Career and Technical Student Organizations

Fall Leadership Conference

Written by: Mario Trujillo

High school student Brittany Sisson joined Skills USA because she thought it would look good on a college résumé. But through her stay she has learned skills that will benefit her long after school and into her career and world of work. Sisson is one of thousands of students who participate in programs that help foster career skills. Skills USA is one of seven organizations that participated in the Career and Technical Student Organization’s Fall Leadership Conference on October 26-29 on the UNM campus. Over 700 kids listened to speakers, participated in workshops and networked with their peers throughout the three day conference.

Matt Liebman, a participant from Eldorado High School, said the conference was an all around success. “I think the networking is a great thing to have, because I have never even heard of some of the other organizations here,” he said. “But I also think the workshops were really important. I learned a lot from the workshops and I think this whole conference is going to be very beneficial.”

Liebman won MVP in one workshop titled “Quality of a Leader,” in which students solved problems using different leadership styles. He said the things he has learned put him ahead of his competition.

“I think that I definitely have an upper-hand,” he said. “You get to learn about things that actually apply in real life and apply down the road for you.”

“Though academics are extremely important, they don’t always get you ready for the real world,” Liebman said.

“In school – history, for example, is important to know but does not necessarily prepare you for your actual job,” he said. “(CTSO) does things to show you what you are going to need to do for your life after school. It lets you actually prepare for your future life.”

Tiffany Smith can agree with that. Smith is an alum of a program similar to the CTSO. She now works as an advisor for the CTSO and can personally attest to the program’s success.

“I joined an organization similar to (CTSO) when I was in 7th grade and that is why I do what I do now,” Smith said. “When I entered 7th grade I was a very shy kid with very little self esteem. My advisor pushed me. She saw some things in me. And I’m not a shy person any more. I am extroverted and I can speak with people and I have good social skills. It has really helped me get the different jobs that I have had.”

The goal of CTSO is to give students career skills, but it can also spark a passion in students that can define their future career dreams.

Brittney Sisson said she wants to run for national office when she grows up, and the CTSO helped inspire her. “I fell in love with it,” she said. “I decided my senior year that I was going to be an officer and I pushed myself to be president and now I’m doing it. “Now I want to do it when I go to college. Then I want to work for national office, I just fell in love with it.”