Junior Achievement offers World of Choices workshop

By Janet Kanters Times Editor

World of Choices, an interactive leadership and career workshop for young people in southern Alberta, will be held in Strathmore on April 10.
Hosted by Junior Achievement, with support from RBC and Fortis, the event is designed to empower high school students in Grades 10-12 to reach their future career goals.
According to Lindsay Pollon, Regional Coordinator, Southeast Prairie with Junior Achievement southern Alberta, students will be exposed to a variety of career possibilities by participating in five small round table discussions with different career mentors.
“Our goal is to educate and inspire these young people by promoting self-confidence and showcasing potential career paths,” said Pollon.
World of Choices allows the students to speak in small groups to local professionals in a wide array of different careers to get a better sense of what they would like to pursue once they graduate from high school. They can hear more about professions they are already interested in or can learn about a completely new profession they may have never considered before.
“It’s a great chance for them to see what options are available and what would be a good fit for them after high school. This also gives them a head start in planning for post-secondary so they can ensure they complete the required classes in high school that will lead them on the path to achieving their future professional goals,” said Pollon.
“It connects them with local professionals who are currently working in a profession that interests them. They learn all the ins and outs of the position and what further education is needed to get a job in that profession. It also connects them with other youth in the community with similar interests and goals.”
Canadian Olympian Bronze medalist Kirsti Lay will attend and will speak on bravery, overcoming fear and seizing opportunity.
“Graduating from high school can be extremely exciting but also incredibly scary if you don’t know what your next steps will be,” noted Pollon. “This event helps to inspire youth to step outside their comfort zone and explore the ‘world of choices’ that are available to them.”
A few of the jobs that will be represented at World of Choices include IBM technology – aviation, social media consultant, powerline technician, information technology, engineer, human resources consultant, handcrafted furniture creator, beauty academy, nutritional consultant, chiropractor, lawyer, Canadian Armed Forces, actor/instructor, investment adviser, minister, entrepreneur and more.
To sign up to attend, students need to speak with their teachers and contact their school counsellor. Strathmore High School, Holy Cross Collegiate and Strathmore Storefront have all reserved spots for their students at the event, said Pollon.
Those who are interested in being a career mentor or volunteer at the event should contact Lindsay Pollon at 587-226-4811 or email lpollon@jasouthalberta.org. The event is also looking for door prize donations.