PERRYSBURG — Students from all over Northwest Ohio had the opportunity to participate in personal and professional development workshops at the Penta Career Center.
Penta holds the workshops every other year. It was held Friday.
“Our students gain great skills in the labs. What they need the most help with are the next steps after high school. For example, students have been learning how to buy a car and succeed in job interviews,” said Phil Stockwell, supervisor of Workforce Development at Penta. “We have a Career Readiness Committee that focuses on ways to improve the school. This Career Day came out of the work that the committee has put in.”
“I have participated in three money-related workshops. The first one was about general money-saving advice. I have been learning new information as well as reviewing what I already know,” said Silas Doolittle, a junior at Maumee High School. “Career Day is a nice break from normal school. I am learning a lot of information today that will help me in my future.”
In the workshops, students gained valuable information that will help prepare them for their futures. The sessions covered important topics such as time management, health insurance, car buying, resume writing, volunteering, interviewing tips and finances.
“I want to be a nurse because my grandma has health problems. I want to be able help my grandma when she needs it,” said Destiny Mitchell, a junior at Penta.“Here at Career Day, I have learned that a lot of the colleges around here offer a nursing program.”
“Career Day has been important to me because I have been able to learn more about Ohio’s nursing program,” said Penta junior Jordan King.“I really want to be a part of their nursing program. I got persuaded by my aunties to join this program because they are all in the medical field.”
More than 400 sessions were offered at the event. In addition, 40 area post-secondary institutions and training centers were in attendance for a College and Organization Fair.
Some of the organizations that attended the College and Organization Fair included ProMedica, Sun Federal Credit Union, The Toledo Zoo, Custom Deco, Penske Truck Leasing, Owens Community College and Sofo Foods.
“We are here talking to students about apprenticeships through the center. We have a building trades program apprenticeship which is piping, plumbing, fitting and pipe welding,” said Robert Voight, with the Piping Industry Training Center. “The big thing about apprenticeships is that there is no college debt at the end. Earn while you learn. You get placed with a contractor, so you’re working in the field, getting hands-on experience with that contractor. The classes tie in everything that the students learn.”
“We are talking about destructive decisions and what decisions we make on the road. We are teaching students about why we need to wear a seatbelt and how to drive without distractions,” said Sandy Wiechman, Safe Communities Coordinator for Wood County. “We are challenging the students to change one habit at a time, encouraging them to be safer drivers as time progresses.”
