Latest news with #lifeskills
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
First Tee Scholar Natalie Cao Reflects On The Power Of Mentorship
First Tee Scholar Natalie Cao recently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where she was captain of the golf team. While she loved golf from an early age, she struggled with the independent nature of the sport until her parents enrolled her in First Tee during fifth grade. That's when she realized golf could be something more than just a competitive sport and was immediately drawn to the life skills curriculum. She quickly integrated herself into the community at First Tee – Greater Houston and began junior coaching while she was in middle school. All along, her eyes were set on the future and finding a place where she could grow as a golfer and student. Soon she found the best of both worlds: the University of Pennsylvania, where she could play on the golf team as well as pursue a degree in economics. Around this same time, Natalie applied and was accepted to the First Tee Scholarship Program. In addition to financial support and professional development opportunities, each First Tee Scholar is matched with a dedicated mentor to help them navigate their time in college and beyond. Natalie's mentor was Valerie Wong Fountain, a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley in the Firm's New York City office. Like Natalie, Valerie also played collegiate golf at the University of Pennsylvania, and she is a board member of First Tee – Metropolitan New York. The relationship between the two quickly flourished after they met in person for the first time to play golf while Natalie was visiting New York City over the summer after her freshman year. Natalie and Valerie engaged on topics ranging from career advice to leadership to negotiating offers. In addition, Valerie opened doors to opportunities at Morgan Stanley and provided additional networking experiences in the asset management industry. Throughout her time at the University of Pennsylvania, Natalie flourished academically and athletically. She completed two internships with Morgan Stanley as part of the Firm's Early Insights program and competed with the UPenn women's golf team contending for its first Women's Ivy Championship in more than a decade. Each time she competed in the Ivy Championships, Valerie attended to cheer her on. After her graduation at the end of May, Natalie moved to Miami to begin a two-year rotational program in commercial mortgage-backed securities with Rialto Capital, an investment management group. She has already been in touch with First Tee – Miami to coach and mentor the next generation of First Tee participants. Want to learn more about the First Tee College Scholarship Program and how you can get involved? Visit here.
CTV News
21-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Marginalized communities learning to swim through special program in Kitchener
Members of marginalized communities are learning a valuable and potentially lifesaving skill in Kitchener. Afropolitan Canada is hosting their third annual swimming program for BIPOC families in Waterloo Region. Over the course of eight weeks, participants meet up at pools throughout the city to address what the organization calls 'systemic inequities in access to swimming education.' 'The main purpose of this particular program was to help our community,' Rosina Amoah Agyapong, program coordinator, said. '[We] teach them about the basic swimming skills and also teach them how to prevent drowning and to be able to engage in the confidence level through swimming.' According to a 2024 survey by the Lifesaving Society, a charitable organization centred on preventing water-related injuries and drowning, most newcomers to Canada believe learning to swim is a necessary life skill, but half of all immigrants described themselves as a weak or non-swimmer. Many parents cited cost and a lack of time as barriers to enrolling their children in swim programs. Afropolitan Canada, with support from the City of Kitchener and Jumpstart, is trying to address part of that problem by offering low cost, and in some cases free, lessons. Classes focus on basic water survival skills such as treading water, surface swimming and self-rescue techniques. 'It's a roll into the water, 50-meter swim and one-metre of treading water,' Alex Geisel, Kitchener's Aquatics Supervisor, explained. 'Knowing that we're surrounded by water in southwestern Ontario and the access that we have, just making sure that everyone is aware and has those abilities to stay safe and enjoy their time, not just the in summer, but [all] year,' Geisel said. Demand has been steadily growing since the initiative's inception. In 2023, 93 people signed up for the program and, in 2024, that number grew to 178. This year, the program welcomed 197 participants while more than 250 people were on a waitlist. 'There is a lot of urgency in the area for people who aren't able to swim,' said Afropolitan Canada board chair Kayla Stephenson. 'The purpose is for us to be able to learn if we are in the water, that if we're in trouble, to be able to survive,' Stephen said. 'They do get a certificate at the end of the program and they're able to come back and learn further skills and advance their skills in the years to come.' For some families, learning new skills brings a wave of relief. 'It's reassuring,' Debbie Henry, a participant and parent, said. 'Less fear. Because kids want to be kids. They want to have fun. They're going to run poolside and if they jump in, they know how to surface, they know what to do to stay afloat. I think it's important for everyone to have swimming lessons, to be able to survive. I think it's a basic skill.' Henry has been learning alongside her children.'It's been great! I'm learning whip kick, eggbeater and all different types of survival swimming techniques. It's been good. And for my kids as well – they're building their confidence in the pool.' Organizers said they are trying to find more funding to expand the program in the years to come.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
More than 1,000 pupils take part in safety event
More than 1,000 pupils took part in a safety event designed to equip them with life skills. The Mix in Stowmarket hosted its eighth annual Crucial Crew programme, welcoming Year 6 pupils from 43 primary schools across Suffolk between June 16 and 24. Laura Saville, coordinator at Crucial Crew and part of the front of house team at The Mix, said: "Crucial Crew 2025 was a huge success. "The young people were so engaged with each session. "Over the seven days we delivered over 30 hours of youth work and 686 sessions to local primary schools. "Over 1,000 young people were able to learn about personal health and safety in a new and engaging environment." Crucial Crew aims to prepare pupils for the transition to secondary school through practical workshops led by emergency services and health professionals. Sessions covered topics such as online safety, fire prevention, and drug and alcohol awareness. The scheme is funded by Babergh and Mid Suffolk district souncils and the Suffolk Resilience Forum, a multi-agency partnership that includes the fire service, police, NHS, and environmental agencies.
