Although this creative artist found comfort in more individualistic drawing assignments, it wasn’t until her New Media Academy instructor inspired her to step outside of her comfort zone that she was able to fly. Julia pushed past her insecurities and entered into the California Student Media Festival competition where her artistic video won (OMGGG an Eggmotion)! This experience allowed her to see for the first time her ability to share her talents with the community, which in the end inspired her to get involved with the SkillsUSA club and competitions her senior year. Julia did so well in the SkillsUSA pin design category, she earned 2nd place regionally, 1st place in the state, and went on to compete nationally. Not only did her New Media Academy expand her creative platforms, it filled her with confidence and a new community of individuals she now calls friends.

Currently, Julia is attending California State University Fullerton and is majoring in biochemistry. Art continues to be her creative outlet, which she fully embraces with a new profound confidence and recognizes as a masterpiece of experiences she created on her own and through the academies.

“To all the future New Media Academy students – participate more! I only did during my senior year and wish I had done more. But now I look forward to all new opportunities ahead, especially in college. I won’t pass them up this time.”

– Julia, New Media Academy, Class of 2019

He immersed himself in the academy by learning gear ratios, 3D modeling, and later receiving a certification in SolidWorks. He was able to finish his homework assignments in a quarter of the time and would spend his extra time sharing his knowledge with other classmates. This
had an overwhelming impact on Long’s life, including inspiring this young, bright student in pursuing a lifelong career as an engineer. Long shared, “The course material, and the variety of engineering forms that I was exposed to, in the Engineering Academy helped shape my interests and ultimately helped me decide to be a mechanical engineer.”

In addition to inspiring Long to pursue his engineering career, he credits the Engineering Academy for helping to strengthen his communication skills and build leadership skills. “High School Inc. Academies create a safe space for students to be courageous and seek support. It was difficult for me to ask for help, it’s a trait that seems so difficult at first, but has truly been helpful in college. Everything that I have gained from the Engineering Academy has been beneficial for my growth and development after high school and in college,” states Long.

This experience inspired this bright, passionate student to immerse himself in learning industry skills through work-based events, including the national nonprofit Share Our Strength, No Kid Hungry Event at the Montage Laguna Beach. Joshua worked side by side with celebrity Chef Amar Santana’s VACA team, displaying his drive, passion and commitment to high-quality work ethics, including taking initiative and staying late when most people had left. The head chef was thoroughly impressed with his culinary skills, teamwork, and ability to learn on the spot, which ultimately lead to the chef personally offering him a job at VACA.

Joshua is currently feeding his passion for serving others at VACA restaurant in Costa Mesa, while also working on a degree in Criminal Justice at Santa Ana College.

“Regardless of your situation or obstacles,always push forward and appreciate everyone that has supported you along the way. One day, you’ll look back and see all that you’ve gone through to achieve your goals.”

– Joshua, Culinary Arts & Hospitality Academy, Class of 2018

“Being a part of the culinary ProStart Competition allowed me to work closely with mentors, who helped me to build my confidence and public speaking skills. I also worked closely with mentors who opened my eyes to the importance of restaurant layout design and structure. Outside of preparing for competitions, Chef Luiz spent time in my culinary class and gave me advice on how to improve my cooking techniques. These mentors opened me to new career opportunities within the kitchen, industry and beyond,” stated Lizbeth.

From not knowing her way around the kitchen to working side by side with Top Chef, Joe Sasto, at the national nonprofit Share Our Strength, No Kid Hungry event, this rockstar culinary student is making leaps and strides towards her career. Lizbeth is currently attending University of California Riverside working towards a Business degree for her future restaurant. In addition to making waves in the culinary industry, Lizbeth is also making history by being the first in her family to graduate from high school and attend college.

Jose was an active High School Inc. (HSI) Engineering Academy student. He participated in STEM related competitions and was an ambassador for the High School Inc. Engineering Academy. He recalls researching branches of engineering during one of his HSI Academy classes. It was that precise moment that Jose realized he wanted to pursue a career in medicine and engineering. 

“I knew I wanted to help patients live longer, healthier lives by using science and technology to design products and solutions.”

Jose’s dream is to work for Johnson & Johnson and believes his values align with their mission. Unfortunately, without previous work experience, it was challenging for him to land a job in his desired career field, especially in the midst of the pandemic.

Through the High School Inc. Alumni Program, Jose was able to connect with High School Inc. ‘s partner organizations: Johnson & Johnson, Edwards Lifesciences, and Women Helping Women, to assist him with his career preparation and job search. These community partners provided feedback regarding his resume and offered valuable career readiness advice, as well as encouragement to persevere with his job search.

We are thrilled to share that Jose secured a job as an Associate Biomedical Engineer this past February!

“It feels unreal to be working in my field and it’s only the beginning.”

We are so proud of Jose for all of the incredible work he has done, and looking forward to the work he will continue to do to support our community.

One of Amayrani’s most memorable moments was competing in SkillsUSA, an annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) competition showcasing over more than 6,500 of the top career and technical education students in the nation. Although she was reluctant to give it a try, her teacher, Ms. Santiago inspired her to participate and supported her along the way.  As a result, Amayrani was filled with pride when she placed Gold in the job interview regional competition category.

Her excitement was infectious and stayed with her long after her competition experience. Amayrani didn’t stop there, she continued to explore, learn, and discover. The skills Amayrani gained, the enthusiasm, and her new found confidence led  her to take part in Marketing Day, where she created her own business. She further landed an internship at Habitat for Humanity and gained valuable support and guidance through her academy mentors.

”My mentors Matt and Ruben helped me think outside the box when it came to my future and all of the possibilities”

Amayrani was recently honored as the Global Business Academy Senior of the Year. We are excited to share that she will be starting College this Fall and is headed to Cal State Fullerton to explore her career interests. Her ultimate goal is to work for Disney and she is currently interested in pursuing a degree in Accounting.

“I know my success had a lot to do with the opportunities and support of High School Inc., and the teachers and mentors that came along my academy journey. The experiences helped shape my future goals.”