When Josh Klick graduated from high school, he did what was expected: enrolled at St. Cloud State University to get a bachelor’s degree. As he started exploring different possibilities—education, business, marketing, sales—nothing seemed to be the right fit.
The uncertainty he experienced is something that many students go through, which is why finding the right learning environment matters.
"There are kids who just want to work. There are kids that want to be in certain fields that require a four-year degree," Josh said. "But there are a lot of people in the middle who aren't sure what they want to do. At SCTCC, there are so many different programs that can get you into the workforce fast with hands-on experience, and it's the right fit for a lot of people."
At the same time he was starting at St. Cloud State, Josh had a conversation with a coworker who was finishing up his Sales and Management degree at SCTCC. The coworker shared his experience with the instructors, the learning experience, and the practical approach to education.
Josh decided to transfer to SCTCC.
Twenty-five years later, he still points to SCTCC as a place where people can make connections between industries and options that they may not have considered and then find a path that supports their interests, strengths, and goals.
For many students, SCTCC can be a launching point. For Josh, he was able to take a non-traditional approach to his interests. While he loved the building industry, it didn’t mean that he wanted to be an electrician, plumber, or carpenter. Instead, he chose to take his Sales and Management degree and focus it within the building industry.
"Every single one of my instructors spent time in the field," he said. "They had real-life experience that was relatable for the students. Whether it was daytime classes or night classes, those instructors were typically still working every day, then teaching and giving back at night."
As Josh discovered, part of that experience comes from learning directly from instructors who have worked in the industries they teach. That connection to industry helped him see how classroom lessons translated into real-world careers.
"It made such an impact on me and made the subject matter believable, understandable, and relatable."
In addition to the practical learning in his program, one of the most memorable learning experiences that he remembers almost every day came from collaboration with the Culinary Arts program. Josh and his classmates participated in a mock business lunch, practicing professional etiquette and how to interact with customers while eating.
"It sounds kind of silly," Josh said, "but as I'm out in the business world, I notice it when people don't use those types of etiquette, and it reminds me of SCTCC."
That learning opportunity reminds him every day that education often means learning the practical skills that contribute to long-term success: "That's the hands-on thing I don't think you necessarily get at a four-year."
With a two-year degree, Josh worked his way from the front desk at a lumber yard to sales roles with suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors. Today, he works for Erdman Automation, a Princeton-based company that designs and builds automated equipment for the window and door industry.
Along the way, he learned that industries are often much broader than people realize, and it's a lesson that mirrors the value of SCTCC's diverse program offerings.
It’s not surprising when students start with one interest only to discover related careers and opportunities they didn't know existed. For Josh, that was something he connected with at Erdman Automation: "There is a place for people with many different interests in the automation industry," he said. "Sales, business, drafting, design, programming."
This connection and light-bulb moment was also something Josh saw firsthand with his own son. Not sure of what he wanted to do after high school, he spent time working and exploring different options before discovering an interest in controls and programming. Today, he programs robots as a career.
As Josh witnessed this, it was just one more reason he stresses the importance of exploration.
"Look around, ask questions, ask what companies do. Sometimes you don't understand how interesting the work actually is," he said. "You might be surprised."
Instead of doing what is expected, exploration can often be the key to finding a career. With the many program options and career support at SCTCC, it’s easier to find the right fit no matter what industry might be calling. Finding what clicks isn't about having all the answers on day one; sometimes it's about having options and finding your place.