer. He said he benefits from this introduction to the world of work.
“You had to be able to work on time,” Delos Santos said. “You also learn how to interact with people. Learning how to interact with your people, your clients and colleagues is really important to your future work.”
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