“FIT gave me a love for learning again. I am forever grateful.” ~Victoria Boggs
Every weekday, youth from across the county, country, and world are sent to schools. Students are taught for years in preparation for their futures. When Fayette County students are wrapping up their sophomore years, they have the choice to attend the Fayette Institute of Technology (FIT), for half a day, during their junior and senior years.
FIT is a hands-on and professional learning environment. Each class of students works diligently learning new things that are not available to them at their high schools. The talks in the hallways are less about drama, and more about medical terminology, changing tires, meeting deadlines, assembling scaffolding, and who passed their test to be allowed in the lab. FIT takes the school setting, throws in many different groups, and gives students a taste of how the real-world works.
However, they are still high school students. And although FIT’s atmosphere is preparing them for the real world, how much of it will be beneficial? After high schoolers graduate, all their plans either happen, change slightly, or turn around completely. A lot of time in high school is used to make future plans. The Fayette Institute of Technology is a place for students to learn skills they will need to give them a head-start into the workforce or further schooling.
So where are the FIT graduates from past years now? How has FIT prepared them? Has the upcoming generation been taught enough for future and past generations to trust they are in good hands?
According to previous students, not only did FIT prepare them, but it also helped many discover passions, better themselves, start ahead of peers, map paths, and even regain a love for learning. Upon college and job-site entrance, many students claim to feel “ahead of the game” and to have “a real edge on other people.”
Joey Kirk, an adult student and electrical graduate, now works as a Journeyman Electrician, traveling nationwide, putting in many hours, and loving his job. He says, “FIT helped me learn a new skillset that prepared me for the job ahead, so I had a jumpstart instead of going blindly into something new.”
Other students also gained a skillset from their two years at FIT, and they still use those skills in their day-to-day workflow. Whether it is networking, the business world, or the military, these students say they don’t think they would have been ready if they hadn’t attended FIT.
To summarize the overall impact that FIT had in preparing these students, Zoë Walberg says, “FIT gave me skills in my academics, path in my education, and as a person. It helped me look for the path I need to take in my education.”
Zoë is taking her knowledge and skills acquired from the pre-engineering class and using them to work towards a master’s degree in either Aviation or Aerospace Engineering.
The skillsets acquired by these students go far beyond their individual programs. Many say they now have a foundation, firm understanding, needed skills, connections, experience, direction, passion, time management, responsibility, and accountability. All these skills are necessary and pushed to be improved in each school day. These are the tools students are equipped with that will most help them in the “real world.”
Another thing that sets the Fayette Institute of Technology apart from regular schools, and many alumni commented on, is the atmosphere of FIT. They considered it to be college-like, hands-on, their favorite part, and a supportive group who wanted to be there and see each other succeed.
Tyler Kirk summarizes the overall response perfectly when he says, “Regardless of your academic goals in the future, the setting of FIT really provides a freedom to the student to make their own decision as to whether or not they are going to be successful.”
Tyler attended FIT’s Pre-Pharmacy program. Now, he is working through college to get his Associate Degree in Applied Science, completing a paramedic course while gaining clinical experience, and planning to get his Bachelor’s in Science and Nursing later on. After completing his degree, he will become c3 (Class Three) certified. A c3 IFT (Interfacility Transport) Medic is a job you can make a career out of. However, he plans to work as one for three years, which will allow him to take a CCT (Critical Care Transport) class and move to the next level: Flight. His goal is to have a career on the Air Evac Lifeteam.
The Fayette Institute of Technology is a trade-based school. Several students say that was their purpose for attending. Whether it was just that a trade suited their personality better or to prepare them for a job so they could be successful. FIT is preparing students for the workforce, as well as college.
However, you do not have to have your whole plan laid out in order to attend FIT.
Victoria Boggs says: “My purpose in going to FIT was to ultimately learn more about what my career choice would be. I thought I knew what I wanted to be until I explored more options at FIT.”
