February 13, 2025 - It is no secret that Valentine’s Day is a busy time for the floral industry. During the holiday, Canyon Lake High School agriculture teacher Alyssa Hoskins teaches her floral design students the relationship between floral cost and labor by having them create a personal bouquet that they can then share with a loved one.
Hoskins’ inspiration for the assignment aligns with her classroom’s project-based learning structure, providing students with hands-on experience creating arrangements while building a floral portfolio.
The Plant Science Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway not only gives students real-world experience in the floral industry, but also the opportunity to obtain certifications that can be applied in a professional setting.
“It’s fun to see them realize floral design is more than just playing with flowers,” Hoskins shares.
An occasion such as Valentine’s Day also encourages students to form special connections to their work by allowing them the opportunity to dedicate their creation to someone they love.
On top of creating personal bouquets, advanced floral design students also have been tasked with creating floral arrangements for a local wedding. The project includes arrangements for the aisle, centerpieces, bouquets, and boutonnieres. The student-made creations are supervised by Hoskins to ensure they are of the highest quality for the event.
“It’s a skilled trade with many certifications, including knowledge-based, hands-on, and plant and soil science,” explains Hoskins. “Students who continue the pathway will learn floral language, how to budget, how to plan, as well as receive real experience by being involved with preparing weddings, banquets, and other events.”
Senior Erin Stage originally joined floral design as a creative outlet to balance her rigorous course schedule, being also in the health CTE pathway. Through Hoskins’ class, she discovered her passion for the industry and began branching out to create more designs.
“I have already booked weddings on my own for floral designs,” says Stage. “Selling arrangements has given me an insight into what it is like to run a small business, and has taught me about teamwork and time management.”
Stage’s confidence creating florals stems from the supportive atmosphere Hoskins cultivates in her classroom, encouraging students to trust their abilities.
“I found my interest in floral design from my agriculture teachers in high school who always pushed me to step out of my comfort zone,” says Hoskins. “That is why I push my students to step outside their comfort zones and to trust the process, because they just may find their passion by doing so.”
Stage, who plans to continue floral design while pursuing a nursing degree post graduation, is a shining example of a student who has found both their passion and purpose through pursuing multiple CTE clusters.
Whether it is creating personal Valentine’s bouquets, or the floral arrangements on a bride’s biggest day, with the help of supportive teachers like Alyssa Hoskins, students have a space in Comal ISD that allows their creativity to blossom.
Thank you Alyssa Hoskins for encouraging students to pursue their Path to Success!
Photo Descriptions
- Canyon Lake High School senior Erin Stage works on a floral arrangement.
- Canyon Lake High School agriculture teacher Alyssa Hoskins.
- Canyon Lake High School student Phoenix Fuentes.