Grasso Tech Seniors Present Portfolios

Seniors at presented portfolios of their high school accomplishments to select members of the community on Wednesday afternoon as part of the curriculum for career development.

“The idea is to give students the opportunity to practice presenting a portfolio for job interviews or college interviews so they won’t be nervous,” says Holly Gollart, a career development teacher at Grasso Tech who developed the program.

All 120 seniors at Grasso Tech presented a portfolio this year. This is the first year the entire senior class participated in the portfolio project. It originally began as an elective class, but so many students wanted to take it that Gollart decided to make it a part of the core curriculum.

“Being able to present their ideas to people is an important skill for the future, and I think the students recognized the value in it,” says Gollart.

Members of the community including Trish Cunningham from the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, Groton City Mayor Marion Galbraith, and Jim Bates from the Groton Business Association sat on a panel that evaluated the portfolios and offered tips to students to improve their interview skills.

“I’m inspired and impressed by these students. They’re excited about their future and they have acquired the tools they need to do whatever they want,” says Beverly Matias, a former teacher who sat on the panel.

The students were expected to include resumes and writing samples, as well as demonstrate computer literacy and knowledge of core subjects such as math and social studies.

“It was a difficult process, but I’m proud of the result,” says Astrid Rivera, who is in the Computer-Aided Drafting and Design program at Grasso Tech.

Automotive Technology student Raven Lathern reflected on the portfolio experience.

“I was kind of nervous beforehand, but once we got going I was better,” she says.

Showing off pictures of the cars she worked on in class helped put her at ease, she explained.

“I could say, ‘I fixed that car,’ and be proud of my work,” she says.

Gollart is already beginning to plan the portfolio presentations for next year, and hopes to add an e-portfolio component, which will help boost the students’ knowledge of 21st-Century skills.