Sanford Regional Technical Center, or SRTC, is one of the 27 high school vocational schools in the state of Maine. The school has programs for many different career pathways from Health Occupations, Engineering, Plumbing, and Video Production. There is a program for almost every student. 

There are many benefits of applying to and attending SRTC. For many pathways, students can earn college credits or certifications at the conclusion of their program. Arguably the most important part of the programs are the hands-on experience, learning opportunities, and internships or apprenticeships. While there, students have the world at their fingertips. The friendships and connections made at the school end up being a very invaluable asset. 

Even though there are countless opportunities and benefits, the drawbacks hold a lot of weight too. The choice to attend SRTC is one that throws people head on into their program, causing them to devote half of their day and much of their effort to the school. SRTC takes up either the first two blocks or the final two blocks of the day, which doesn’t seem like a significant chunk of the day, but students end up missing out on a lot of academic opportunities. At KHS, many classes become unavailable and students are forced to pick between their possible career exploration, AP/IB classes, or electives they want to take at their high school. The decision to attend isn’t one to be taken lightly. Students have to have the motivation and determination to keep up and excel in their classes at both their sending school and at Sanford. 

As an SRTC student, I don’t regret my decision to attend my program. The limited class choice felt like it hindered some of my academic journeys, but I had to get resourceful to still take the classes I wanted in high school and also keep up with the work of my vocational program. Taking online dual enrollment classes is one way to keep up academic rigor, but another is making the most of the opportunities I have had. 

In the end, attending the program gave me opportunities and experiences that are very relevant and important to my career choice, but had I known more about the drawbacks beforehand, it would have influenced my decisions.