Senior Kylee Franklin of Southwestern Central School has found confidence, leadership skills, and a strong sense of belonging through the Criminal Justice program at the Hewes Educational Center.
Franklin spoke during the Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES Board of Education meeting held May 13 at Hewes, sharing how both SkillsUSA and the Explorers Program have shaped her experience and future goals.
The Career & Technical Education student said her interest in criminal justice began close to home, inspired by her older brother’s goal of becoming a police officer.
“I got into criminal justice mostly because my older brother, he actually wanted to become an officer,” she said. Under the guidance of instructor Kerry Crist, she added, the program became something more meaningful. “It’s kind of become more of a family for me, honestly.”
While public speaking and interviews were once intimidating, Franklin credited Crist’s encouragement with helping her step outside her comfort zone and enter the SkillsUSA Job Interview competition. She admitted she initially doubted herself, recalling, “I was really scared… I was like, ‘I’m not doing interviews, I’m terrible in front of people,’ and here I am now.”
Franklin spent months preparing for the competition, studying interview techniques and developing her portfolio. After a challenging showing at regionals, she continued refining her skills and ultimately earned second place at the 60th annual New York State SkillsUSA Leadership and Championships Conference in Syracuse this April.
Beyond the award, Franklin said the experience helped her grow socially and professionally by connecting with peers from Hewes and other schools.
“It was a really good experience to get to know other people and have a chance at at least getting up on that podium,” she said.
She also noted that speaking before the BOCES board represented another milestone in her growth, describing it as an opportunity to continue building her communication skills.
“It is really nice getting a chance to be in here and learn to talk to people a little better,” she said. “It’s really nice to be here and see everyone.”
