This lunch is a launching point for recruiting mentors for Camp CEO, a project where women leaders each mentor one female student in 10th, 11th or 12th grade for just one weekend. There is a financial commitment to participate, too.
Last year was our first year and we had a wonderful weekend with 16 women and 16 girls. We want to replicate or do better this year.
Having a powerful keynote speaker would be crucial to o
ur success.I convinced Theresa Emrick, one of the members of the committee, to be the main speaker. She has a story that is so perfect for this.
You see, she was a good (A's and B's) student in a small school, when in her senior year she was told by the guidance counselor (who was also the football coach) that her dreams of further education were going to be a waste. He told her that she wasn't smart enough to make the grade. He told her to just marry the football team captain and be done with it.
Theresa obviously didn't follow this professional's advice. She has a Masters degree. She is the Director of Admissions for Nortre Dame Academy, an all girls prep school here in Toledo. She is at this position because she doesn't ever want another young girl to hear such stupid advice.
With this powerful presentation, I have no fear that we will find the 20 women who want to make a difference.
Who in your youth motivated you to reach beyond your comfort zone? And was it done with positive or negative reinforcement?
2 comments:
When I had not completed an application for college the Fall of my senior year, my high school counselor had me fill out an application to Purdue University. I remember saying, "Great. If I get in, how do I pay for it?" She then handed me an application for an Air Force ROTC scholarship.
2 months later, I was accepted into Purdue Engineering school. The next day, I received my 3.5 year full scholarship.
Last March, I thanked my counselor at her 80th birthday party. She insisted it was all my hard work. But had she not called me down to her office, I would not have applied to any colleges.
I had a "manager" at my first marketing job ask me if I was one of those "HSCB's." I was 24 and pretty naive. I had no idea what HE was talking about. So, I said, "I don't know; what is an HSCB?" "You know," he said. "A high strung career bitch." I was speechless at the time. I think I mumbled a no and left the office. (Today, I'd have a few choice words for him.)
Jerk.
On the other hand, the greatest thing I learned from this man was how NOT to manage people.
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