Honors Student Chooses to Forego College Following Graduation
Graduating in the top five of her class from West Seneca East High School, Kelly Holdsworth can’t wait to start the next chapter in her life. However, Kelly has bravely chosen to take a different path from her honors-level peers. This summer, she will join the full-time workforce and her parents couldn’t be prouder.
“My mom actually helped me discover this path,” Kelly said.
Her parents, Kathlyn and Peter Holdsworth, encouraged their daughter to ask her high school counselor about classes available at Erie 1 BOCES after seeing Kelly’s robust enthusiasm for assisting young children at a dance recital.
Fast-forward two years later and Kelly is on track to graduate fifth in her class from high school, top of her cosmetology class at Erie 1 BOCES’ Potter Career & Technical Center, eligible to take her state license exam, and has already secured a position at Tonic Hair Salon in Williamsville.
“She’s taken a lot of AP classes; she’s smart and has really thought this out,” Kathlyn Holdsworth said. “I had some reservations until I attended BOCES’ open house; people don’t realize the income potential of skilled trades.”
There are four children in the Holdsworth family. Two of Kelly’s older siblings are currently in college pursuing degrees. The eldest, Allison, attends University at Buffalo’s School of Pharmacy and her brother, Sam, is majoring in hospitality at Buffalo State. Kelly’s younger sibling, Melanie, is in middle school and appreciated Kelly’s budding cosmetology skills during the COVID-19 shutdown.
“I’d like to own a salon one day,” Kelly shared. “There are college-level business classes I can take, but I would like to hone my skills and fully experience the industry first. I’ll be able to get more value out of the classes that way.”
“More than 60% of Erie 1 BOCES graduates attend college directly following graduation,” said Lisa Vater, cosmetology instructor at Erie 1 BOCES Potter Career & Technical Center. “However, there are exceptional students in my class, including Kelly, who have already secured employment.”
With more than 20 years of experience teaching cosmetology students, Vater is impressed by Kelly’s commitment and natural talent. She then explained that because of COVID-19, it was especially challenging for students to obtain the 1,000 hours of clinical experience needed to take their licensing exam.
“Kelly was one of the few students who took advantage of every extracurricular experience possible to gain more hours. She’s on track to take her state exam in July,” Vater said.
“She’ll be successful, I have no doubt,” Holdsworth continued. “BOCES is a great program, there are so many more options than when I was a teen. I would encourage more parents to check it out.”
As part of public education, Erie 1 BOCES offers a variety of career and technical programs during the normal school day to high school students in Erie County. High school students interested in learning more about how they can participate in various hands-on programs should visit www.e1b.org/cte or speak with their high school counselor.