American Graduate

Rochester EXPLORING is a program for high school students  to check out careers they are interested in.  Through a variety of available career programs, groups of students learn more about a particular field through hands-on activities led by people out in the real world.

Did you ever wonder what it’s really like to be a veterinarian or vet tech? Or a firefighter or EMT? What it’s like to be an attorney and try a case in front of actual judges? Do you like to work in cars and wonder if auto mechanics is the career for you? So, you think you want to be an engineer – do you know that there are many different kinds of engineers out there?

EXPLORING CAREER FIELDS INCLUDE:
Arts & Humanities
Aviation
Business
Communications
Engineering & Technology
Fire & EMS
Health Care
Law & Government
Law Enforcement
Science
Skilled Trades
Social Services

Why wait until after high school to find out what it’s like in a career field?   Learn about the Rochester Explorers Program

Example Rochester Explorer Programs

Firefighter Explorer Program

Learn More

Veterinary Technician Explorer Program

Learn More

Apprenticeship programs offer a wide range of opportunities to learn a specific skill and use it toward a new career, such as skilled trades or advanced manufacturing positions. A successful apprentice will often be offered a position if they are successful in the field they are training in.

Youth apprenticeship programs allow students to connect with apprenticeship opportunities while still in high school beginning at age 16.   New York State Apprenticeship require that you finish high school or attain a high school equivalency such as passing the TASC exam.  Youth Apprenticeship and CTE programs can give you are head start to getting professional certifications for New York State Apprenticeship. 

Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program provides opportunities to receive training in skilled trades and advance manufacturing. Learn more about the specific positions and companies participating. Students can be enrolled in CTE programs such as BOCES but it is not required to apply. Learn More: 

The NY State  Department of Labor Apprenticeship Programs provides the process of learning a skilled occupation through:

• Paid on-the-job training; apprentices train under the guidance of experienced journey workers
• Related classroom training
• Here are some of the trades/career sectors

To become an apprentice, you must be:

• 18 years old
• 16 years old with parental approval

The length of training varies from one to six years, depending on the occupation.

There is a written contract between the apprentice and the employer that acknowledges their shared commitment to the training process. This agreement is approved and registered by the New York State Department of Labor. Learn More at New York State Apprenticeship Overview: 

During the past 10 years, WXXI has collaborated with regional partners to advance education and career readiness in the region by building awareness of career pathways to attain “good jobs.” WXXI has produced over 40 local content videos focused in-demand career sectors that require training beyond high school but less than a four-year degree to get started in the field. Many of these careers have alternative pathways including getting professional certificates in a job skill, apprenticeship, career and technical education while still in high school, community college and on-the-job training or additional training at local university paid for by the employer.

WXXI’s American Graduate work emphasizes:

• Thousands of in-demand jobs that go unfilled in our region
• Accessing careers through training, apprenticeship, professional certificates,
associates programs, and on-the-job training
• Sharing inspiring stories of how people found their career pathway
in our region and how individuals can get started pursuing a career and continue to learn
• Connecting to resources to research new career options
• Local hands-on career events, industry tours, career days and job fairs
• Connecting with career counselors at educational sites and one-stop job centers and workforce resources to make connections for students

• WXXI connects schools, libraries, out of school programs, parents, youth and young adults with career exploration resources in the region that are free to all such as: 

• WXXI American Graduate Career Profiles Playlist
• PBS LearningMedia career profiles
• WXXI’s Career Series: I Can Be What?!
• GLOW With Your Hands Virtual career site
• Interactive Career Coach To Learn About Career Pathways in the 9 Counties (from MCC)
• Career Documentaries On-Demand from Public Media
• Community Career Resources Including: One Stop Centers, Career-Technical Programs, Community Colleges, Explorer Programs, Apprenticeship: Youth and NYS options

Learn More from Our Local Panel with panelists from workforce and education to react to related issues facing our 9-county Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes Region and reactions to the national event content, moderated by Marion French, WXXI’s Vice President, Education & Interactive Services. (From June 8, 2021)

Panelists in the local discussion:

• Atwan Williams, Director of Youth System Services for RochesterWorks!
• Charisma Travis, M.S., Program Director of Afterschool Academy, Urban League of Rochester, N.Y. Inc.
• Jay Lazarony, Executive Director, Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties GLOW Workforce Development Board
• Jill Slavny, Executive Principal, WEMOCO Career and Technical Education Center Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES

2021 Regional Event Partners included:

• Young Women’s College Prep Foundation, Inc.
• PathStone Corporation Workforce Program & National Farmworkers Jobs Program,
• Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES Career and Technical Education (WEMOCO)
• Livingston County Area Chamber of Commerce | Livingston County Education Alliance
• GLOW Workforce Development Board
• NYMAT Machine Tool Corp
• Finger Lakes Works Youth Programs of Finger Lakes Workforce Investment Board & Sodus Central School District with Wayne County Consortium Schools
• Genesee County Job Development Bureau 
• Genesee Valley BOCES: CTE schools in Batavia & Mt. Morris, NY
• Optimax Systems
• Explorers Program, Scouts of America
• RochesterWorks!
• LandPro Equipment
• Livingston Associates
• Urban League of Rochester, After School Academy