Shaping Careers in Tourism and Laguna Acoma High

LAGUNA, NM—The Laguna-Acoma Jr./Sr. High School Career and Technical Education program has several offerings to enrich students’ possibilities for a future career. One is a course in Welding, another is a course in Mechatronics, and the third area is a course in Business and Tourism.

Ms. Vanessa Fernando is the instructor for the Business and Tourism course. The course includes automatic enrollment in Deca, formerly the Distributive Education Clubs of America, a 501( c ) not-for-profit career and technical student organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for college and careers in various fields of marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges.

DECA is also an international organization with more than 224,000 high school members. Its members can participate in networking with other students and possible employers at state and national conferences. This valuable experience allows DECA member/students to practice their communication skills.

“Some of the kids don't normally have experience communicating with adults in a way that's professional, so they get to work on their communication skills,” Fernando shared. “Things like that can help their resume, and especially putting DECA on their resume, that'll help.”

The DECA program is popular with students. They take two tests in the middle of the year to see if they qualify to move forward with DECA.

“I'm not too sure how many students I had this year, I believe it was 25, but only a few were able to move forward with going on the trips and activities.”

The main industries that interest Fernando’s girls are anything having to do with business administration, and hospitality and tourism.

“The kids often don’t have experience doing work in those programs, so they're put at the different industries over here, like the grocery store, Dairy Queen, and the gas station.”

The recent DECA convention, in March, gave the students a chance to compete in some activities. In the area of Principles of Business Administration one competition was Principles of Business Management and Administration. Another competition at the high school level was in Principles of Finance. However, DECA members must know the content in all instructional areas for the exam.

“Some judges are really critical, whereas some aren't. But the students get that experience of communicating and brainstorming on their own,” said Fernando of the competitions. “By brainstorming they have ideas for businesses and customer service. I sat in on a group, Worthy, I believe it's entrepreneurship. Students have made up business plans and some students have their own businesses already. There was a group of two boys who started a landscaping business, they power wash things, window clean, and they're just kids in high school. Their main point was that a lot of kids go in there with hypothetical businesses that they could possibly open. Some had their own actual business, and they have made it so successful that they were able to buy their dream cars. One kid took out his Tesla key card, and another his Mercedes.”

The adventurous, hard-working attitude of a few students is a big encouragement to the other students. Instead of becoming an entrepreneur, some students will enter college to continue their education and earn their MBA. However, the expense of college is a consideration, and the CTE programs are in place to help students earn certificates that help them enter the work force and to move up or gain a higher position.

For example, a few years ago Fernando mentored the ProStart program for high school students who want to pursue careers in restaurants and the food service industry. The students earned certificates which allowed them to move into higher positions than if they were learning on the job after graduation.

LAHS students are enthusiastic about the DECA program and, “They're already planning and practicing on how they can do better for next year,” said Fernando. “The next convention is over spring break, so in the fall they'll start earning points to go on their trip. But it's not by earning points, they have to take a 200-question test, and based off of their scores that's when I'll know if they’re qualified or not.”

Some areas of the CTE program at Laguna-Acoma Jr./Sr. High School will be expanding, offering our students and families continued support and opportunities.