Vocational education, to me means hard work, but it is all worth it because you get what you want in the end. Unlike college where you take a variety of different classes, not knowing what you want to do at times, vocational education is where people go when they know exactly what they want to do and make a career out of it.
 
Coming to Seattle Vocational institute has meant a lot to me because I know that right after I graduate from both high school and vocational school I will have a good paying job and I'll be going to college at the same time. It is just wonderful feeling knowing that I have my future plans right in front of me.
 
Without the help from wonderful people like Reza Khastou, who is the coordinator of the Bright Future Program, I do not think I would be where I am at today. He is so determined to make us happy and get where we want in life and I really appreciate that. I am so thankful that he introduced the Bright Future Program to Roosevelt High School because it is giving us a chance to attend vocational school during our high school years.
 
Julie Bouddy
Roosevelt High School 2002
Medical Assistant Program

Since coming to the United States, I have learned many things about computers. I began learning about computers in my freshman year in high school. I have used many types of programs such as, PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Keyboarding, and Desktop Publisher and I can use these tools at the intermediate level. By my junior year, I wanted to learn more about computers and the different type of programs, so I decided to get a head start by joining a program called the Bright Future Program. This program helps students to enter a vocational program that meets their interests. They knew I was interested in learning more about computers so they advised me to register in a computer course at Seattle Vocational Institute. They also paid for my tuition and half of my book fees.
 
I am glad I got into this program because it gave me the knowledge and challenge I need to run through the many obstacles I will be facing in life. In the vocational school I have learned how to reach goals that I wanted to reach, acquired job skills that I will need in my field of interest, and strengthened computer skills that will definitely be needed in this new millennium.
 
I want to thank Seattle Vocational Institute for giving me the opportunity to learn new and interesting programs such as Adobe PageMaker, Excel, Spreadsheet, Office Simulation, and Employment Skills. The skills that I have learned will be helpful in the future. I have met exciting new friends that have given me confidence to succeed in life. After completing this vocational program, I plan to use my certificate to obtain a job so that I can continue taking computer classes at a two-year college to get my AA degree. After that, I plan to transfer to a university to complete my education.
 
Markara Sam
Roosevelt High School 2002
Computer Information Processing Program

Going to Seattle Vocational Institute has helped me see that education is the way to a successful life. Having the same class with people from different countries and ages helped me learn more about the world we live in. I am grateful for the Bright Future program for giving me the chance to pursue a career I like and enjoy. At Seattle Vocational Institute, the teachers and students work together and are an excellent team. I am proud to be a part of an excellent team and I am thankful for Bright Future Program for making this possible. Because of the Bright Future Program, I am in a great school, I have great teachers and classmates who are helping me reach my goal.
 
Tigest Zeleke
Roosevelt High School 2002
Dental Assistant Program

I want to share with you how the Bright Future Program has helped me. I am a senior at South Lake High School and I joined the program last year. The program has encouraged me to further my education. I have learned about business procedures and Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and PageMaker. I have also learned ten key and keyboarding.
 
I plan to continue my education at a two-year college in order to obtain a livable wage job. All of the things that Bright Future Program has provided me will help achieve my plans and goals.
 
My goals are to continue my education, be successful in everything, live happily, and to have a house and a car of my own sometime in the future.
 
I want to thank Reza Khastou for encouraging me to join the program and for helping me to go through all the steps to get into the program. He has influenced me by encouraging me to further my education. Again thank you, Reza.
 
Thuy An Nguyen
South Lake High School 2002
Computer Information Processing Program

I feel it's a privilege to be in this program because I'll be well into my career when most people my age are just getting started - figuring out what college to go to and how to pay for it. This program not only teaches me about dentistry, but how to deal with problems. It is like a working environment. This program really is going to bring me a "Bright Future" and that's an excellent thing because this program really lives up to its' name Bright Future.
 
Lina Rim
West Seattle High School 2002
Dental Assistant Program

Bright Future has changed a lot of my thoughts about school. Before, I never really cared about my grades in school; but, since joining the Bright Future program I have learned that having good grades can help you in the future - like applying for college, because they will look at your transcript and accomplishments. It has been fun for me.
 
Lammay Ondee
Roosevelt High School 2002
Medical Assistant Program

My name is Jennifer Walker and I am enrolled in the Medical Assistant program at SVI through the Bright Future Program. Reza, the director of this program, visits my high school during the week and he introduced me to the idea of going to SVI and taking a program to better my future.
 
Reza helped me fill out my application for the John Marshall's Dollars for Scholar's scholarship, which was granted to me. I am in my first quarter and I am doing very well. I am so pleased that this program was an option for me. It is working for me to better my future and is offering me a chance for a career. I believe this is a wonderful opportunity for youths to get head starts on their futures. I think programs such as these should be available to all students who are willing to put forth dedication and commitment and that they should take advantage of a great opportunity.
 
Jennifer Walker
Marshall High School 2002
Medical Assistant Program

The way that the Bright Future Program has helped me is by helping me to finish my high school and to get my diploma. They helped me with the cost of school tuition, daycare co-pays, books, scrubs, and other school supplies. They also help with studies and they help in a counseling sort of way too. They will talk to you if you have problems, help you to register, help you get through to instructors if you are having problems. They help with what classes to take and they handle the crossover credits between SVI and your high school.
 
