EDUCATION
How to decide between trade
schools or traditional college
Today’s high schoolers face mounting pressure
with respect to their futures.Even high school
graduates who did not immediately go to college
after graduating face diffi cult decisions about their
futures.
For many facing such a decision, the process often
involves fi nding the right college. However, options
don’t have to be limited to colleges and universities.
Trade schools can prepare young people, or even
professionals looking to make a change, for lucrative
and fulfi lling careers.
When deciding between a trade school or traditional
college, there are a few things to consider to
ensure whatever decision is made is the right one:
Goals
Career goals differ for everyone. While some pursue
a career simply because it can pay well, others
seek careers that may reward them in other ways.
When deciding between a trade school or traditional
university, consider any career goals.
If certain goals bear signifi cant importance, determine
the best route by which to achieve them, be
it through a trade school or college or university.
Individual skills
Individual skills can also play a signifi cant role
when determining if a trade school or traditional
Caribbean L 38 ife, Sept. 27 - Oct.3, 2019
university is the best choice.
Prospective students who are mechanically inclined
and love working on automobiles might be
better suited to an automotive trade school, while
those who excel in cooking arts and don’t know an
engine from an onion might be more suited for a culinary
school.
Individuals who honestly assess their strengths
and weaknesses will likely fi nd this can lend much
to their decision-making process.
Educational interests
Those who would love to learn about a variety of
subjects are probably better suited for a traditional
college or university.
Others with a more specifi c interest in a given
fi eld of study might fi nd it hard to get motivated or
stay interested when studying at a four-year college
or university.
Requirements
Not all careers require a degree from a four-year
college or university. Individuals should research
what level of education is necessary to be successful
in any fi elds that may interest them.
If a given career does not require a four-year degree,
there’s no sense spending such a substantial
amount of money on a degree that won’t help you
land a job.
Certain careers may not require a degree from a fouryear
college or university, while others insist on a college
degree.
Although the intense
rain and powerful, destructive
winds from Hurricane
Dorian have ceased, we
know from experience that
the hurricane season is not
over yet.
Hurricane season,
which starts on June 1, normally
peaks around this
time in September with
back-to-back storms forming
quickly. The thought
of it takes me back to two
years ago when we were
hit by Hurricane Irma,
with Hurricane Maria following
on its heels. The
homes, roads, major infrastructures
and people
in their paths in Florida,
the Bahamas, Puerto Rico,
Dominican Republic, U.S.
Virgin Islands, and Dominica
were shattered. Many
of the places hit by Hurricanes
Irma and Maria
have still not fully recovered.
Seeing such need,
Governor Cuomo launched
the NY Stands with Puerto
Rico Recovery and Rebuilding
Initiative to send SUNY
and CUNY students to help
with rebuilding efforts on
the island. I was fortunate
to be a part of this work
this summer as I worked
alongside CUNY Service
Corp students to help clear
land of the debris of fallen
trees in order for it to be
inhabitable for farming. I
was reminded, as I helped
to clear trees, of the similar
post hurricane experiences
in the Virgin Islands.
I also remember October
2012 when Superstorm
Sandy wreaked havoc
across our city and along
the Jersey shore. Sandy
claimed many lives and
caused about $70 billion
in damages, making it the
fourth-costliest storm in
U.S. history behind Katrina,
Harvey and Maria.
Although I was not the
president of Kingsborough
Community College (KCC)
at that time, I know that
several areas and buildings
on the campus sustained
major damage. When the
storm hit, KCC’s emergency
preparedness team
went right to work, getting
electricity and hot water up
and running on the campus.
KCC also opened its doors
to the students and anyone
in the community in need
of food, water, ice, clothes,
toiletries and emergency
supplies trucked in by the
New York Food Bank, the
American Red Cross, and
the faculty and staff.
As we approach October,
weather forecasters
are actively watching other
disturbances developing
in the Atlantic. It is important
that we are prepared.
September is National Preparedness
Month, a time
where we promote family
and community disaster
and emergency planning. In
the event of an emergency,
natural or otherwise, it is
important to have an emergency
kit, emergency supplies
and medication, and
a plan of action for yourself
at home or on the job, and
for your family, pets and
elderly or physically challenged
neighbors. If you
are uncertain about how to
prepare for a crisis, emergency
readiness courses,
workshops and brochures
are offered by NYC Emergency
Management (Ready
New York), the American
Red Cross, Community
Emergency Response Team
(NYC CERT) and local organizations.
Sign up for FREE
information from the city’s
official emergency notification
system by visiting
NYC.gov/notifynyc, call 311
or follow @notifyNYC.
As we take time to prepare
this month, let us also
take time to recognize our
incredible service men and
women of the FDNY, NYPD,
EMS, and hospitals—who
serve our communities and
who are always prepared to
help.
Dr. Claudia V. Schrader
is president of Kingsborough
Community College located
in beautiful Manhattan
Beach, Brooklyn. The college
offers a degree and certificate
in Emergency Medical
Services for preparation
to become a paramedic and
proud first responder. Visit
https://www.kbcc.cuny.edu/
ems or call 718-368-4600.
EDUCAT I O N PROFI LE
September is National Preparedness Month
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/notifynyc
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