By Nayeli Santoyo, with additional reporting by Kathy Swartz and Sydney Kim
February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. We'll be highlighting star students who are jump-starting their careers in 果冻传媒app ISD's CTE programs.
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This week the spotlight is on Zarqa Fatima, a senior at Navarro Early College High School who joined the P-Tech program.
What's a P-Tech? P-Tech connects 果冻传媒app ISD students with a liaison from IBM.
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Students take courses at 果冻传媒app Community College (ACC) during high school to prepare them for careers in the tech industry.
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Students can earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in either Computer Programming or User Experience Design, putting them "first in line" for job interviews at IBM and other local tech employers.
How it started: Zarqa had always been interested in computer programming. After finding out that her brother has autism, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in technology and health science.
What they're saying: 鈥淔or me the greater draw was being able to have an industry partner with IBM because I wanted to make sure that my parents knew I was able to get a job, once I graduated,鈥 Zarqa said.
Class + community: Her years at Navarro ECHS have been very productive, both in class and in our community. Outside of class, Zarqa makes time to serve as:
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President of the Neurodiversity group.
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President of Girls Who Code.
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Co-Chair of the 果冻传媒app ISD Equity Student Committee.
Special thank-you: Zarqa is very thankful for her mentor, Tara Bordeaux, her former CTE teacher, who not only taught her, but also helped Zarqa schedule and manage her classes, and helped her grow as a person.
What's next: Zarqa is on track to earn both her 果冻传媒app ISD high school diploma and an associate's degree in Computer Programming from ACC. She is applying for various colleges and plans to pursue a career in Bio-Medical Engineering.
Bajo el reflector de CTE: Zarqa Fatima鈥攕e enfrenta el mundo de la programaci贸n de computadoras
Por, Nayeli Santoyo, with additional reporting by Kathy Swartz and Sydney Kim
Febrero es el mes de la Educaci贸n Profesional y T茅cnica (CTE). Y estaremos destacando a los estudiantes que est谩n iniciando sus carreras en los programas CTE de 果冻传媒app ISD.
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Esta semana, estamos destacando a Zarqa Fatima, estudiante del 煤ltimo a帽o de preparatoria quien se uni贸 al programa P-Tech de Navarro ECHS.
驴Qu茅 es un programa P-Tech? P-Tech conecta a los estudiantes de 果冻传媒app ISD con un enlace de IBM.
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Los estudiantes toman cursos en 果冻传媒app Community College (ACC) durante la escuela preparatoria para prepararlos para carreras en la industria de la tecnolog铆a.
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Los estudiantes pueden obtener un t铆tulo t茅cnico en ciencias de programaci贸n o dise帽o de experiencia de usuario.
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Beneficiando a los estudiantes a la hora de entrevistas de trabajo en IBM o con empleadores locales de tecnolog铆a.
C贸mo empez贸: Zarqa siempre hab铆a estado interesada en la programaci贸n de computadoras. Pero al enterarse de que su hermano tienen autismo, supo que quer铆a seguir una carrera en tecnolog铆a y ciencias de la salud.
Lo que dicen: 鈥淧ara m铆, el mayor atractivo fue poder tener un socio industrial con IBM porque quer铆a asegurarme de que mis padres supieran que iba a poder conseguir un trabajo una vez que me graduara鈥, dijo Zarqa.
Clase + Comunidad: Los a帽os que Zarqa lleva en Navarro ECHS han sido muy productivos, tanto en la clase como en la comunidad. Fuera de clase, Zarqa hace tiempo para servir como:
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Presidenta del grupo de Neurodiversidad.
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Presidenta de 鈥淕irls Who Code.鈥
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Copresidenta del Comit茅 Estudiantil de Equidad de 果冻传媒app ISD.
Agradecimiento especial: Zarqa est谩 muy agradecida con su mentora, Tara Bordeaux, quien fue su ex maestra de CTE. Zarqa dice que no solo le ense帽贸, sino que tambi茅n la ayud贸 a administrar sus clases, y a crecer como persona.
Lo que sigue: Zarqa est谩 en camino de obtener su diploma de la escuela preparatoria de 果冻传媒app ISD y a la misma vez espera obtener un t铆tulo de asociado en Programaci贸n de Computadoras de ACC. Ella planea aplicar a varias universidades y seguir una carrera en ingenier铆a biom茅dica.