By Juan Cardenas, ROC Small Business Entrepreneurship

BAKERSFIELD, CA - ROC students, all high school juniors and seniors, have the opportunity to train in 30 different career areas. For the ROC Administrative Office Assistant students this means they are learning basic skills that will help them work with modern office equipment and professional clientele. By completing this class students will gain the skills and experience necessary to become a receptionist or office assistant.

Upon visiting the class, I noticed that everyone was productively working in groups. Students must be devoted and enthusiastic to succeed at ROC. By working in groups, as well as on individual assignments, students learn the value of teamwork and business communications.

I had the opportunity to interview one of the group of students, two whom are from Arvin High School and one from Shafter High School. They were working on a project when I asked them about their experience at ROC. Lucia, one of the Arvin High School students, said that “this program really allows us to get the experience that will be helpful (when we go to work).”

Students learn the basics within the classroom during first semester and then are sent to an internship at a local business, in which they put their skills to use four days a week, during the second semester of the school year. This internship will help students develop the hands-on skills they will need to get a start in office administration careers.

The ROC Office Administration program gives quality training and education to students who want to pursue a career in office work and business administration. I feel that this is an impressive program for young people to build the skills and experience that they are seeking.