IB Campus Updates

Principal's Notes: This week we celebrate two of our seniors, Mohamed Kamara and Brianna Belvin, pursuing technical careers, one as a Medical Assistant and another in Machine Tool Technology. 11th and 12th grade students have classes in the smaller building of 3340. The community atmosphere there feels very much like a small college where classes are seminar-like and teachers consult one-on-one with students. The College Guidance program gives individualized attention to every student. Each student meets with the counselor multiple times to talk through their goals. The College and Career Day plays a very important role in broadening students' understanding of the different pathways after high school.

Mohamed Kamara will leave Williamson College of the Trades with no debt and a 98% chance of being placed in a job. Mohamed will enter the Machine Tool Technology program on his way to an Associate in Specialized Technology Degree and a lifetime of job opportunities. Demand for skilled workers has never been so high. Students from Williamson are hired by a wide range of companies, including Lockheed Martin, Siemens AG, West Pharmaceutical, Jansson Biotech, Einstein Medical Center and Eaton Aerospace.

When asked why he chose Williamson, Mohamed said “I know myself. I know I need to move around and use my hands. Often I have a difficult time focusing in classrooms.” Mohamed is celebrated by friends and teachers as someone who can be incredibly interested in certain things, able to process and present a lot of information. Mohamed himself says it is a challenge to sit still and pay attention without moving; this hands on program will play to Mohamed's strengths.

Friends and family are very important to Mohamed so he will begin by looking for jobs in Philadelphia. School Lane has been a great school for him, he says, because as a small school it is easier to connect with people because you have so many classes together. He has found people at School Lane who are now his best friends. Mohamed learns best in classroom environments created by certain teachers. He says, “He likes when teachers respond when asked to try to explain something again.” He claims his Language and Literature teacher Ms Sroka critiques and pushes you but also shows you what you did well.

Students in the Machine Tool Technology program work in a modern, fully equipped machine shop where they gain the knowledge and skills to cut, shape, form and fabricate metal items using machine tools. As hands-on as this program is, there is still a lot of studying involved. When asked how he will approach this, Mohamed says he has learned at School Lane to get to know his teachers and be honest with them. He will be fine, he says, “As long as I have someone who is a good teacher who can explain information to me.”

Brianna talked with representatives from Pennco Tech during School Lane’s annual College and Career Day and the next day they called her for an interview. Brianna was accepted into the Medical Assistance program the same day as her interview. When Brianna heard about the program and how much money she could make once graduated, she said, “It made a fire burn in me.” In just four months, Brianna will be able to enter the healthcare industry. Employment for Medical Assistants is projected to grow 29% over the next ten years. The high quality of the training allows graduates to use it as a jumping off place for many additional opportunities. Some of the daily duties of a medical assistant include, interacting with patients, using medical devices, performing vital signs and EKGs, scheduling appointments and assisting providers.” Brianna’s pediatrician has already offered her a job once she completes the program.

Brianna claims, “No other college seemed to fit what I wanted to do.” Before the College and Career Day she was not even thinking about going to college or pursuing any career. The Medical Assistant program spoke to her in a very personal way. As she says, “I’ve been a sick kid for many years. I feel I can connect with other people.”

The program is demanding. You have to complete 200 hours to graduate. Brianna is getting ready for this challenge, as she says, “I have been trying my best to get into school every day now to get in the habit for the program. I have been working as many hours as I can at my current job.”

This is an in-demand field where students can graduate into a variety of positions including Certified Medical Assistant, Patient Technician, Patient Care Assistant, Medical Billing and Coding.