They can’t all be social influencers. So, we’re helping students find work they love | Opinion
“Do what you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”
It’s classic advice we commonly share with young people who are just beginning to figure out their futures. But as well-meaning as it sounds, how can we ensure they understand the wealth of careers that are available to them? How can we open their eyes to possibilities of jobs that may not even exist yet?
Among Gen-Zers, 57% say they want to be an influencer, making their living on followers and sponsored content. And even though it’s impractical for most young adults to find success on social media, it makes sense why this is such a common theme — our youth often aspire to what they’re exposed to, and for the vast majority, Instagram and TikTok are some of the biggest influences in adolescence today.
What isn’t highlighted on social media is that success on these platforms is infrequent and fleeting compared to traditional careers that allow for growth and scalable opportunities. It’s up to us — parents, mentors, educators, business leaders — to expose students early to excellent, attainable career paths that stimulate their passions and utilize the talents they might have never known existed otherwise.
Tarrant To & Through (T3) Partnership focuses on just that – ensuring Tarrant County students obtain the skills and training to thrive in today’s workforce, whether that means a bachelor’s degree, technical training or something in between. Through our Family Engagement team, T3 works with students as young as sixth-graders, planting the seed early to start thinking about their future and exploring ideas from what subjects interest them to what they love doing outside of the classroom.
As students progress through high school, T3 continues alongside them, planning together with their families what a successful and stimulating career will look like, and outlining the steps necessary to get there. Our Ambassador Program exemplifies this commitment to guiding students on their postsecondary journeys, ensuring they stay on track for success.
While attending Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School, Lizbeth Maldonado met with her T3 College Advising Corps adviser and discovered her passion for business and entrepreneurship, inspiring her to seek a degree in international economics at Texas Christian University. Now, this passion not only drives her aspirations but also inspires her peers as she introduces them to T3 resources and programming to discover and pursue their careers.
A vital piece of our students’ success lies in the larger Tarrant County business community. Local industry leaders are key to projecting workforce needs and providing the opportunities T3 scholars are pursuing. Internships, apprenticeships and job opportunities help create a talent pipeline for our young people, ultimately benefiting both the employer and student.
A postsecondary credential is required for 65% of jobs, yet in 2021, just 39% of Tarrant County adults had an associate’s degree or higher. Because of this gap, employers frequently report challenges filling high-demand positions with local applicants who possess the correct mix of technical and durable skills.
To help close the education to career gap, the Mayor’s Council on Education and Workforce Development and JPMorgan Chase & Co. stepped forward to help T3 develop a digital workforce pipeline platform. T3 Pathways to Careers connects qualified students with local workforce opportunities.
It is through foundational partnerships like this that we are able to open the door to possibilities and provide more families with a tailored pathway to help them achieve their future career goals.
Unfilled positions don’t just result in fewer opportunities for students; there are real ramifications for the local economy, translating to $320 million lost in state and local sales tax over the course of each graduating class’s life.
Local businesses and corporations need these skilled workers, and similarly, our scholars need business leaders who are willing to invest in their future. The talent is ready; the Tarrant County business community must be prepared to launch their success and support them along this journey, for the benefit of us all.
T3 partners know just how valuable cultivating this mission is to the Dallas-Fort Worth community. It’s in our collective best interest to ensure that talented and passionate students are given the opportunities to start and excel in their careers right here at home. Investment in our students will pay dividends for our community, unlocking potential for everyone who lives and works in Tarrant County.
Passion for work often starts with a small spark of interest and grows with experience and exposure. Together, we can ensure that this spark builds into much more, powering our economy and workforce for years to come.
This story was originally published August 16, 2024 at 5:28 AM.