March is the season for many things: great college basketball, crazy spring weather, and even more important for some kids, acceptance letters for the Great Oaks Programs. There were a lot of students very excited as they got the acceptance letters that meant they got to spend their last two years of high school getting hands-on experience for their future career.
William Henry Harrison High School has a lot of great classes, but for students looking for vocational training programs, Diamond Oaks has more programs than Harrison High School. Harrison is starting to get some vocational classes, but it doesn’t have as many as Diamond does. If you want to go right to work or to another trade school after you graduate, your best choice would be to go to the Oaks. Even if you’re college-bound, there might be something at the Oaks for you. The Oaks are going to give you a leg up on the program.
The journey to the Oaks starts in junior high, when all 8th graders take a field trip to the Diamond Oaks Campus to see how some of the programs work. Students went to each program and the Oaks students and staff explained the different programs and why they liked them. The journey continued in 10th grade with a meeting with some of the students and faculty from the Oaks when they visited our campus. Current Oaks students explained the programs they do at the Oaks, and some even brought visual aids like things they had welded. After they were done talking, Harrison students got to ask questions. They then signed up for the two programs they wanted to explore in depth on their second Oaks field trip. Students spent this field trip day getting to really see what it might be like to be a career-focused student at the Oaks.
As a sophomore, I was a part of all of this. When I went on my second field trip, I chose to visit Health care and Equine science. While I enjoyed my time with the horses, seeing the Health Care program made me decide that this was the program for me. That is when I knew I wanted to go there next year. I had to wait, though, until I found out whether or not I’d be able to, but on March 5th, I got my letter. It was stressful to wait, because not everyone gets in. At Harrison, 116 students applied to go to Diamond Oaks, but only 83 were accepted. If students turn their application in on time and have all of their required credits, they get a lottery number. Then, after all the on-time, full credit applications are in, if there are more applicants than there are spots, numbers are randomly drawn to see who gets in. Of the 18 programs at Diamond Oaks, 8 programs had to use the lottery. After all the acceptance letters went out, 15 of the programs at Diamond are filled.
People had all sorts of feelings as they got their Oaks letters. I was thrilled to get my acceptance letter in the mail. My mother texted me after school because she got the letter. When I got that text I was so happy. I couldn’t believe what she just texted me. I was going to start moving towards my dreams! I think it is a great option that could help me in the future. Since I want to be a nurse after school this option would help me a little bit better than me just going straight into college or even a nursing school.
Some people got accepted but are not sure if they are going to go for certain. Sophomore Caelin McClarnon also got accepted into Diamond for Health Care, but she doesn’t know if she wants to go. “I might not go to Diamond because I will be leaving my friends at Harrison,” said Caelin. Her explanation is valid. I don’t want to leave my friends back at Harrison either, but since most of the people I hang out with got into Diamond, I don’t have to worry about that.
But on the other hand, some people didn’t want to go to Diamond for many reasons. Sophomore Cheyenne Goodrow signed up for Diamond but then after a while changed her mind about going.” My dad wants me to go, but I would rather stay at Harrison.” said Cheyenne. Her father wants her to do something new with her life and be ready for a technical career right out of high school, but she wants to stay where she knows.
Sophomore Sammie Hammons signed up for Diamond but got on the waiting list at first. “ I wish I would have gotten in and not been on the waiting list, because I feel like I’m like the only one that got onto the waiting list,” Hamons said. While she signed up at the right time, some programs just filled up, leading to frustration. While Sammie didn’t get in for her first choice program, Sports Medicine, she did get accepted for her second choice program, Health Tech.
The Oaks has a lot of great programs. Some of the programs they offer are health technology, welding and fabrication, and many more. If you are wanting to help people by working in health care, the health technology can help you get there. You will get two certifications: a state-tested nurse aide and a patient care assistant. Some of the careers that you would get out of this experience are nurse assistant, EKG technician, patient care technician, medical assistant, phlebotomist, pharmacy assistant, and many more. There is much more information about it in the Health Technology – High School Program. Just go to this website for more information about the career path and college credits. One other program they offer is welding and fabrication. To be outstanding in the welding and fabrication program, you need a good eye, a stable hand, and a good understanding of mechanics. In this program, you will be able to learn SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and FCAW, along with oxy-fuel welding and brazing. It additionally includes education in cutting-edge processes like oxy-fuel, plasma, and carbon arc. The students will be learning about fabrication and quality control. Some of the careers are construction welder, pipeline construction welder, aerospace welder, and many more Welding & Fabrication – High School Program.
Harrison has great classes but Diamond is better for people who want to go into a trade or college after high school. There are a lot of great options that would help you in the future if you were to go to Diamond. The teachers are there to make you learn new things you may have never learned before. In conclusion, Diamond is a good option for students and is something that everyone should consider.
