Clearlake >> The My Future, My Way Workshop for students in grades seven through 12 returned to the South Shore on Oct 8. This career and college exploration workshop at the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College, created by the Lake County Office of Education (LCOE) Career and College Readiness Department, allows students the opportunity to spend a day on the college campus. They get to know the instructors and experience firsthand what is possible as a Lake County college student.
Approximately 110 students from around the lake turned out on that Saturday to participate in a variety of activities. The morning started with hands-on lessons from professors Rob Cabreros in culinary arts, Andrew Miller in biology, Montana Hodges in geology, Chris Hodges in astronomy, Angela Metzger in literature and Ann Marie Pleskaczewski in baking.
During the second part of the day students moved through sessions on college 101, self discovery and a Q&A panel of local college students. The purpose of these sessions was to expose students to opportunities both while in high school and beyond, said Tammy Serpa, LCOE education specialist.
“By offering these workshops at our local college, students become familiar with the campuses and hopefully see themselves as future college students. Whether it’s to earn a degree, a certificate or just to learn a new skill our local colleges can help all students with their future endeavors,” she said in an email.
Although the My Future, My Way Workshop is academically focused, other activities are incorporated. All students rotated through a physical exercise session called “Healthy Body, Healthy Mind.” Some students spent a relaxing session in yoga with Roslyn Griffin while others enjoyed unstructured time such a beach ball and Frisbee. The purpose of this time was to communicate to students the importance of staying physically fit as well as mentally fit in their life after high school, Serpa said.
Student who completed the day were able to participate in a drawing of prizes including college sweatshirts, sunglasses, beach balls, water bottles, wireless speakers and headphones, star finder, fitness activity tracker and a water-proof action camera.
For more information on other career and college exploration activities visit the LCOE website at www.lakecoe.org, view the Facebook page LCOE-careersandcollege or email Serpa at tserpa@lakecoe.org.
