Let no one despise your youth
At Holbrook Indian School (HIS), we make efforts to assist our students, specifically our juniors and seniors, in learning about resources and opportunities available to them after they graduate and leave HIS. Due to the fact that a majority of our students are first-generation graduates – the idea of leaving HIS can be very intimidating. This is why we created the College Transition Program (CTP).
CTP involves campus visits to various colleges and universities in the area, inviting Adventist colleges from out of state to visit us at HIS and talk about their school and reasons why it would be good for our students to attend. Our students have appreciated learning about the resources each school has to offer and receiving assistance in learning how to fill out applications and become familiar with campus life.
This year, our MAPS coordinator, Ulysses Campos, is making efforts to highlight the Trades. In November, Mr. Campos, along with nine juniors and seniors, participated in the AZ Construction Career Days located at the Papago Park Military Reservation in Phoenix, Arizona, and visited the United Aviate Academy in Goodyear, Arizona.
During the Construction Fair, our students had the opportunity to meet and talk with many tradesmen and women and participate in various trade booths. From contractors and framing to heavy machinery, welders, pipefitters, HVAC, underwater welding (performed by apprentice workers), virtual simulation of a car assembly line, painters, electricians, Army National Guard Bomb Squad, and carpentry – our juniors and seniors were able to experience a hands-on taste of what it would be like to work in each field. This is a great opportunity because not everyone is made for the traditional college classroom.
The group also visited the United Aviate Academy (UAA), which is the flight school belonging to United Airlines. CEO, Michael Hales, a retired military helicopter pilot, went above and beyond to invite our students to visit UAA. Upon arrival, the participants were treated like VIP’s. The room was decorated for a party, and there were certified pilots present who welcomed our group warmly and then shared their stories of why they chose to attend UAA. A couple of the female pilots had originally worked as flight attendants, but they decided that they would rather fly the plane.
Our students had the experience of a lifetime. After receiving safety instructions, each student had the opportunity to go up in Cirrus Aircraft, which is considered a high-performance plane. With the help of an instructor, they were allowed to execute a takeoff and landing, explore as a pilot while in flight, talk with ground control, and experience a G-force turn. All nine students participated in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fly a plane. Afterward, they went through the routine post-flight debrief that all pilots go through while earning their wings.
Another great opportunity available through UAA is mechanic work. Upon talking with one young mechanic, age 22, it was discovered that he earns upwards of $75,000 per year without overtime. With overtime, he could earn up to $125,000 per year. Pilots, specifically captains, can earn up to $6,000 per flight. “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12.
While young people may get dismissed due to their lack of experience, the reality is that God has a different idea about young people. With the right opportunities and proper support, our students can go far beyond where their limited resources might take them. And it is because of our generous friends of HIS that we are able to provide these once in a lifetime opportunities to students who would otherwise never come close to these incredible experiences. God has a purpose for each one of our students, and it is our youth that He will use to finish the work He started. We are grateful for the privilege to be part of their journey.
