Reflection On Lycoming Career And Technology Center

From the moment I first heard about Lycoming Career and Technology Center (LycoCTC), I knew that plenty of opportunities would be opened up to me through the program. Students first learned about LycoCTC during the middle of their freshman year. Mrs. Barlett and Mrs. Kime visited my school to explain what the center is for and to give an insight into some of the different classes that are offered. Growing up with a mother as a teacher, I was particularly interested in the Early Childhood Education class that Mrs. Kime discussed. This class would give me an opportunity to spend about 6 hours out of every week teaching children in a real preschool setting, learn how to create lesson plans and other key components of being an early childhood

Mrs. Kime and my classmates continued to try to get me to break out of my shell and say more than three words in class. By the middle of the school year, I had begun writing lesson plans every week to teach to the preschool children that came to our classroom three days out of the week. I strived to make creative lessons that would keep the children interested, but still teach them things that align with the Pennsylvania Learning Standards for Early Childhood. I began to break out of my comfort zone and began talking a lot more. I got to know a lot about my teachers and other classmates and they quickly became like-a-family to me. At the end-of-the-year awards assembly, I received a knowledge award for my class. This award inspired me to create the goal of receiving all of the awards for my class in the next year. During my second year, Mrs. Kime pushed me to become an active member of campus life at LycoCTC. I became involved in the production of the LycoCTC Yearbook, which taught me a variety of leadership, editorial, and production skills. I was responsible for ensuring deadlines were met, photographing major events on campus, and promoting sales for the book. Being a part of the yearbook committee provided me with the opportunity to meet a variety of industry professionals that I would have never been able to come face to face with if I did not attend

At this competition, I was given a variety of tasks, such as: preparing a lesson plan for four year old children, presenting the lesson plan to a panel of judges acting as preschool children, presenting a book to a panel of judges, participating in an interview, and completing a written test with key information for the field. Among six competitors, I placed first at the district competition. Upon receiving first place at the district competition, I was given the opportunity to travel to the Hershey Lodge to partake in the state competition. At this three-day event, I was given the opportunity to meet other technical students from throughout Pennsylvania. Among 12 competitors, I was awarded with second place and a scholarship opportunity for Pennsylvania College of Technology. These experiences gave me the chance to meet experienced professionals in my field and other technical students, the opportunity for financial aid at specific schools in Pennsylvania, and a variety of memories that will remain for the rest of my life.

At the end of my second year, I was really proud of my accomplishments at the SkillsUSA competitions. I was also excited for the annual awards ceremony, because I was curious to know whether or not I made my goal from the previous year, a reality. On the day of the ceremony, when I heard my name called for the various awards for