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Family Situation
Older siblings work at a print shop. He picks up work there when it is available. His parents don’t offer any guidance when it comes to school or work. Stumbling Blocks Christopher does not see how his strengths and skills can be translated into a career. His hope for the future is that he can get a job as a janitor in a nice environment like UC Berkeley. Unfortunately the structures of different high schools kept him from being successful at school. The bus schedules kept him from being on time for school, so he failed out and then chose a school that was closer to his home. He does not see the value of a college education. When he considers taking classes, he imagines piecing together the skills that will help him become an inventor, “I’ll take a few mechanics classes, a few business classes, some programming.” |
Attitudes Toward School
He enjoyed a lot of the tech classes at school. For one summer project he learned how to make and edit video. But he has never seen it as something that could lead to a job or career. Now that he has graduated, he misses the accountability of school, “Someone was always there to ask how you are doing and what you are up to. Now that I’m on my own, no one asks.”
Academically he did fine, but it was tough for him to stay in school. He dropped out of his first high school because he was being bullied. He then joined a charter school, but it was difficult to get to by bus. They told him he had failed the semester after too many tardies. After dropping out for the rest of the semester, he found an alternative school that could fit his schedule. It wasn’t very engaging, but he liked the people, though everyone was on different time tables. He managed to get himself through school and graduate, but it took until he was 20 years old.
What the Videos Can Do to Help
Christopher needs to see that people like him have a place in Tech. He lacks exposure to the diversity of people, roles and environments of the Tech industry. In order to motivate Christopher to take steps toward Tech, give him a sense of what the work is like, show him that he has the aptitude for it, and demonstrate that professional Tech work can be a fulfilling career.
He lacks mentors who can help him progress. He wanted a checklist to help him understand the steps and directions to take in order to get into Tech.
He enjoyed a lot of the tech classes at school. For one summer project he learned how to make and edit video. But he has never seen it as something that could lead to a job or career. Now that he has graduated, he misses the accountability of school, “Someone was always there to ask how you are doing and what you are up to. Now that I’m on my own, no one asks.”
Academically he did fine, but it was tough for him to stay in school. He dropped out of his first high school because he was being bullied. He then joined a charter school, but it was difficult to get to by bus. They told him he had failed the semester after too many tardies. After dropping out for the rest of the semester, he found an alternative school that could fit his schedule. It wasn’t very engaging, but he liked the people, though everyone was on different time tables. He managed to get himself through school and graduate, but it took until he was 20 years old.
What the Videos Can Do to Help
Christopher needs to see that people like him have a place in Tech. He lacks exposure to the diversity of people, roles and environments of the Tech industry. In order to motivate Christopher to take steps toward Tech, give him a sense of what the work is like, show him that he has the aptitude for it, and demonstrate that professional Tech work can be a fulfilling career.
He lacks mentors who can help him progress. He wanted a checklist to help him understand the steps and directions to take in order to get into Tech.