Kasia Camden
Marshall High School 2002
Medical Assistant Program

I learned many important business skills from taking two quarters in the Bright Future Program at Seattle Vocational Institute (SVI). I strongly agree that the program will more than prepare me for my life after high school. I feel more confident for the "real world" than if I was to jump right out of school and into a job inexperienced. I made many new friends that I can keep as assets. They taught me important things for the future such as, ways on finding a job and what there is out there in the world. Before enrolling into the vocational institute, I have always thought I wanted to major in arts but after taking the Administrative Office Professional (AOP) class, I found an interest in working with computers as well. Seattle Central Community College has a class that teaches graphic arts designing, and it fits my interest perfectly because it deals with art and computers. The teachers and the classmates were great; that combination of the two made an environment for me that helped me learned better.
 
I would not be at SVI if it wasn't for the Bright Futures Program, and my friend Navanh Chanthakoun that introduced the program to me. Reza Khastou and Nancy Moulton have always been a great help with assisting me on financial aid by having a scheduled workshop on Monday at SVI. It allowed me to ask any questions I had about completing my financial aid online so that no information was left incorrect. Both had opened up many opportunities that benefited me a lot. There were scholarships introduced to me and volunteer positions that were about office administration. I cannot find a way to thank them enough except to let other students know about the program and how it greatly benefited me.
 
Kiem Lam
Roosevelt High School 2004
Administrative Office Professional Program

For me, the Bright Future program has really made a difference in my life. Not only the doors it has opened for me, but the opportunities I now realize that are out there in the real world. Because of this program, my outlook and thoughts on my future have completely transformed into a different direction and are now all positive.
 
Before I was introduced to the Bright Future program, my mind was everywhere but where I needed it to be. If someone was to ask me what I planned on doing after high school, all they would hear is "I'm not sure", and "I don't know". Now I am completely focused on my future because of the Bright Future program. With their help and encouragement I now have a career I'm working towards and I'm actually accomplishing and achieving my goals. I think this is the best program out there (of its kind) simply for the fact that it gives anyone in high school a chance to gain high school credit, but at the same time be able to learn a trade. While learning this trade, you will still receive high school credit for coming to Seattle Vocational Institute and at the end of your trade class, you will earn a certificate for the trade of your choice. By taking advantage of this opportunity, you're doing nothing but setting yourself up for great success in the future.
 
By staying in high school, you get to graduate and stay un-sure and confused about where you're going and what you'll be doing after high school is over. This is definitely a great option for those whose families are financially challenged and worried about how they are going to send their kids to school. Well the greatest thing about this program is that they offer to send you to a trade class and pay the tuition for you. That's like killing three birds with one stone. You get to receive high school credit, learn a trade at the same time, and you don't even have to pay for it.
 
Brandon Schroeppel
South Lake High School 2004
Dental Assistant Program

To me the Bright Future program is a program that helped me get my life together and gave me a head-start in life. It gave me opportunities I never thought I had and opened up doors that I never knew existed. I see myself as one of the fortunate people who were able to "kill two birds with one stone". I was able to finish my high school while preparing for a career in the field I wanted to be in, the medical field. I am currently in the medical assisting program at Seattle Vocational Institute. Before I started this program, I didn't feel ready to go to college - just the thought itself scared me, let alone being able to get a job and be out there. But, here I am today, three quarters later, almost done with my medical assistant course, giving shots, setting up for sterile procedures, taking vital signs, learning the front and back office work and so much more. The fear that I had was exchanged for courage; the insecurity that accompanied me of not being able to make it out in the real world was exchanged for confidence. I feel so much ready now to go out there and work towards my major. The thing I love most about being at SVI is that I feel that I am in a much more mature and fun environment. Although the work is challenging I find myself doing so much better than how I was in high school. Now that I know where I am heading, I feel motivated to pursue even greater goals.
 
Hayat Getahun
Roosevelt High School 2004
Medical Assistant Program

Since day one of starting vocational education, I have never regretted a single minute. I was determined to start a new life, with a job in the field I always dreamed of working in the medical field. All of my teachers were helpful, understanding and very well educated. I felt like they genuinely cared about me and my education and truly had a desire for me to succeed. Vocational education has shown me that there is a place for everyone in the "real world" and it has shown me that that everyone who makes an effort can become someone. Being from a country where no such thing as vocational education exists, I appreciate it even more, and I'm thankful of the opportunity to take advantage of vocational education, which gives me a place in today's workforce. My life has changed 100% thanks to my new skills from vocational education and I have never felt better and more sure of myself than now.
 
Wided Souaiaia
Roosevelt High School 2004
Medical Assistant Program

Being a Bright Future student in the Dental Assisting Program at the Seattle Vocational Institute has been such a great experience for me. I had the opportunity of a lifetime to study a profession as a high school student and discover my interests early in life. Now I know what I want to pursue in my future. I can now plan a path for myself to follow so that I may achieve my goals. The instructors at SVI are incredibly resourceful and the staff members are undeniably supporting. Like family, SVI is composed of everyone acting as a close community.
 
Now that I am accepted into the University of Washington, I look forward to pursuing my plans in Dentistry. As a WAVE Scholarship recipient as well, I thank the incredible Bright Future staff, Nancy and Reza, that my future is just a reach away!
 
Myle Ho
Garfield High School 2005
Dental Assistant Program