Lufkin High School students get glimpse of profitable careers without college degree

LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) - In many parts of the country, enrollment in trade schools is up by double-digit percentages.

Some programs are even open to high school students.

Lufkin High School partnered with BridgeYear for the GEAR Up program for juniors and seniors. It gets them experience in higher-paying, in-demand fields where a college degree is not needed.

BridgeYear Program Coordinator, Allena Grant, said, “We wanted to fit within that three month to three-year program, and also the cost of a school.”

Grant said there’s more than one pathway students can take for career success.

“They can get a certification in less than three months. For example, with phlebotomist, or they can get into an apprenticeship which only requires where you earn while you learn, or they can enter into a community college and get a two-year associate degree,” said Grant.

Potential careers include automotive technology, electrical repair, network IT, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy and more.

Lufkin High senior Sergio Barajas said though he’s looking to attend college, he wants to have an automotive technician career as a back-up plan.

“When I was little, I was always being shown how to fix a car because my dad was a mechanic and he showed me the things how to fix it and where they go,” said Barajas.

LHS junior Allan Munoze said he’s also looking to attend college, but is exploring other options.

“In case something doesn’t work out, it’s something short and sweet that will get me financially stable,” said Munoze.

Grant said the careers they picked are based on higher paying jobs, so students can provide for themselves.

“They can range any between $15 to $100 an hour, especially when you get into overtime and things of that nature,” said Grant.

She also said working as a surgical technologist can fit within the high pay range.

“You can start making $100 an hour, making $1000,000 a year, and that’s only a two-year program,” said Grant.

Grant said BridgeYear holds fairs for many schools around Texas twice a week to spread the awareness of options to students.

To learn more about BridgeYear, click here to view their website.

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