Careers & Cookies Kick Off

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
 
It’s a common question. Students at Windsor Central Middle School will soon be able to not only answer the “what”, but also the “why” and the “how”. On Friday, Visions Federal Credit Union President & CEO Tyrone Muse helped the District kick off the Careers and Cookies series at the School.
 
Each Friday during the school year, the Middle School will host a local professional who will share their professional pathway with students and answer questions about their job. 
 
Ty Muse standing with a microphone in front of a stage 
 
On Friday, Muse shared his story. He told students how he was a heavily recruited basketball player in high school until an injury his junior year left him temporarily paralyzed and permanently off the radar of the top programs in the country that had been courting him. 
 
“Right then, right there I started thinking what I would do next to deal with the rest of my life,” said Muse.
 
He focused on track & field and earned a scholarship to Northeastern University. He also kept a positive attitude, even when his injury changed his path.
 
“I always kept my sense of humor. In the hospital, I made the nurses laugh. Then the doctor came in and I made him laugh,” said Muse. “Every time I met someone I thought was successful I’d ask them how they got there, how much money they made, and I always kept my sense of humor.”
 
His networking and skill “bringing value to every relationship I have” led him to the chance to become a CEO. It’s a chance he almost didn’t take.
 
“When I was offered my job, I said no. Do you know why?” Muse asked the students. “I was scared. A lot of times in life we don’t try because we’re afraid we won’t achieve at a certain level. You’re going to be afraid to try. Don’t be afraid to fail.”
 
A group of Middle School students seated in an auditorium 
 
The first such Careers and Cookies session will take place on Friday, November 2nd when a financial professional from Visions will speak about the finance industry and nature of the job.
 
“It seems interesting to see the careers I could possibly do in the future and see what I might want to do,” said 7th grader Kayley Hayes.
 
“I want to be able to have my own business. Obviously, I’ll be able to take something out of (the program),” said 7th grader Amariah Argro, who would like to open a dance studio one day.
 
The Careers and Cookies series is part of the District’s Future Ready Knights program, which provides students with opportunities to explore seven career fields of interest: Agriculture, Business/Finance, Computer Science, Education, Engineering, Health Care and Trades. 
 
Through partnerships developed with local employers, students will have the ability to learn about career options, tour local businesses, receive hands-on training and begin to build their own professional network.
 
“You have an opportunity that I don’t know any other school anywhere offers,” Middle School principal Kevin Strahley told students. “You have an opportunity to learn and to grow. Take advantage. Even if you don’t follow down a particular career path, you’ll become a better person.”
 
Prior to sessions with local professionals, students will learn about the importance of “soft skills” such as proper eye contact, a firm handshake and being punctual. They will also learn facts about different industries represented during the Careers and Cookies series, such as the education needed, median salary, local employers and job forecast for different professions.

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