In order to prepare for their future, freshman students are required to choose an endorsement, or high school major, as a part of their degree plan. Freshman and out of district transfer students take the one-semester P.A.C.E. class which helps them gain a better understanding of their endorsement and therefore help them have a clearer path towards their career choice.

Endorsements are series of courses that are associated with one another usually with a common interest or skill set. As listed in the CFISD course description book, there are five types of endorsements students can choose from science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), business and industry, public services, art and humanities and multi-disciplinary. Through these students can acquire or enhance their knowledge in a specific area or subject, that will later help them with their career path.

Phuong Tran is a sophomore who aspires to be a doctor through her preparation in high school with the endorsement of public services. Tran is in the Interact Club, HOSA, a tennis player and attends a girl school outside of school.

“I chose public services because I want to interact with people and help them and both fall into that category,” Tran said.

Endorsements can be usually obtained by completing a curriculum that requires students to have at least four credits in math, science and two additional elective credits. Through the process, it will help students determine what level of courses will help the most with their career choice like on-level, k-level, AP or DC ( advanced placement or dual credit).

“As of now, I’m taking world history AP and principal of health science. W.H.A.P is preparing me for my career because I’m able to annotate and read thoroughly and analyze documents better. P.H.S teaches me medical terms and gives me knowledge about the how the body works and that gives me an advantage,” Tran said.

But some endorsements tend to be more appealing towards students for various types of reasons that can fall in between the line of their career choice and what’s more sufficiently easier.

Jonathan Cox, a sophomore, notices a lot of students choosing STEM because it is a broad endorsement, but he chose it because he wants to pursue a career in health science as an adult.

“My dream career is to work as a neurosurgeon or anesthesiologist. My purpose in doing so is to make my effort to end brain cancer,” Cox said.

Cox finds that this endorsement applies to his career because it includes human health, science, and technology.

“I feel that the classes I am taking are preparing me. Those classes are principles of health science and hopefully next year, clinical rotations,” Cox said

Tony Luu, a sophomore who aspires to be an aerospace engineer chose STEM because it applies to his career field which will help him aim for his dream university.

“My plan after high school is to attend a college such as Rice or A&M or MIT because they have an excellent engineering program,” Luu said.

Luu is currently taking the concepts of engineering class which is teaching him communication skills and giving him early experience.

Senior guidance and career cruising counselor, Carolyn Harrell explained that at first many students try to go for a specific endorsement because they think it looks better for college, but later just naturally falls into one.

“Multi-disciplinary four by four is popular because you only have to have one extra class, so besides the mandatory for math, English, and science you just have one extra social studies. The second one is probably STEM math because anyone who took Algebra 1 in 8th grade automatically qualifies for STEM. As long as they do four years of math in high school which we recommend,” Harrell said.

Having an endorsement has its own benefits, students that at least have one endorsement can be qualified to be on the distinguished graduation plan which will benefit them when applying for colleges or universities.

Many students have their own reasons for their option of endorsement and their career path which could be anything from financial, family and time management problems.

Tran believes that society affects students choices in their academics, due to the pressure society gives for colleges and universities.

“It’s always about how high someone’s percentage is or their score in the ACT or SAT, but it’s academic base, but other people have so much more potential than just academics,” Tran said “But society just based everything on a test and this adds pressure to people because no one wants to not go to college; Everybody wants to be successful and achieve their dream job and to do that people want to do good in high school in general.”