Students gather for Skills USA conference

One hundred and fifty students from Douglas High School and Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School missed class Wednesday morning to attend a Skills USA conference at CVIC Hall.

"Even if you're here to miss school today, I want you to think about what you love," said comedian and motivational speaker Kat Simmons.

Simmons told students her story of giving up a conventional life to pursue her love of acting and comedy.

"There are two important days in your life: The day you're born and the day you know why," said Simmons. "When you realize you have the same potential as those out there succeeding, your excuses go down the drain."

Skills USA, a national organization of career and technical education teachers and students, hosts annual competitions where students can demonstrate the skills they've learned in the classroom.

"Douglas excels in automotive, photography, architectural drafting, television and video production and advertising design," said Jim Meyers, advisor of the Douglas chapter of Skills USA.

He said culinary, screen-printing and computer maintenance classes also participate in Skills USA.

"Whenever you have something to look forward to, it hones your skills," said Douglas High Vice Principal Dave Pyle who oversees the school's career and technical education department. "I want them to be inspired to dig into an area of interest and find out if it's a viable career opportunity."

After Simmons' motivational speech, students split up in their classes and worked together designing a state pin for the upcoming Skills USA national competition.

"They need to work together as a team," Douglas High culinary teacher Kerry Stack said. "This is a great place to network and make friends and be exposed to different venues and competitions."

Douglas High senior Vinny Colson is an architectural drafting student and said he wants to become a mechanical engineer.

"It was great to hear about someone overcoming troubles and keeping their goals," Colson said of Simmons' speech.

Douglas High junior Svitlana Kostashchuk said the event was a great place to expand her interest in photography, but that she also wanted to explore her interest in drawing.

"I want a job that I love," she said. "I don't want to dread going to work."