Courtesy: CHAT Newsroom

By Angela Kazmierczak

Local high school students explore STEM career paths

May 3, 2023 | 5:05 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Picking a career path isn’t always the easiest.

High school students from Medicine Hat and the surrounding area are attending sessions at the Medicine Hat College from May 2 to 4, 2023, to help narrow it down and imagine what different career paths would be like.

The high school students take a closer look into the STEM careers offered at Medicine Hat College, including built environment engineering technology, environmental biology and reclamation technology, information technology and power engineering technology.

Brooklin Friesen, a student from Brooks Composite High School, is one of many students unsure about her future pursuits.

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“I have no idea – that’s why I’m here. I was just looking around for different opportunities and kinda trying to find out what I would be interested in,” said Friesen.

Today, Friesen was learning the basics of designing architecture. So far Friesen finds the sessions helpful for students.

“This way people can learn about what they are interested in and experience what it would be like a little bit if they actually did join the program and then you get a basic look into the basics of it,” said Friesen.

Peter Kelly, the Department Chair of Trades and Technology, says the programs showcased are identified as growing industries within the province. The sessions also discuss the security of the career path. Kelly used technology as an example.

“Technology in general is growing so quickly. We actually can see if we take a look in the future 10 years from now, we actually don’t know what technology is going to be evolving so students in these types of programs aren’t learning just specifically about those technologies, but how to prepare themselves,” said Kelly.

Upon enrolling into the technology program, students then learn the skills necessary to adapt to big changes in the field.

Student Friesen hasn’t discovered the program she likes, but she feels her time learning about design and architecture is a future skill to consider.

“It’s interesting. It’s not something I’m super interested in, but it’s also an interesting experience to have and a skill that would be nice to learn though,” said Friesen.

The public can attend STEM for a Day Experiences at the college on May 19, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and try out the different careers for themselves.