Hospitality &
Tourism CTsos
one of the best ways to acquire
experience in your chosen
career is by joining a career and
there are plenty of resources (see inside back cover) for seek Out special Programs
technical student organization
you, and they are as close as the nearest computer. Many Texas schools offer innovative programs to
(cTso). In Hospitality & Tourism,
One of the most helpful is the Occupation and prepare students for specific career areas. These
the most helpful cTsos are:
Skill Computer-Assisted Researcher (or OSCAR, include career and technical education (CTE)
for short) from the Texas Workforce Commission. programs, academies, and magnet schools.
• Business Professionals
It is a vast database of information about hundreds Once you’ve decided on a career direction, ask your of America (BPA)
of professions. You can find OSCAR at www.ioscar. counselor about special programs in your area
www.texasbpa.com
org/tx. Another good place to start is O*NET (online. that may provide related experiences in your
• DECA, Texas Association
onetcenter.org). chosen career.
www.texasdeca.org
Gather information about what you can earn in the Samuel Odamah, an undergraduate student in
careers in which you are interested. Find out whether architecture enrolled at the University of Texas at
• Family, Career and
Community Leaders
the careers you are considering have a promising Arlington, found his career calling at Dallas’s Skyline
of America (FCCLA)
future—are they adding or losing jobs? Check out the Career Development Center, a high school with
www.texasfccla.org
education you’ll need to enter those careers. career programs in a number of different fields.
The chart on pages 10–11 presents data on 25 “Skyline is one of the few schools in the country
• Future Business Leaders
of America (FBLA)
possible professions. Remember, though, that these that offer programs in architecture,” Odamah says.
www.txfbla.org
are just a sampling of careers available in the cluster. “In some careers, Skyline students could even get
Go to OSCAR, O*NET, or another resource to professional certifications or licenses right in high • SkillsUSA
investigate other careers. school. It was a great place because you could find out
www.txskillsusa.org
whether you really wanted to enter a career.”
Create Your TAP Odamah says that the career cluster system at
Once you have a better idea of your interests and Skyline taught him the value of planning for his
abilities, you are ready to plan for high school and career and his life. “We learned about planning
beyond. The Texas Achievement Plan, or TAP, is your ahead,” he says. “Those who plan things
plan for preparing for the career of your choice. ahead of time don’t have to catch up.
“Students first choose a cluster,” says Terry Brock, It’s just a matter of what a person
“not a particular occupational goal. In the eighth wants out of life. Planning
grade a student might choose Health Science and then gives you a better platform
later become interested in a narrower field such as for success.”
surgery or radiology technology.”
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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