Exploring possibilities: BHS classes help Jairo Leana experience potential careers

As far back as he can remember, Jairo Leana has been interested in building things. One of the Burnsville High School junior’s earliest memories is when his uncles taught him how to construct wooden cabinets.

“I’ve always been a hands-on type of guy. I like doing hands-on work,” Jairo said. “I pretty much grew up around that type of work and have been interested in that myself.”

Jairo’s interested in pursuing a career related to engineering or construction, but is undecided on what specific direction he wants to go. That’s why he’s spent his three years at Burnsville High School taking advantage of the numerous classes in those subject areas and gaining as broad of range of experiences as he can.

“I really appreciate it because I’m actually learning what my future might be like, the different opportunities and the different challenges. At BHS I have this great opportunity to explore the different careers I might have because there’s a bunch of different classes - AP, honors, careers classes, and PLTW (Project Lead the Way) classes like I’m taking,” he said. “It’s helpful for someone who’s not sure about their career to try different things.”

Jairo put his passion for hands-on learning into action in Woodworking 1 and 2. One of his favorite projects was cutting a couple of two by fours and building a wooden table. He learned the basics for building large-scale projects in Intro to Construction and now he’s gaining a more detailed understanding of what goes into those projects in his Civil Engineering and Advanced Construction classes.

“We’re learning blueprinting and how things are built. Something that interests me is the fact that you have to have more skills and knowledge to be able to do (larger projects), and you have to be well organized and well taught,” he said. “You have to have a lot of responsibility and it makes you feel like you really know your stuff. The skills you have to develop are really unique.”

In Advanced Construction, Jairo is learning about architecture and plumbing as he designs a miniature bathroom. His Civil Engineering class took a field trip to study the architecture of U.S. Bank Stadium, an experience he said made an impression on him. 

“It really showed me how much of a skilled person you have to be to build something like that and plan it out,” he said.

After high school, Jairo wants to continue to do what he’s done at BHS - try a lot of different things to see what he enjoys most. He plans to join a construction union, which will allow him to work on various kinds of projects, including plumbing, welding and other trades.

“As part of the union, I’ll be able to explore my options to see what I want to do,” he said. “I don’t want to commit until I first really experience my options and see what I like best.”

Pathways in District 191

From preschool through graduation, District 191’s Pathways model provides all students with age-appropriate experiences through which they explore possibilities, develop the skills and attributes they’ll need to succeed, find their passions and prepare for their futures. 

Being a Pathways district means we:

1. Remove barriers and ensure equitable access for all students,
2. Center students as decision makers in their learning journeys,
3. Promote a future-focused mindset, ensuring students have a plan for meeting their next challenge,
4. Engage in partnerships to maximize resources and opportunities, and 
5. Provide real-world benefits, including professional certifications and college credits by graduation

Learn more at pathways.isd191.org.