Sydney's Advice for Transition

(bright music) - My name is Sydney Foulkes, I am a senior and my major is Public Relations. I received my first cochlear implant when I was 19 months old. (bright music) Well, obviously I don't remember that, but I'm very grateful that my parents decided to let me have a cochlear implant. I remember growing up, going to the pool. I had to take my cochlear off. You couldn't hear anybody. I would used to think the other people were deaf too, but I was like, "Oh, no, that's just me." I started Career and Technical Education in 2018 of fall, and my teacher was actually Ms. Robinson. She actually has a huge impact on my life. I just really enjoy talking with her, and she is the one that actually honored me through HISD with Career and Technical Education. When she told me the news about the school honoring me, I was like, "Honor me for what?" Coming to classes all the time and perfect attendance? She's like, "No, because I see something in you that's big." And I was just, I was really happy that, you know, someone sees me as that way, and I'm very grateful that she's the one that introduced me with Human Resources, even though it's not my major anymore, but I am happy that I went to college and started off with Human Resources. Transition Service helped me by preparing for the real world, and not only that, I had the opportunity of going to school for free, so that was an excellent opportunity. I was like, "Okay," 'cause at first I didn't wanna go to college. I felt like I wasn't good enough for college, but now that I'm here and it's my senior year, I'm more confident than ever. (gentle music) The skills that I gained from CTE was learning how to mail out letters, write letters professionally, and even learning how to fill out the W-2 forms and learning how to do your own taxes. It was a very good thing that we learned in my class, how to do all of these things for the real world. CTA also helped me with getting internships that were part of my major. I would encourage all students to go out there and just try. It's okay to be scared, 'cause I was scared too, to go to college and be by myself, but once you get out there and you feel confident, you're gonna feel so much better that you took the opportunity of learning things, and you can motivate other children or other adults, it's never too late. Just go out there and do it. And always remember that every new beginning is a fresh beginning. (bright inspirational music)