Forget Algebra Workshop Sept. 24. Courtesy/LAPS Foundation
LAHS Business Club founders Brian Han, Karl Sinkula and Emma Frost, Nate Delgado and Luis Rosales with Del Norte Credit Union. Courtesy/LAPS Foundation
By JENNY MCCUMBER
Executive Director
LAPS Foundation
Thirty Los Alamos High School students attended a free career building workshop on Saturday morning at projectY cowork, presented by former New Mexico resident Nathan Delgado—a Washington D.C. – based cybersecurity professional and career building coach.
Los Alamos High School Business Club helped host the event. Club founders Brian Han, Karl Sinkula and Emma Frost were instrumental in promoting the seminar and working with Delgado in devising topics and formats high school students would find accessible. Attendee Emma Frost said this event provided, “The perfect kickstart to a club that hopes to bring financial knowledge to Northern New Mexico teens.”
Delgado empowered students to identify strengths they typically overlook. The highlight was his signature “Resume Roast”, where three students volunteered to have their drafts publicly ridiculed and scrutinized – with friendly humor. Teasing one student about her job description, Delgado said incredulously “Worked? Of course you worked. That’s like saying you went to school and learned. Tell me what you contributed!”
Delgado taught students to workshop resumes by quantifying their achievements, invigorating their job descriptions and by providing valuable formatting advice. Student Karl Sinkula said afterwards, “In school we’re taught to write resumes for the fax machine era, but Nate brought us up to date with the expectations of the internet age.”
Delgado is passionate about sharing the strategies and tools that have fueled his own academic, career and financial success. His consulting platform “Forget Algebra,” is based on concepts he developed after realizing that his practical advice is rarely covered in secondary education and beyond. Working with a grant from Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation and the sponsorship of Del Norte Credit Union’s LOV Foundation, Delgado encourages community-based opportunity and paves the way for similar ventures to positively impact young minds.
After this initiative, LAHS Business Club President Brian Han plans to continue to work with Del Norte Credit Union in bringing additional opportunities to students. Next week, Delgado takes “Forget Algebra” to University of Southern California for two speaking engagements as he expands his audience nationwide.
The fact teens attended an event on a Saturday morning and took copious notes during Delgado’s introductory tax unit speaks to the need and interest among young people for such programs: especially one providing practical, real life tools to help them enter the workforce. Student Maya Price said after the event, “I didn’t know how much I didn’t know.”
About LAPS Foundation
The Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization that helps the local community provide an extraordinary education for Los Alamos students. Los Alamos has given over $2 million to fund opportunities students and teachers would not have otherwise. To learn more about LAPS Foundation and how to get involved and/or make a donation, visit lapsfoundation.com or call 505.500.6501. Donations to LAPS Foundation, a 501(C)(3) organization, are tax-deductible.
