The school day at the Oaks is very different from Mariemont’s. A normal day begins with morning academic classes; the second half of the day is the student’s lab of choice that fits the degree they are working towards. There are 14 different career fields to choose from with other related majors in the different fields. Upon graduating, Great Oaks students will be ahead of most with 24 free college credits through articulation agreements with affiliated colleges. Having this allows students that would not excel in the normal classroom environment have a chance to succeed while getting a jump start in their career of choice.
Reilly Comisar is a senior at Scarlet Oaks training in the Culinary Arts. “I’m using my experience to get a good job while I get my music degree,” says Comisar.
At the Oaks, Comisar has hands-on labs with her culinary family and chef every day instead of attending regular academic classes that she used to at Mariemont. “At Mariemont it was hard for me to stay motivated and do what I had to do. Part of it was the environment and the atmosphere but mostly it was because I work better hands-on. Scarlet is more diverse and works in a way that I can focus on my academics but also have two and a half hours in the kitchen/dining room every day,” explains Comisar.
“When people ask me, I tell them I go to Scarlet Oaks, not Mariemont. I know I’m still a Mariemont kid but Scarlet is where I’ve grown the most and I’m more comfortable,” says Comisar.
“There should be more vocational schools around for kids to go to,” Comisar believes. “ People still think CTC schools give poor educations and are for misfit kids, but in reality they give students opportunity and a jump start in college or in their field of work. I encourage kids at Mariemont to be open-minded and try it out for a few weeks, and even if they don’t like the Oaks, they can go back to Mariemont after the first two weeks.”
Vanessa Arp is a senior at Live Oaks on her way to becoming a registered nurse, Arp’s experience at the Oaks has been a positive one. “I beli
eve it definitely has prepared me for the future, I have matured since going to the Oaks. My favorite part would be when are actually learning the stuff hands-on,” admits Arp.
Arp explains how the Oaks is very different than school at Mariemont.
“At the Oaks my grades are A’s and B’s, and I have friends from all over, at Mariemont my grades were horrible. I would definitely recommend other students to the Oaks because it was the best thing for me; it completely changed my life around,” says Arp.
At Live Oaks there is also seniors Dean Diebold, Ellen Finucane, and Lynn Brayton. Like Reilly Comisar, Finucane is also part of the Culinary Arts program at the Oaks. Diebold studies Computer service tech and networking, and Brayton is working towards a career in early childhood education.
