/ A Mom Leverages IBM Know-how and her Network to Engage and Enlighten Her Son /

Originally published on IBM.com

As global citizens, we’re humbled by the heroic acts taking place on the front lines of the fight against Coronavirus. As we celebrate and give thanks for the selfless acts of medical professionals and first responders around the world, we also want to recognize the everyday heroes: Parents.

Moms and Dads around the world have assumed the 24×7 role of health monitor, co-educator and social chair for their families, who are now navigating new ways to stay connected – from a distance – with their work, their schools, their social circles, and their creative pursuits.

It is in this environment that Christina Tagliareni’s 16-year-old son came to her with a challenge: How could he select a college major to pursue after high school that would put him on a productive path toward a fulfilling career when his school’s career fair was cancelled as a result of Coronavirus? Her son was fearful that without the benefit of real-world insight from professionals through the career fair, he would set himself on a path that might not suit him for the long term.

Christina turned to P-TECH, where she knew her son would be able to see ‘day in the life’ experiences of professionals in different technical careers. When her son watched a P-TECH video of a mechanical engineer, whose job was to pressure test Beats by Dre headphones, his fears were put to rest. He learned that the engineer used CAD to make prototypes of the headphones that he was then tasked with trying to break. Christina’s son, who enjoyed art and design, suddenly saw a wide array of career possibilities open up in the field of engineering, enabled by CAD.

“It was cool to see the lightbulb go off in his head,” Christina reflects. “And I truly believe that through the P-TECH video he was able to understand – better than he could have by talking to someone behind a table at a career fair – how mechanical engineering would allow him to draw upon his innate creativity to solve a variety of interesting challenges and lead to a satisfying career.”

Knowing other parents would soon be approached by their kids with the same challenge, Christina shared the P-TECH experience with her local and school communities via social media and presentations during zoom meetings.

In addition to helping her son navigate challenging school assignments and his future plans, Christina is also focused on keeping him busy around the house. “School work and chores can only take up so much of the day,” she said. “I want to give him a break from the screen while feeding his creativity.”

While sharing her concerns with a co-worker, the two put their heads together on how they could provide a creative outlet for Christina’s son. Inspired by Austin’s HOPE Outdoor Gallery, a community art park and cultural arts center that provides artists the opportunity to create outdoor art with inspirational messaging, Christina and her colleague designed a mini graffiti park for her backyard.

“I know this will hold his attention for more than five minutes,” Christina shared. “And right now, it’s important for him to stay connected not only to his school, but also to his passions.”