SkillsUSA might be old news for some, but being national champions is a new experience for current seniors Curtis Muecke, Meisja McCrary, and junior LeeAnne Philips. Last year, SkillsUSA nationals were held in Atlanta, Georgia, June 24-28, 2024.

SkillsUSA is an organization where students participate in “workforce” related activities to prepare themselves for their future occupation. This program provides many different categories and skills that students can master and eventually incorporate into their future careers.

“I decided to do SkillsUSA because it offers a variety of different competitions, unlike FFA, where it’s targeted at agriculture skills,” senior Meisja McCrary said. “SkillsUSA goes into healthcare, teaching, construction, mechanics, pretty much anything you can think of.”

This particular extracurricular activity has different technical and environmental aspects.Extensive categories and subjects allow students to discover, learn, and compete through the SkillsUSA program.

“Last year I did basic healthcare skills at nationals,” senior Curtis Muecke said. “And then I’ve also competed in Quiz Bowl and speaking [events].”

Not only does this give students a chance to experience and learn more about a topic that they’re passionate about, but it also gives insight into how important this activity is for future success in the workforce.

The SkillsUSA organization helps prepare students for their future work lives, as well as promoting their leadership abilities and public speaking skills through practice, determination, and hard work.

“I think it just gives you a chance to demonstrate workplace skills in a competition format, which I think is really important to student growth,” Muecke said. “And beyond that, it allows students a chance to improve their skills in a variety of different areas.”

Beyond competing in SkillsUSA, dispositions are also set on meeting new people and socializing with others. The ability to socialize and be able to work with anyone is critical for most job outlooks, activities, and events. This attribute will allow students to be able to thrive in any environment they approach.  

Not only does the program provide leadership opportunities, but it also furnishes an overall positive insight as an extracurricular activity for participants.

“I just fell in love with the atmosphere and kind of the competitive nature of SkillsUSA,” Muecke said. “And how that leads to bettering myself and my future.”

To compete at the national level, students must compete and win at the state level; then, participants may advance to nationals. Commuting to nationals might not have been a breeze, but it still provided a great experience for competitors, spectators, and coaches alike. 

“Of course, it wasn’t global, but it was really fun,” McCrary said. “You just got to see a whole bunch of different lifestyles, their accents and everything [about them].”

Having this frame of mind contributes to one’s ability to enjoy different environments, especially when participating in a contest.

“I think that also a really important part to me is just getting to build connections with people,” Muecke said. “That I [probably] wouldn’t meet at any other experience.”

Furthermore, students get to socialize with others, but coaches can also learn new perspectives on what mindsets might help advance their pupils for their skill sets. 

There are procedures, tasks, and assessments that highlight what categories individuals are proficient in and appreciate.

“[I would recommend to] really anyone that wants to compete in anything if they want to broaden their horizons of their skills,” Meisja McCrary said. “You get a target-specific set of skills, and then just practice, which leads to some form of perfection, and you get to show the world what you’re good at.”

Regardless of what an individual sets their mind to, or who they accompany and associate with, the program displays distinctive individualism and collectivism simultaneously.

Overall, the SkillsUSA organization is a major boost to those who respect and enjoy this program. It helps with foundational growth and basic knowledge so that high schoolers are career-ready.

Curtis Muecke, Meisja McCrary, and LeeAnne Philips have paved the way for others to do the same, not just to win nationals but to expand their abilities to acquaint, connect, and relate to others throughout their experiences in SkillsUSA.