At Mt. SAC Early College Academy, students are already thinking about their futures and career paths. While some students are taking a more traditional path, some students are choosing a less common path. From healthcare to engineering to creative fields, MECA students are showing a strong passion and a wide range of interests that show both their personal passions and real-world influences.
Across MECA, a lot of students are interested in healthcare-related careers, like nursing, therapy, and psychiatry. These are often popular among students because they can help other people and also be financially stable. STEM fields, like engineering and environmental science, are also popular choices, especially for students interested in solving world problems and improving the environment.
Madelyn Madison, a freshman at MECA, is already set on her future career choice. “I want to be a veterinarian because I hope to give back to the community by helping people’s pets,” she said. Being inspired by her family, she explained that being able to help animals who cannot speak for themselves is an important reason why she wants to be a vet. “I hope [being a vet will] take me somewhere where I can have a good job, and being able to spend time with my family, but also helping pets.” Madison plans to attend Cal Poly Pomona after high school because they have a very strong veterinary program.
Sophomore Makenna Chung is considering a totally different career path. Inspired by her mother, an elementary school principal, Chung hopes to become a math professor. “I’ve always liked math, and I want a good schedule and a steady income,¨ she said. Other than being able to be financially stable, Chung wants to be a professor because she can have an opportunity to make a difference in students’ lives. She shared that her calculus professor at Mt. SAC also influenced her a lot; he motivated her to continue to pursue being a math professor.
Wanting to be a nuclear engineer, Hazel Shafiq, a junior at MECA, wants to be a nuclear engineer with a focus on renewable energy. “A successful career in nuclear engineering to me means having a healthy work-life balance and a large income,” she said.
Xavier Barrios, a freshman, also plans to work in engineering, but with a focus on environmental issues. “I want to help the ecosystem and study animals,” he said.
Creative careers are another path that a lot of students are interested in. Freshman Sasha Puga wants to become an author, she is largely inspired by books that made her feel immersed in the story. “Success to me as a writer means that many people buy my books and say they loved them,” she said.
Adrian Barcelona, a sophomore at MECA, also wants to be an author, with his goal being ”to sell thousands of books.”.
Another path that you normally won’t see and is also very impactful is being a first responder. Hao Zhu, a freshman,wants to be a firefighter. Two deputies at his Explorer Academy inspired him a lot. “I aspire to help people like they do one day,” he said.
Students often credit family members, personal interests, and teachers or mentors as reasons behind their career choices. In addition, social media also has allowed students to see a more realistic and being the scene views of different professions, which helped them get a better understanding of what careers actually look like.
Overall, MECA students are showing a strong motivation and awareness when it comes to planning their futures. Whether they want to work in healthcare, education, engineering, or creative fields, they are already taking steps and chances towards achieving their goals and making a meaningful impact in their communities.
