Students at one of the largest high schools in New York City are set to gain an advantage in their future careers, courtesy of a partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). The department is collaborating with school officials to assist students in mapping out their future plans, irrespective of whether they include military service or not.
According to a DOD news release, this initiative is being implemented at Fort Hamilton High School. In November, students undertook the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), an entrance exam used by the military to determine where enlisted candidates might excel career-wise. The students participated in the ASVAB Career Exploration Program, a nationwide initiative that helps students explore civilian and military career fields based on their skills and interests. This program uses the military's test to provide pathways for various occupations.
Senior student Anna Chiu, who aspires to pursue a career in forensic science, expressed that while she planned on attending college, this was an excellent opportunity to assess if there were any other careers potentially open to her based on her test results. According to the release, her results indicated that she would likely succeed in less technical subjects, aligning with her passion for science, technology, engineering and math.
"I decided to take the ASVAB test mainly because I am a very indecisive person," said Chiu. "I wanted to see what kind of options were still available to me. I kind of anticipated this. But I still do feel like I am still set on a path for more STEM-related fields."
The release also stated that Emirita Desouza, career exploration program manager for the New York City region, led the workshop and stated that its goal was to introduce students to careers they had not considered before in order to better plan for their future.
"Our program is simply a program that aims to offer educators career resources to help their students and enhance the good that they are already doing," Desouza said. "It's about offering them these resources that the federal government, the DOD, has invested in to help students plan for their future."