Another student, Mykah Price, attended FIT thinking she was going to pursue something in the medical field; however, she is now pursuing a degree in teaching. She still gives a lot of credit to FIT for preparing her for college and giving her “a new appreciation for healthcare.”
Likewise, two other students, Josh Smith and Tim Farley, have also taken detours since graduating. Josh, a CAD graduate, previously planned on attending college to pursue engineering. However, he is now working for The Robin’s Company, drafting conveyor belt structure. He claims, “There is not a day I don’t use something I learned from CAD.”
Tim Farley, a masonry graduate, previously planned on traveling out of state to work for Arch Masonry, laying brick. He decided, however, to stay in state and become a police officer. He too claims that FIT prepared him by saying: “As a shop foreman at FIT and playing a role as a team leader. It has prepared me and helped me to take control of situations as a law enforcement officer . . .”
Yet another graduate to have their plans change is Bria Terrell. Bria attended FIT’s business class, and at first, continued that path with a business major in college. However, upon entering her second semester, she flipped her major and minor. Now majoring in Studio Art and minoring in Business Administration. She plans on going to graduate school out of state and becoming an art teacher while having a small gallery on the side.
She still credits her experience at FIT for her knowledge of computer software; and she states “I think FIT can be a gateway to finding a career you love despite it being set up as a simulation. I think that’s the biggest thing that it’s helped me with after high school.”
Many other students also have high praises for FIT, as well as their individual programs. The credit given was for fueling them with passion, pushing them to meet deadlines, inspiring them to be creative, and for encouraging them to attend college or pursue a career. Emily Keeney and Victoria Boggs sum it up perfectly:
“If I hadn’t went to (FIT), I probably wouldn’t have been able to make it this far in my major, in college in general, or done as well with my studies during high school.” said Emily Keeney, CAD graduate.
“I owe the world to FIT and Ms. Ashley. I am extremely proud that I was a part of the Health Occupations program. Without it, I would not be as passionate about nursing.” said Victoria Boggs, Health Occupations graduate.
Like Victoria, many other students also had praises for and credit to give their instructors. Praises for showing them the right direction in the beginning, helping them in any way possible, teaching “life lessons and on the job skill”, crediting them for their current successes, “bolstering” their skills, and making student success “top priority.”
Lauren Harrah is a Health Occupations graduate who is now pursuing her bachelor’s in nursing, and later plans to receive her master’s. She says, “I am thankful FIT has such amazing faculty.”
To anyone who is considering attending FIT, the alumni have some advice for you. The first is to “take your program seriously” because any program you are in will benefit you after high school.
Brayden Foreman says that because he would have never had something similar at his high school that he “would highly recommend it to anyone deciding if they want to go.” He also says that he is grateful he was able to attend.
Even if you are not sure of a program, Mykah Price says that she would “definitely recommend FIT for the reason that it is a true example of what to expect in the real world and the work force.”
Also, to any adults considering taking a class and learning a new trade, Joey Kirk has some advice. He says “Even if you believe that you are getting too old, or you aren’t smart enough and just think things couldn’t get worse, and you are lost: Never give up. Things can and will get better. Believe in yourself. It’s never too late.”
Lastly, the alumni have shared that not only has FIT prepared them, but it has also inspired them to better themselves. Victoria Boggs says that she now has more confidence in her college courses because of her FIT background, and that “FIT gave me a love for learning again. I am forever grateful.”
With the knowledge of how previous FIT graduates have been prepared, it seems that this upcoming generation will be great hands to be in. The hands and minds of Fayette County’s youth are being trained, and evidently it is paying off. These alumni, whether they are now college students or in the workforce, are on the path to be your nurses, doctors, electricians, masons, engineers, mechanics, military, police officers, pharmacists, technicians, children’s teachers, chefs, and so much more. These students want to make an income while making an impact. These students are being fueled with everything they need to do this and be trailblazers through life all right here in Fayette County, West Virginia.