Brenda Blanco has always been fairly adept at science and math, so when she heard about the Petrochemical Technology program that her high school offered, she was interested. Located near the Houston Ship Channel, Milby High School has partnered with local chemical companies, like Shell, since the late 1970s to train its students for careers in the petrochemical industry. Joining Milby’s unique program, however, meant much more than just adding an elective to Brenda’s schedule – it meant a two year commitment. Brenda’s willingness to make that commitment along with her solid math and science grades ensured her a spot in the program. During her junior year, Brenda participated in a petrochemical lab class taught by the program’s teacher/coordinator, Reginald Christy. In the class, Brenda and nearly 20 other students learned a lot of chemistry, but perhaps more importantly, they learned the fundamentals of working in a real laboratory, including the importance of following strict safety procedures. Having demonstrated exceptional skill and maturity during her junior year, Brenda was one of only a handful of students selected by Mr. Christy to interview for a position in the lab at Shell’s Deer Park Manufacturing Complex. Now, in her senior year, Brenda attends classes at Milby for half the day, then leaves school for her job in Shell’s environmental lab. There she is responsible for measuring and tracking chemical levels in wastewater generated during the manufacturing process to help ensure that Shell consistently complies with environmental permit limits. Brenda’s job carries a significant amount of responsibility for a high school student, but it also provides a number of benefits. Unlike the restaurants or stores where some of her friends work, her job at the lab allows Brenda to keep her evenings and weekends free to study or spend time with friends. And with the money she earns, Brenda is buying her own clothes and filling up her car’s tank rather than asking her parents for gas money, which provides a satisfying sense of independence. But Brenda is convinced that the best benefit of the job is the interaction she has with Shell’s lab professionals. They have not only taught her about working in a real lab, but also about working in the real world. Brenda plans to go to college next year to study science, or perhaps business. At Shell, we’re confident she will succeed in college, because she’s already making it in the real world.
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