At Shadow Ridge High School, students have the opportunity to go beyond traditional classroom learning through SkillsUSA, a career focused club designed to prepare students for real world jobs. By participating in hands-on competitions that mirror professional environments, members gain valuable experience while exploring potential career paths.

SkillsUSA places students directly into realistic scenarios where they must apply technical and problem-solving skills under pressure. According to teacher Bill Roe, the program is designed to simulate life after school. 

He explained that students are essentially practicing their future careers early, adding, “So it’s like being on the job before you ever get to the job and you can compete for medals.”

One of the biggest advantages of SkillsUSA is its emphasis on experiential learning. Roe believes that real-world exposure is essential for students considering career-based pathways. 

“If it’s something you’re thinking about doing for a career, this is a great way because ultimately the best way to learn is on the job,” he said. 

While education provides a foundation, Roe emphasized that hands-on experience makes the difference, noting that “every job is different. Every boss is different.”

The club offers a wide range of competitions, allowing students to pursue interests across multiple fields. Video production is one of the most popular categories, featuring three distinct competitions. 

“For video production in particular, there’s three different competitions,” Roe explained. One of these is digital cinema production, where students are given a prompt and have one month to write, film, and edit a three-to-five-minute short film before competition. 

Television video production, on the other hand, focuses on teamwork, pairing students as reporters and photographers to create commercials, promos, or news stories on location.

Beyond media, SkillsUSA includes numerous other career-focused events. “Forensics does their thing. They have a little crime scene they got to figure out,” Roe said. 

Automotive students work hands-on with cars, while photography competitors spend time taking, developing, and formatting photos according to professional standards. Each competition reflects the expectations of its respective industry.

Through SkillsUSA, Shadow Ridge students gain more than medals, they gain confidence, experience, and insight into their future careers. By placing students in real world competitions, the club helps bridge the gap between school and the professional world, preparing them for success beyond graduation.