Written by:
Andrew Konkov, Brockton Senior School
IB Careers Program Coordinator, Science and Physics Teacher
“Can I Really Do That in High School?”
“Wait, you went to a Boeing flight simulator?”
The student sitting across from me looks genuinely surprised.
“Yes.”
“And another student raised money for a business?”
“Yes.”
“And someone got a pilot’s licence while still in high school?”
“Also yes.”
At this point, students usually ask the same question:
“So… what exactly is the Career-related Programme?”
Mr. Konkov:
It’s a question I hear surprisingly often.
As Brockton’s Career-related Programme Coordinator, I’ve had versions of this conversation many times.
The IB Career-related Programme (CP) is one of the most unique pathways available to students at Brockton. It combines rigorous IB academics with hands-on experiences that help students explore their interests, develop professional skills, and gain confidence in the direction they want to pursue after graduation.
Imagine studying Physics and Mathematics while exploring Engineering. Or combining Business studies with Entrepreneurship. Or developing your artistic talents through Art or Music while learning how creative industries actually work.
The CP allows students to connect what they learn in the classroom with experiences beyond it, and that’s where things get exciting.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Student: So what do students actually do?
Mr. Konkov: One of the strengths of the CP is that students don’t simply learn about a field, they experience it.
Engineering students have visited Boeing flight simulators and explored the technology behind modern aviation. Entrepreneurship students have developed business ideas and raised funds to bring them to life. Music students have organized and performed at public events, gaining experience that extends far beyond rehearsals and classrooms.
These aren’t simulations, but real projects with real outcomes. Students begin to see how their interests can translate into future opportunities.
More Than a Career Path
Student: Okay, but I’ve heard that CP is for students who don’t want to do the IB full Diploma Programme and already know what career they want. Is it true?
Mr. Konkov: The word “career” can sometimes be misleading. Many students enter the CP because they are curious. They may be interested in engineering, business, sport leadership, environmental science, art, or music, but they are still figuring out what fits.
The CP gives them a chance to explore these areas before making major decisions about university and future careers. Sometimes students discover they love a pathway. Sometimes they discover something else interests them more, but both outcomes are valuable.
Building Skills for Any Future
Student: So what do students actually do?
Mr. Konkov: At Brockton, CP students can choose one Career-Related Study: Music, Art, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Science, Psychology or Sport Leadership
Student: So they pick a career?
Me: Not exactly. Think of it more as exploration than commitment.
A student interested in engineering can spend two years building technical knowledge, meeting professionals, visiting industry sites, and completing projects. If they discover engineering isn’t for them, that’s still valuable. It’s much better to learn that in high school than halfway through a university degree.
Alongside their academic and career-related studies, students complete the CP Core. The Core is designed to develop skills that remain valuable no matter where life leads. All Brockton students work closely with our post secondary advisor who will work with them to design a pathway that is flexible and fits their needs for post secondary studies.
Through Personal and Professional Skills, students learn communication, leadership, collaboration, and ethical decision-making. Through Community Engagement, they apply their learning to meaningful service projects. Language and Cultural Studies helps students engage with cultures and perspectives beyond their own. The Reflective Project challenges students to investigate complex ethical questions connected to their chosen pathway.
These experiences help students become adaptable, thoughtful, and confident learners.
Lucas’s Journey
Student: Tell me about one of your CP students.
Mr. Konkov: One student who exemplifies this journey is Lucas Gray Gagnon.
Lucas combined DP Physics and Mathematics with Engineering studies while pursuing a passion for aviation. At age fifteen, he began flight training and later earned his Private Pilot Licence.
His interest in aviation became the focus of his Reflective Project, where he explored the role of autopilot systems in commercial aviation. What made the project special wasn’t just the research. It connected directly to his studies, his personal interests, and his future ambitions.
Today, Lucas is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree with a focus on aviation at Mount Allison University. His academics, his Engineering studies, his Reflective Project, and his flying experience all supported one another.
That kind of connection gives students a powerful sense of direction in life.
A Different Kind of High School Experience
Student: So who is CP really for?
Mr. Konkov: When people ask me about the Career-related Programme, I often tell them that it isn’t about choosing a career at sixteen but discovering possibilities. It’s about testing ideas, developing skills, building confidence, and gaining experiences that help students make informed decisions about their future.
Most importantly, it’s about helping students answer a question that many young people ask:
“What can I do with what I’m learning?”
So in a nutshell, CP is for students who don’t just imagine the answer, but experience it.
