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Giving teenagers a sense of direction: Not everyone’s going to be a doctor |
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It takes all kinds to make the world go round. As important as it is to become a doctor and to save lives, there is also the job of sterilizing the instruments to be used during surgery.
According to Lennoxville Learning Centre principal Stuart Gear, there is no difference in value between the two careers — as long as both people are working hard and care about their jobs.
However, both individuals must have the tools and opportunities needed to obtain their positions, which is why the centre’s Cooperative Education Program is still going strong after 25 years.
“We have great kids here,” said Gear, referring to teenagers with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, who just need that extra push. “Some of them may not get the opportunity to finish high school because they were never given the opportunity to succeed.
“Not everyone is going to be a doctor or lawyer, and not everyone has to graduate high school to be successful and maintain successful and satisfying lives.
“The world is always in need of tradespeople, and this project matches teenagers up with different possibilities. Some people aspire to be cooks, mechanics and machinists, and unless they are given the opportunity they will never be able to get there. Many of our students who have been a part of the project have been hired later on by different companies where they conducted their stage.”
That looks to be a strong possibility for student Steven Piercy. Fifteen-year-old Piercy has been paired up with the North Hatley Public Works department and Gear said the student is doing a fabulous job.
“Steven job-shadowed here at the school with the maintenance department, and the crew told me that he is hard working, responsible and reliable, but most importantly, he really enjoyed himself.” Piercy has made his teachers proud.
And North Hatley fire department captain Daryl Williams was influential in getting Piercy a summer spot on the village’s public works department.
“(Williams) lives in North Hatley and he... gave us phone numbers for contacts to see if Steven could be placed in his home town, since he did such a good job with the maintenance here at school,” Gear said. “He’s doing a tremendous job and everything is working out great for everyone. His mother called this morning and said that he was excited about helping the fire department after the storm last Tuesday afternoon. She says he’s loving his job.”
Gear added that another important aspect of the program is to have supportive parents.
The storm left a lot of damage behind: “He helped us sod Dreamland Park. All 19,000 square feet of it,” said public works foreman Danny Mckelvey, drenched from clearing roads of debris. “So if the park looks good it’s because of him.”
Bearing his North Hatley work shirt proudly, a shy Piercy said his job was going “good.”
Gear sees a good career for Piercy.
But if not, the program is successful on another level.
“This project works well for two reasons. One, teenage boys never really know what they want to do and may lack the ambition to find out. So if they do the stage and don’t like it it may make them realize that, ‘Hey, I need to stay in school here because I don’t want to do that my whole life’, and two, it gives them different experiences and opportunities that could lead them to their career of choice. They may go on to get references and develop a work experience that so often kids don’t get.
“Given the opportunity there’s nothing these kids can’t do. Steven is a prime example. He may be limited as far as academics goes, but he is a hard working, respectful, and responsible young man that would be an asset to his employer.”
Who knows, Gear adds, Piercy may even go on to become his own boss someday.
Gear said girls also need attention and encouragement. “We just need to give them the direction to help them succeed.”
By Jen Young
June 13, 2008 |
Montreal Canadiens
