Skills USA is one of the largest career and technical showcases in America. Schools compete at the district, state and national levels annually. Dallas College sent eight students in the video technology program to complete in the post-secondary competitions.

“The main thing that I’m excited about is seeing students come out of their shells and kinds see what they’re capable of. I believe students should step outside of their comfort zones and compete against students from other schools. It’s sort of a measuring stick to see where they stand,” said Adrian Neely, audio/radio production adviser at North Lake Campus.

“It’s a great experience, especially for conferences. It’s like, laid back too, so it’s not high pressure,” said Rivers Shaw, Team B, Digital Cinema Production.

“I chose to complete in the digital cinema production. I chose that one because I fit in the most,” said Rafaela Zysko Rivkind, team A, Digital Cinema Productions.

Competitions can create pressure but also reveal students’ true potential, helping them discover strengths and exceed expectations.

“Whenever Digital Cinema Productions came on, I was super, super nervous. Honestly, I didn’t think we were going to win. And then, they showed the gold and I was like, ‘Team A! Team A!,’” said  Zysko Rivkind. “It’s a very stressful experience when you’re in it, but after it’s done you look back and you’re grateful that you were there.”

“Even if you weren’t sure you could do it, the fact that you were willing to try was, not to sound corny, but to me that was already a victory,” Neely said.

From culinary to digital cinema production the opportunity for stuents to showcase their skills is endless.