Building futures beyond the classroom

Ten juniors and seniors are getting an early start to their future careers by spending their summer break climbing rooftops and exploring crawl spaces to learn about the behind the scenes work of the district's Construction Services department.

For six weeks under the guidance of district contract manager Joseph Rockett, they made several stops at architecture firms and campuses to learn from industry professionals about design, engineering, project management, and safety.

“The goal was for them to be able to see the entrepreneurial ventures of different vendors,” Rockett said. “We went to all of the different branches of this industry to see what they did inside of our schools and how they renovated it. Seeing the different business arms was a great learning experience.”

Jonathan B., a rising senior at School of Science and Engineering at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center, said the internship was a chance to dig deeper into his father’s profession as a commercial architect. It was also the perfect opportunity to learn more about his future career, designing custom homes. 

“I hadn’t truly appreciated what goes into architecture,” he said. “I remember thinking of construction services as just buildings. Getting to experience the nitty-gritty and seeing how all these parts move together has given me a greater understanding and appreciation because it's such a massive, collaborative process.”

The internship mimicked the process of a construction project, teaching students that a successful plan begins years before groundbreaking starts, and how all roles come together to meet a common goal. Abstract concepts they learned in the office came to life out in the field. 

“I really liked the way our week was structured: learning our project management framework, then going to the firms, and putting our knowledge to the test on construction sites,” said Julianna V., a rising senior at Trinidad “Trini” Garza Early College High School.  

As students wrapped up their final group project and personal portfolios, many shared how the program provided personal reassurance. By interacting with industry professionals who bypassed traditional college tracks, students learned that the architecture world welcomes a wide variety of life experiences and nontraditional career paths.

“You may not necessarily know what you want to do in the future, but at least have the drive to know the next step of your goal,” Jonathan said. “And of course, be coachable, a good listener, and ask the right questions. Think about things analytically and keep your grades up.”