Meet LPS Focus Program Senior: Sophie, The Career Academy

March 26, 2025

The mission of Lincoln Public Schools is to prepare ALL students for successful careers, lifelong learning and civic engagement.

High school graduation is a culmination of our scholars' and educators' hard work toward this significant milestone. 

The LPS Focus Programs’ core values of exploration, education, engagement and empowerment are beliefs rooted in the overall LPS mission and the school district’s commitment to high school graduation. 

Read how senior Sophie used The Career Academy (TCA) to Launch at LPS in this Q&A. 

Name: Sophie

Grade: 12

Home High School: Southwest 

Focus Program: The Career Academy 

Why did you choose The Career Academy?

I had no idea what I wanted to do as a career or what I wanted to go to college for. The only thing I knew was that I loved cooking. So I decided to take the Culinary Pathway at The Career Academy. I fell in love with it and wanted to take more pathways. So this year, I am doing the Culinary Pathway along with the Business Pathway.

How did The Career Academy change your high school experience?

It truly enhanced it. If I hadn't done TCA, I would have either graduated early or been taking classes I didn't like to just stay another year. TCA allowed me to do what I love while getting ahead in college. TCA also allowed me to meet amazing people like my instructors, administrators and the friends I have made here.

What is the greatest lesson you learned from The Career Academy? Why?

The greatest lesson I learned from this focus program is that there are so many people out there who genuinely want to help me succeed. I just need to find them, share my ideas and they will support me in achieving my goals. This lesson has shown me the power of networking and the importance of building relationships with others who can offer guidance and resources.

How did The Career Academy help you reach your graduation goals?

First and foremost, TCA allowed me to test out career pathways and decide what I want to do with my life. It also allowed me to graduate with a certificate from Southeast Community College (SCC) when I graduate from Southwest High School, and go into college next year with business knowledge. 

 What are your post-graduation plans?

My post-graduation plans are still up in the air. My dream college is New York University, but I don't hear back from them until April 1. I have gotten into Rutgers University, Johnson and Wales University, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), all for business. 

How did The Career Academy help prepare you for those post-graduation plans? 

Two years ago, I would have told you that I didn't have a clue. After one year at TCA, I would have told you I was going to go to school for culinary. Now after two years at TCA, I can graduate from high school with a certificate in culinary, and confidently tell you I am going to study business with a focus on entrepreneurship, so one day I can open a cafe of my own.

How did The Career Academy help prepare you for the future?

The Culinary Pathway has allowed me to have real-world experiences working in a commercial kitchen. The Business Pathway has allowed me to do everything from running a mock business to learning how to utilize Microsoft applications like Word to create reports. 

What would your advice be to younger students considering joining your focus program? Why?

Do it. As a junior in high school, if there is a pathway you are even a little interested in, try it, and see if you like it. If you do amazing, do it the next year too, but if you don't, try another pathway, and see if that is the right fit. While it can be challenging at times, since they are college classes, you get to do what you love with students and teachers who also love it. TCA truly allows you to test drive your future.

What are you most thankful about this experience? Why?

I am thankful for everything that my time at TCA provided me. It got me doing what I love sooner and getting real-world experience with it. I am thankful to my teachers who cared about what they were teaching and just wanted to share everything they knew with me.

Congratulations, Sophie! We wish you the best in your future endeavors. We are thankful our educators could help you Launch at LPS!

 

Choose your passion. Choose your community. Choose your future with LPS Focus Programs. 

Learn more about The Career Academy by visiting its website at  https://home.lps.org/tca/ or stop by our website home.lps.org/focus to get more information about all our focus programs.

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