As an eighth grader about to decide where I wanted my high school years to occur I found myself surrounded with numerous opinions about GNBVT, most of which were negative. Flashback to my parents’ generation; about the 80’s, VOCS reputation was far from creditable. Voc was the place you went if you didn’t want to go to college, an easy way out or a direct path to a working class life. A reputation to which has now been proven wrong. Voc is so much more than that. I get it, and to this day that old reputation still holds some truth. Yes, Voc is a great school, better yet the best choice if you have no intention of furthering your education past the 12th grade. But just because they prepare you in a trade doesn’t mean your education has to stop there. Voc can also serve as your foundation for college and career paths. Luckily, I was able to get my parents to see what Voc had become and the decision was made, Voc was my choice for high school.
I myself thought I knew exactly what I wanted as I began my freshman year, but it turned out that by mid sophomore year that decision had completely changed. Some students may know or have an idea of what career path they may take but others may not have a single clue. Voc can cater to each group of these students and every one in between much like me. If you know that you want to work in the food industry, culinary arts is clearly your choice. You enjoy drawing up designs for a new clothing line, fashion is your calling. You find yourself the go to friend for styling peoples hair and doing their makeup, become a stylist in cosmetology. With a 4 year education in the shop of your choosing, you can graduate with the skills to become a successful entry level employee. If you decide you want to do more, guidance counselors and other staff will gladly steer you in the right direction. For those who don’t know what they want to do, they have over 20 shops to choose from. And with a half a year extensive exploratory program, you’re sure to find the right one for you. With this being said I am proud to say that I am a successful graduate of GNBVT’s class of 2013 and because of this I am saddened to hear and see Voc and its students becoming a negative source in the public’s eye. I don’t want the school that helped build me become a thing of the past. There has been so may success stories that have come out of that school and from its graduates that this is not a matter that can be ignored. I am proud to say I graduated from GNBVT, I proudly hang my tassel in my car rear view mirror, I am a proud member of the alumni board and I am proud to say that I am a Bear.
