Thursday's Internet Edition, December 04, 2008.
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WORK ETHICS CLASS – Eight Hamilton teenagers will com-plete a two-week work ethics class taught by Emily Dossey. They have toured a number of local businesses and heard guest speakers who have given them valuable information about in-dustries in Hamilton. A few of the things they learned included how to prepare a resumé, fill out job applications and perform a job search. Students who complete the course will be awarded a certificate in recognition of their success. Pictured are (l-r) Emily Dossey, instructor, Jimmy Quigg, Ethan Chorenziak, Randy Porter, Anthony Allen, Isaac Partain, Jes-sica Wagner, Jessica Ford and Jamie Bolton.
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“In class we have learned that we shouldn’t settle for doing less than the best,” said Isaac Partain, who recently heard the phrase used as an excuse by a co-worker. Ethan Chorenziak agreed, stating that he has realized that there are benefits to giving your best to a job that include personal fulfillment, raises, bonuses and recognition in the workplace.
The Work Ethics short course is taught by Emily Dossey, and her students are Partain, Chorenziak, Jessica Wagner, Jessica Ford, Jamie Bolton, Randy Porter, Anthony Allen and Jimmy Quigg.
Ford and Bolton worked together to summarize their experience with their first week of class. They wrote:
This class has taught us to be better employees. We have also got our name out for networking, which gives us a step-up on the other teenagers in our community.
It has expanded our thinking of the typical employee today. We’ve learned to be harder, more focused workers. All in all, this experience has been very good for us.
Instructor Dossey wholeheartedly echoed the girls’ thoughts on networking. “This group is getting to meet with the head honchos of the businesses,” she said. “Most of the time you can’t just go and ask to speak with the head of the business, but this class has the opportunity to meet them face to face.”
Top representatives of a number of Hamilton businesses have taken time to host tours for the class or speak with them during their class time in their first week. Some of the busi-nesses include Kool Beans; K-6, Hamilton Electric Co-Op, Alco, Dove Hill, Wenzel’s Lonestar Meat, Riley Gardner Monument and Alexander Moulding Mill.
During their second week of class they will hear from or tour Hamilton Hospital, Extraco Bank, Six Spokes Signs, Wat-son’s Farm and Ranch, Peder-son’s Natural Farms, Cross Fire Café and Lawrence Brothers.
Some of the topics covered in the class include job interest, job search, resumes, applica-tions, interviews and job suc-cess.
In addition to learning valu-able lessons to take with them into the workforce, students are paid a stipend for attending the class.
This is not the first time Dossey has used the curriculum she is teaching her students. She was an instructor at the Central Texas Workforce in Temple where she used the curriculum with adults on public assistance.
“That was disaster control, this is preventative,” she said. “It is our goal to have these young people get into a job and never have to depend on public assistance.”
The pupils have all had jobs in the past, including babysitting and working at local grocery stores and restaurants. Dossey has taught them the value of their transferable skills, helping them realize that although they may have performed limited jobs thus far, they have already developed many skills that can be used in other occupations.
That knowledge will serve the students well, as they each have ideas about what they would like to have as a career. Wagner hopes to be an artist or write a novel, Bolton plans a career in law and Ford wants to be a chiropractor.
Chorenziak hopes for a career in film editing after he finishes a stint in the Navy, Allen will work toward becom-ing a chef, Partain hopes to work in the auto body paint and repair industry while Quigg aspires to be a rock star and have a music label.
Besides learning valuable skills and information that will apply to their future careers, the group has had a lot of fun and will be awarded a certificate for successful class completion.
Many have developed per-sonal goals and shared memorable quotes. Quigg, never shy about sharing his thoughts, be-lieves that in order to make progress, you should always follow things that are moving forward. He summed up his work ethic with his own per-sonal motto, “success never happens to the wrong person.”