SkillsUSA Helps Tulsa Tech Grad Chart Path to Success

Opportunity. Iconic American author F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, "Our lives are defined by opportunities. Even the ones we miss.” For Tulsa Tech graduate Mackenzie Oestereich, one opportunity made all the difference.

SkillsUSA, a CareerTech Student Organization (CTSO), shaped her path. The organization is one of six available to Tulsa Tech students, empowering them to build leadership skills and connect with like-minded peers.

“I served as the national high school secretary for SkillsUSA through my program,” she said. “That experience taught me leadership, public speaking and how to communicate."

These invaluable skills help her daily as a paralegal for a Tulsa law firm.

“I'm a paralegal. I am the attorney's right-hand woman,” she said. “I do a lot with motions, mailings and talking to clients, all while making sure that those communications are good.”

She found a love for law during a field trip to explore the David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center in downtown Tulsa.

“Because of the Criminal Justice program and my experiences, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in law,” she said. It wasn’t just the program but also her instructor, Richie Gonzalez, who brought real-world experience into the classroom.

“All the lessons were real-life situations,” she said. “That made a huge difference for me.”

Her journey hasn’t been easy, from struggles in college to a pandemic, yet her time as a SkillsUSA national officer motivated her.

“It’s been a game changer,” she reflected. “The leadership and public speaking skills I gained still help me today.”

Each time she shares her Tulsa Tech story she reminds those present that it's about more than them.

“Tulsa Tech is an experience bigger than you can imagine. The skills you will learn are bigger than one person,” she said. “The most important part of your training are the friendships and connections that you make. You never know how stepping up to be a part of something like SkillsUSA can impact your life’s course.”

If you are looking to create a spark in your life, Tulsa Tech has more than 80 career training programs. Find out what career awaits you at tulsatech.edu today.