Community partners help 81 juniors and seniors build confidence, professionalism, and connections to local careers
Early College High School (ECHS) recently hosted its annual Career Readiness Week, also known as Internship Camp, providing all 81 ECHS juniors and seniors with hands-on opportunities to develop the professional skills and confidence needed for success after high school.
Career Readiness Week has been part of ECHS since the program began and serves as a kickoff to the school year, setting expectations for learning and professionalism. The week was organized by ECHS teachers Dr. Rachel Bailey, Mrs. Aubrey Cardenas, and Mrs. Dianne Zachek, with assistance from Mrs. Tiffany Franco, Ms. Yara Chavez, Mr. Anthony Ruiz, and Mrs. Eva Avelar.
“As we prepare students for professional opportunities after high school graduation, we believe soft skills and professionalism are paramount to their success,” Dr. Bailey said. “Career Readiness Week equips students with the professional skills and confidence necessary to succeed in future academic and career settings.”
Students practiced professional dress and workplace behavior, resume writing and revision, professional email communication, time management, interview etiquette, confident handshakes, and how to present a resume to an interviewer. Workshops also addressed practical workplace responsibilities, including how to communicate an absence or request time off, complete W-4 and I-9 forms, and ask appropriate, relevant questions during an interview.
The week featured presentations from Leandra Stewart of Triadic; Cassie Arias-Ward of the City of Deming and Deming Luna County Economic Development; representatives from America’s Job Center Deming; Deming Public Schools Superintendent Nicholas Wohlgemuth; and Staff Sgt. Rice of the New Mexico National Guard.
The City of Deming, Luna County, and America’s Job Center helped open the week with an OWN Your Future presentation centered on a clear message: students can become anything they are willing to work toward. The partners also helped connect ECHS with local employers for the week’s culminating mock interviews.
Mrs. Arias-Ward said connecting students directly with employers and community leaders supports two important economic-development priorities: workforce development and business retention. “This connection is critical to both strategies, showcasing robust careers right here in Deming to students and showcasing bright and ambitious talent to employers,” she said.
The week concluded with mock interviews conducted by local business and community leaders. Students dressed professionally, prepared resumes, practiced confident introductions, and completed an interview while receiving immediate, constructive feedback. Mrs. Arias-Ward coordinated community volunteers and provided a framework to help interviewers evaluate students and offer meaningful guidance.
“Students love the interviews and the confidence that dressing professionally brings,” Dr. Bailey said. “They enjoy learning to stand up straight, shake hands with confidence, and deliver thoughtful responses during the interview process.”
Students said the experience helped them feel more prepared. “Internship Camp helped me prepare for future interviews, not get as nervous, and work on my communication for the future,” said ECHS junior Jasmin Rios.
Junior Cristian Madrid said the week helped him strengthen his professional presentation. “I was able to work on my professional dress for professional events,” he said. Fellow junior Aerona Stewart added, “The guest speakers were one of my favorite parts of the week.”
Senior Kahairy Lerma described the mock interviews as an important lesson in communication. “I learned how to communicate better when I’m in an interview and how to be professional at events,” Lerma said.
According to Dr. Bailey, exposure to community professionals also helps students broaden their understanding of available careers. By hearing professionals’ stories and meeting volunteers during mock interviews, students can discover pathways they may not have previously considered.
The partnerships extend beyond Career Readiness Week. The City of Deming and Luna County Economic Development works year-round with employers and local educational partners, including ECHS and Deming High School, to support potential internships, mentorships, job-shadowing experiences, and future collaborations.
For Mrs. Arias-Ward, one of the week’s greatest successes was seeing students willingly step into an experience that requires courage and openness to feedback. She said community interviewers leave encouraged by the quality of Deming’s students and with a firsthand reminder of the strength of the local community.
“These young and intelligent minds are able to learn about resources, cost of living, and career readiness so they can hopefully avoid costly mistakes down the road,” Arias-Ward said. Her hope is that students leave with a lasting message: “The world and everyone in it owes you nothing. Work hard, be kind, and keep your faith.”
ECHS extends its sincere appreciation to the business and community professionals who donated their time and expertise. Participating organizations included Lescombes Winery, Nusenda, Triadic, Ace Appraisal, Foundation of Youth Arts, Irma’s Restaurant, Deming Public Schools, America’s Job Center Deming, the City of Deming, and Luna County. ECHS also thanks Deming Public Schools for allowing the school to use the Smith School Building during the week.
“We could not do it without them,” Mrs. Arias-Ward said of the participating organizations and volunteers. “It is critical to continue building. If we do not water the seeds we have planted over the last decade, it will not be successful. We need them to stay engaged with us.”
Career Readiness Week reflects ECHS’s commitment to preparing students not only for academic success, but also for the responsibilities, opportunities, and expectations they will encounter in college, the workforce, and their communities.