Teens Get an Early Start to College & Career Exploration at MCC

This summer at Middlesex Community College, teens can get an early start on the college experience. Through MCC’s Community Education & Training division, students in the College for Teens program can explore the engineering and public service pathways and gain skills to develop future academic and professional interests.

“With our College for Teens programs, young students get the chance to learn about different careers and pathways they can take,” said Audrey Nahabedian, MCC’s Dean of Workforce Education. “In addition to learning more about a specific subject, they freshen up valuable skills, gain confidence, and develop helpful habits they can use as they continue their education.”

For students interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), an Engineering/Computer Aided Design (CAD) course introduces high school students to the field. The class allows students to explore skills, values and life goals, while teaching tools, such as hand-on printed circuit board layout, 3D printers, and software programs.

Taught by MCC professor Angel Escalona, the class will also provide information on current jobs and career mapping. The class will run from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from June 3 to June 12 on the Bedford Campus.

In the Public Service Career Exploration class, students learn about careers in a variety of fields, including law enforcement agencies, court system, corrections, emergency response services and victim services. High school students will explore how their interests, personality, skills, values and life goals match with their strengths in the public service industry.

In addition, students will go on a walking field trip and tour to the Lowell Police Department and Lowell Justice Center. The Public Service class will be taught by MCC professor Marisol Nobrega from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Monday through Thursday, July 8 to July 11 on the Lowell Campus.

“We hope to spark students’ interest in the criminal and social justice program and show them that our program is very unique because we offer several paid and unpaid internships, networking opportunities and field trips,” Nobrega said. “I plan to take the teens to visit to the courthouse as well as the police station. I believe criminal justice has many valuable professions and hope to inspire the youth into seeking a degree and career path in one.”

Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/careertraining/ for more information and to register.