The Be Pro Be Proud movement gave Sequoyah students unique opportunities and experiences. The Be Pro Be Proud organization provides a truck that travels from state to state to teach the next generation of the workforce about the growing professions. Last week, this truck came to visit multiple high schools in Cherokee County with one of the stops at Sequoyah. Sequoyah has multiple CTAE classes, like Marketing, Food Nutrition, and Audio and Video Technology, which got to spend their class period at the truck.  

The truck began its nation-wide journey in 2016, leaving out of Arkansas. After five years on the road, it finally made its appearance at Sequoyah. 

Scott Callaway is one of the instructors aboard the truck’s expedition. He began his journey with the company in Arkansas back in 2016, at the beginning of Be Pro Be Proud’s trip. Callaway came back to his home state of Georgia with the truck. His strong hopes for the future generation and the workforce propelled him to work with the organization. 

“The technical skills and skill workforce are booming all over; every state is booming with opportunity. We want to show that pathway into that opportunity and into employment,” Callaway said. “We talk about where you can go to school to obtain a certification and who would hire you in this local area into whatever skill you got.” 

Inside the truck, there are multiple hands-on activities and simulations you can do such as driving an 18-wheeler, welding, and working with a robot. Whitney Policky, a senior in Marketing Management, had the chance to visit the truck. 

“I enjoyed the welding activity because it was really fun and accurate which surprised me,” Policky said. 

In addition to the fun, Policky gained knowledge that will help her in the future, and it helped her realize the importance of the workforce. 

“I learned how much money you can save from participating in these specific, essential jobs. [Learning] this will help me in the future in case I decide that college is not the right route for me; I will know where to look online to create a career pathway,” Policky said.   

Senior Adonis Ramirez and Sophomore Imani Guyton are in Audio Visual Technology and Film. These students visited the truck to learn about a variety of work skills they could use in the future.  

Ramirez currently works in the construction field, so he already knows how to do a lot of the activities in the truck.  

“I enjoyed teaching and helping other kids learn to weld,” Ramirez said.  

Guyton was taught certain work skills to help with her future job. She learned that listening to directions is a very important key part to doing things effectively and correctly.  

 “I really enjoyed the driving simulator, and [the welding activity] helped me improve my hand-eye coordination,” Guyton said. 

The truck provided these students with new information on these jobs in the workforce. Each student that went aboard this truck was taught something to help them in the future. Be Pro Be Proud introduced new work skills to each student to help them be more successful with these essential jobs in the future.