HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-03-26, Page 13THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2003. PAGE 13.
Options Unlimited presented to Grade S girls
Making connections
Options Unlimited keynote speaker Donna Messer,
standing, talks to East Wawanosh Public School student
Montina Hussey (in the hat) during an education and career
planning session held for more than 400 Grade 8 girls from
across Huron and Perth, March 20, in Seaforth. (Janice Becker
photo)
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
The auditorium at the Seaforth
Agricultural Society Building was
filled to capacity when 439 Grade 8
girls from across Huron and Perth
Counties attended an education and
career planning session hosted by
Women and Rural Economic
Development (WRED).
The room was filled with
enthusiasm as keynote speaker
Donna Messer, president of
ConnectUs Communications, told
the girls of the limitless options open
to them for career choices.
“If you know what you want, ask
people you know whom they know.
Don’t be afraid to ask,” said Messer.
“Just ask” was the strongest point
made by Messer during her talk as
she explained you don’t know who
might have a contact or know
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someone who does.
Messer explained her own tale of
success, developing an idea for a
food product, asking local farmers
for advice and input and within a
year, creating a million dollar
business.
She told of a seminar she had
attended where a 16-year-old boy
had stood to tell of his dream of
becoming a pilot though he ended
with, “I know it will never happen.”
Messer asked the crowd who knew
someone that flew. After hearing
from others in the audience with
connections, the young man’s best
friend, sitting right beside him raised
his hand.
“My uncle is a pilot and he offered
me a summer job and he would teach
me to fly, but I don’t want it,” he
said.
Astonished, the young man asked
his friend why he never told him his
uncle was a pilot and had offered a
job.
The friend said he had never
thought about it and didn’t know his
friend would care.
“Why didn’t you tell me you
wanted to learn to fly?” asked the
friend.
“Ldon’t know,” responded the 16-
year-old.
Messer also told of her own son
who, determined to keep his
frequently-in-need-of-repair car on
the road, got a job at a gas station in
return for some hoist time, telling his
boss he would “go the extra mile”.
He made every effort to please the
customers, cleaning their windows,
washing headlights and smiling a
greeting to everyone.
After three months, one of those
customers asked the boy his story,
why he had gone that extra mile.
“I like this job because it is
helping me get where I want to go,”
he said.
The customer gave the boy his
card and offered him a job at a flying
club cleaning planes and he would
get flying lessons in return.
“There is more than one way to get
what you want,” said Messer. “Don’t
be afraid to ask for what you want.
Think about what you want to do
and be prepared when someone
asks.”
As another route, Messer told the
girls to volunteer. If they want to
become a vet, volunteer to clean out
the pens and learn about the job. If
they want to be an actress, director
or producer, volunteer at a cable
television station.
“Talk to people who have those
jobs and find out what you can offer
them,” she said. “Offer to donate
your time. They will tell you all the
good stuff, but also all the bad.”
Messer also pointed out that
success can often be determined by
“who you know” so making
connections is vital.
The girls were told to also “think
outside the box” after one said she
wanted to be a flight attendant. With
the poor economy and airlines laying
off staff, Messer told the girl to think
of other jobs that offer the
opportunity to visit other countries.
As Messer asked those present
about their dreams, she gave rapid-
fire answers, hooking attendees up
with one of the more than 60 women
mentors attending the seminar and
handing out business cards with the
words “call me”.
“No matter who you are or what
you want, you will get it if you ask.
“How can I help you” are magic
words. If you care enough to help
others, they will help you.”
Zsuzsa Harsman, grants consultant
with the Ontario Women’s
Directorate, a co-sponsor of the
event, spoke of her moves through
the workforce, starting in a grocery
store before going on the television,
film and government agencies.
“We have to be in charge of our
own life, our money and our
choices,” she told the girls. “The
next four years will be critical
because good choices and a good
attitude will shape your life. You can
control what goes on in your mind
and how you handle things.”
Harsman told the students to
explore what they like and don’t let
other people put limits on them.
The world needs people who do a
lot of different things in different
ways. We all have a.calling so try to
see what you really like.”
The room buzzed with enthusiasm
as the mentors at pre-assigned tables
each took 10 minutes to give an
overview of • their careers and
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answering questions before moving
on to another group of girls.
Following the “career Hashes”, the
students had the opportunity to visit
booths with information on careers
before attending workshops in the
afternoon.
Lisa ter Woort, project manager
for Options Unlimited said the
response to the day-long event
hadbeen overwhelming.
Though comments from an
opinion questionnaire given to
students, teachers, mentors and
chaperones have not y6t been
tabulated, ter Woort said the
response was excellent.
This was the third year for such a
seminar, but the first time the Huron
and Perth sessions were combined.
The session was held as a
component of a WRED and Junior
Achievement initiative to expand the
Options Unlimited program offered
to senior boys and girls earlier in the
month at 40 schools across the
region. There were students from 24
Huron and Perth schools at the
Seaforth event.
The seminar for the girls was to
encourage them to look at a broader
spectrum of career choices as they
often limit themselves to a narrower
Continued on page 16
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