Creating and Experiencing Provides Meaning for National CTE Month
As we honor National Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, WLHS is highlighting its Family, Consumer Sciences, and Fine Arts Pathway, a program that fosters creativity, skill-building, and hands-on learning. With the theme “Creating and Experiencing,” the pathway empowers students to explore their passions in fields like culinary arts, interior design, fashion, child development, and visual and performing arts. Through practical learning and artistic expression, students are discovering the power of creating and experiencing the world God has created around them.
Jenesis Wesley, a senior at Wisco, is using her passion for music to build a career thanks to the school’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. Through this program, she’s gaining real-world experience in music production and performance, preparing her for a future in the music industry. Wesley, who has always loved music, learned how to explore and how her interests could translate into a career. The program offers a mix of classroom learning and hands-on experience, covering technical skills like digital sound production and music theory. Through CTE, she’s collaborated on school events, assisted with local music festivals, and connected with industry professionals through choir, musicals, ITS troupe, and also the internship with MKE Rep. These experiences helped her apply her classroom knowledge in real-world situations, boosting her confidence and career readiness.
As Wesley prepares for college, she’s already secured opportunities to further her education in music production. The skills she gained at Wisco’s CTE program are giving her a solid foundation for her career ahead. "When I was younger, I struggled to stick with activities. I would quickly drop sports or hobbies, and felt left behind as my peers found their passions. However, one thing that stayed with me was music. I didn't realize how much I loved it until high school, but looking back, music had always been a part of my life. Whether I was making up choreography or pretending to be in a girl band, music and performance were constant joys. My first musical in freshman year was a turning point. The music, costumes, choreography, and rehearsals made me realize just how much I loved the arts. From then on, I immersed myself in the fine arts at WLHS, joining choir, show choir, and taking voice lessons. Music became my passion, and I knew I wanted it in my future. I plan to go to school for Music Education, hopefully at Xavier University of Louisiana, San Francisco University, or Berklee College of Music. I want to be a music teacher, preferably for grade school or younger, and direct musicals and choirs whether that be in a school or community setting. I'm excited to share my passion with the next generation and continue pursuing my love for music throughout my life."
