seek Out special Programs
Many Texas schools offer innovative programs to
prepare students for specific career areas. These
include career and technical education (CTE)
programs, academies, and magnet schools. Once
you’ve decided on a career direction, ask your
counselor about special programs in your area
that may provide related experiences in your
chosen career.
education &
Samuel Odamah, an undergraduate student in
architecture enrolled at the University of Texas at
training ctsos
Arlington, found his career calling at Dallas’s Skyline
Career Development Center, a high school with
one of the best ways to acquire
career programs in a number of different fields.
experience in your chosen
“Skyline is one of the few schools in the country
career is by joining a career and
that offer programs in architecture,” Odamah says.
technical student organization
“In some careers, Skyline students could even get
(cTso). In education & Training,
professional certifications or licenses right in high
the most helpful cTso is:
future—are they adding or losing jobs? Check out
school. It was a great place because you could find out
the education you’ll need to enter those careers.
• Family, Career and
whether you really wanted to enter a career.”
The chart on pages 10–11 presents data on 25
Community Leaders
Odamah says that the career cluster system at
of America (FCCLA)
possible professions. Remember, though, that these
Skyline taught him the value of planning for his www.texasfccla.org
are just a sampling of careers available in the cluster.
career and his life. “We learned about planning
Go to OSCAR, O*NET, or another resource to
ahead,” he says. “Those who plan things ahead of
investigate other careers.
time don’t have to catch up. It’s just
a matter of what a person wants
Create your TAP
out of life. Planning gives you a
Once you have a better idea of your interests and
better platform for success.”
abilities, you are ready to plan for high school and

beyond. The Texas Achievement Plan, or TAP, is
your plan for preparing for the career of your choice.
“Students first choose a cluster,”
says Terry Brock, “not a particular
occupational goal. In the eighth grade
demand for
a student might choose Health Science
spanIsH-speakIng
and then later become interested in
a narrower field such as surgery or
TeacHers conTInues
radiology technology.” To grow In Texas.
The program of study you choose—
your plan—does not stop with
graduation from high school, Brock emphasizes. “A
student could then pursue a two-year degree as an x-
ray technician or a four-year degree as a radiologist.”
You should set up a TAP that takes you through
career preparation after high school, revising your
blueprint as needed as you go along. If your career
plans include college study, ask your counselor
about tests required for admission to college,
such as the PSAT, SAT, or ACT.
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