Handy Knowledge
By Caleb Love Nov. 4, 2026
Waking up at 6:30 a.m., Senior Winston Robey gets ready to go to his mechatronics class. Getting out of his car an hour later, Robey walks into a complex consisting of multiple white buildings. On his way, he stops in front of a building with a huge sign saying “SVCTE” in blocky white letters. He walks into a room strewn with wires and parts where his mechatronics teacher and his peers are waiting to begin the lesson.
Silicon Valley Career Technical Education (SVCTE), is a program that specializes in helping high school students get training for future careers. They offer 23 completely free hands-on courses that meet UC admission requirements, with a few being nursing, culinary arts and AI engineering, as per their website. For many students, achieving college and career readiness may seem to be a daunting task. Taking SVCTE classes can help students gain a better understanding of what they are going into by showing them the application of ideas rather than giving them a complete comprehension of how they work.
Robey is taking part in the program to get a grasp of Mechatronics—a multidisciplinary field that combines computing and engineering. Due to the variable nature of the career, mechatronics engineers can work in multiple fields, from fixing industrial robots in robotics or designing electric vehicles in automotive engineering.
“I knew that I wanted to pursue an aeronautical or electrical engineering degree because of my fascination with audio equipment, but I was not sure exactly what I wanted to do until I learned about mechatronics. SVCTE helped me solidify that I want to study electrical engineering by providing me the chance to participate in projects where I get to simulate what it would be like to work in a real job setting,” Robey said.
Some careers, like plumbing or mechatronics, might need in person workshops for effective student training. This kind of realistic job training can be critical for a full understanding of how the skills being learned can be applied in the industry by allowing students to work with their hands. Students may also be able to retain information better this way, with UCMAS citing that hands-on learning engages the brain at a deeper level by combining movement, sensory input and thinking.
“I was originally planning to take an AP Physics 1 class, but I was worried that due to its fast-paced nature, I would only take it to get a good score on an AP exam. I wanted to develop skills that I could take with me beyond the AP exam,” Robey said.
While some SVCTE courses are designed to be a job preparatory program, all of the students in Robey’s class are taking it to lay a groundwork for college rather than immediate employment. For these students, the technical courses serve as a substitute for traditional high school classes.
“For any students planning to join SVCTE, I would advise them to put in a lot of effort into their learning. Even though SVCTE does not have any tests or quizzes, it should still be taken seriously to get the most out of it. If you can put in the work to grasp a good understanding of the topics being taught, you can come away with a lot of helpful information,” Robey said.
About the Contributors
Caleb Love
Staff Writer
Caleb Love is a freshman at Leland High School and a staff writer for the Charger Account. Caleb has traveled extensively in Southeast Asia and around the world. When in America he enjoys hanging out with friends and exercising.
Eleanor Wang
Front Page and Lifestyle Page Editor
Eleanor Wang is a senior at Leland High School and the Front Page and Lifestyle Page Editor, as well as the Ad Manager for The Charger Account. When not making crafts, she can be found binging movies or shopping with friends.
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