Desert Sky Middle School’s Career Action Lab, led by Eric Axelrod, empowers students aged 12-14 with hands-on career exploration, boosted by a $15,000 TSMC grant.
GLENDALE, Ariz. — At Desert Sky Middle School, teacher Eric Axelrod is helping students explore their futures through an innovative Career Action Lab program.
“Even though they’re 12-14 years of age, I think it’s important they think about their futures,” Axelrod said. “My 8th graders are a year away from signing up for high school classes and I want them to find something they can take high school classes and then vocational or college after that. It’s never too early.”
The Career Action Lab gives students hands-on experience in 18 different career paths, from nursing and sports medicine to robotics and 3-D printing.
“I’d love to be a crime scene investigator. It’s interesting with all the activities we get to do, analysis and tire marks,” one student said.
Another student exploring healthcare said, “I get to do suturing, IVs, measuring medication, stuff like that.”
The program recently received a major boost with a $15,000 grant from TSMC, which will allow the school to expand course offerings and bring new career opportunities to students.
“It was a surprise when the principal came and told me,” Axelrod said. “It means everything. When you have a great company wanting to support education, it’s great. It benefits all walks of students.”
Students say the class is both engaging and eye-opening.
“I really like it,” said one participant, while another noted, “It’s interesting and engaging.”
For Axelrod, seeing his students discover potential career paths makes the program worthwhile.
“I look around the room and see kids drawing blood and wrapping arms and seeing all these things they could do in the future,” he said. “My mind started thinking about how they’re going to spend it, how would it benefit the kids the most.”
The Career Action Lab is preparing Desert Sky Middle School students for their futures, opening doors to possibilities they may never have considered.