Oceanside High School students Shawn Lubinda and Bryce Levine took center stage at the 2026 New York State Career Readiness Educators Association conference last month, sharing firsthand how work-based learning experiences have helped shape their futures and prepare them for life beyond graduation.
Held at the Long Island Marriott in Uniondale May 20 and 21, the conference brought together educators, workforce leaders, administrators and community partners from across the state to discuss the future of career readiness and career and technical education. Oceanside was prominently represented through both its student leaders and a special honor awarded to longtime supporter Cecilia Dowd, of News12 Long Island.
Lubinda, a senior enrolled in the high school’s work-based learning program who will attend the University at Buffalo this fall, and Levine, a junior in the business program, were selected to take part in a young-professionals panel titled “Skills in Action: How Work-Based Learning Elevates Student Potential.”
Moderated by Eli Johnson, executive director of the Too Alive Tour, an NYC-based youth development nonprofit, the discussion featured students from Oceanside and Sewanhaka high schools’ career and technical education programs reflecting on how career-focused opportunities have influenced their academic and professional growth.
Students were asked to define success, professionalism and the value of workplace experiences that extend beyond the classroom. To Levine, success means taking advantage of opportunities and turning them into something meaningful — “something that you can look back on and be proud of,” she said.”
Lubinda emphasized perseverance and personal growth. “Success is being able to support both yourself and your family through the hard work you’ve done over the years,” he said. “No matter how many times you get knocked down, you’re going to rise up again and complete your task.”
Students also discussed the skills that contribute to their success. Levine credited his ability to manage a demanding schedule that includes athletics, academics and extracurricular activities.
“I have to keep my time manageable, because otherwise I don't think I’d be able to do everything,” she said.
A major theme of the discussion was the difference between traditional classroom learning and workplace experiences. Levine said that work-based learning has given her the chance to collaborate with professionals and be exposed to careers she may otherwise never have considered.
“There are so many opportunities out there for everyone to find their place,” she said.
Lubinda noted that workplace learning has helped him develop essential skills including communication, meeting deadlines and advocating for himself. “These are skills that don’t just apply to college,” he said. “They’re life lessons.”
The students also reflected on how their understanding of professionalism has evolved. Rather than simply dressing appropriately or adopting a formal demeanor, they described professionalism as being dependable, respectful and collaborative.
“When I first started, I thought professionalism was wearing a suit and sitting behind a desk,” Levine said. “Now I think it’s about loving what you do and how you impact other people’s lives.”
The panel also explored the importance of finding out about careers that may not be the right fit. Several students described how internships, job-shadowing opportunities and workplace visits helped them eliminate potential career paths while strengthening their interest in others.
“It’s important to know what you don’t want to do,” Lubinda said. “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
NYS CREA Board President Stephen Casa said that student participation is one of the conference’s most meaningful components. “Students having this opportunity to speak and be a part of a conference gives them the confidence and belief in themselves, because they’re doing something authentic,” Casa said. “When they see educators involved with work-based learning and CTE caring about them, that gives them hope.”
The conference’s broader mission, Casa explained, is to unite professionals dedicated to preparing students for future careers. “We’re preparing people in work-based learning and CTE for the longest part of their lives — their careers and their place in the world,” he said. “When we unify people and they get more curious, that unification is very powerful.”
This was the first time in many years that the state conference was held on Long Island.
“Long Island makes up the largest block of membership in CREA,” Casa said. “We were very happy with the turnout and the diversity of areas represented from across the state.”
The conference also featured special recognition for Cecilia Dowd, a reporter for News12 Long Island, who received the 2026 Friend of NYS CREA Award.
The honor is presented annually to someone who demonstrates exceptional support for work-based learning and career readiness initiatives. Dowd was recognized for highlighting student achievements and helping create opportunities for Oceanside students through her reporting and community engagement.
For Oceanside, the conference served as both a celebration of student achievement and a reminder of the impact that career readiness programs can have on young people.
By sharing their experiences on a statewide stage, Lubinda and Levine demonstrated the confidence, professionalism and leadership that work-based learning seeks to cultivate — qualities that will continue to serve student participants long after high school.