CTV News
19-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
‘Fills a critical need': YWCA Lethbridge opens new long-term transitional housing program
Officials at the YWCA Lethbridge and District hope a new program can help support women and children who are looking to move beyond crisis but still face safety and stability barriers. The YWCA launched its Hope program Wednesday afternoon. 'It's that medium phase, it's that second stage where individuals that are fleeing domestic violence or have experienced gender-based violence are able to move into more stable and grounding spaces where they can truly recover,' said CEO Jill Young. The program is the first-of-its-kind in Lethbridge and will offer life skills supports and case management to women and children fleeing domestic violence. The YWCA renovated one of its floors to include individual spaces and a communal kitchen -- doubling the number of beds available. Young says the length of stay in the program will be between six to 18 months, compared to the 21 to 30-day stay at the Harbour House Emergency Shelter. 'When you've already experienced a lot of various barriers in your life – including going through a very traumatic experience – being able to jump straight into market housing can be extremely difficult, so this really fills that gap,' Young explained. 'We are able to provide that long-term stability and allow that recovery to happen.' She says once individuals join the program, space within the Harbour House will become available, allowing for more women and children to access resources and emergency supports. YWCA Lethbridge and District YWCA Lethbridge and District. The City of Lethbridge provided nearly $600,000 in capital and operational funding for the program through the federal government's Reaching Home program. 'This project represents a critical housing need in our community with transitional beds,' said Andrew Malcolm, City of Lethbridge community social development general manager. The Hope program will be able to support between 12 to 18 women and children at a time, according to Young. In 2024, the YWCA Lethbridge and District provided more than 20,000 services and supports to women and children. The YWCA will begin to accept intake referrals for the program, with capacity expected to be reached within a month. 'This is not a women problem, this is not a gender problem, this is a people problem, and we need to continue to address and face what is happening in our community and across Canada,' said Young.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Here's Why Your Teen Needs a Summer Job—and How to Get One
In the 1950s and late 1970s, teen employment reached record highs. This was for a mix of economic, social, and cultural reasons. Back then, teens worked because jobs were widely available and there was a strong cultural push for independence through work. Today, many teens are returning to summer jobs for similar reasons, especially earning money and gaining experience. However, today's teens also face more competition for college and a heavier focus on academic and extracurricular achievements, hence the lower rates of employment among 16 and 19-year-olds. With rising costs and a renewed appreciation for real-world experience, teens are balancing both worlds, bringing back a trend from decades ago that was once a rite of passage. Lissett Bohannon, suggests a summer job as a game changer for modern teens, especially because they start to understand various life skills like the importance of showing up on time. 'I had a student who was tardy all the time at school, and I noticed a huge change one year. When I asked them why, that student told me they had gotten a job over the summer and realized quickly how important it was to show up on time,' Bohannon recalls. She says it also helps teens take responsibility and work with people they might not normally interact with. 'I've seen students really come out of their shells just from having a summer job. It can also help with confidence; they learn how to talk to adults, and they start to see the value of their time. Even earning a small paycheck gives them a sense of pride and independence.' For her, it's less about the money and more about the growth that comes with it. On top of that, a summer job could be used for possible scholarship applications or as a part of their future college applications. Miriam Groom, CEO of Mindful Career, agrees, stating that summer jobs provide invaluable learning experiences beyond the typical classroom. 'Teens gain soft skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, all of which are vital for their future careers," says Groom. "Furthermore, early work experience helps teens build a professional network and gives them insight into potential career interests. Whether paid or volunteer, summer work offers essential exposure to the working world and boosts their confidence.' Jillian Amodio, LMSW, explains that summer work provides opportunities for personal growth, skill development, and mental well-being. A summer job can help build a bridge between adolescence and adulthood, provide a sense of structure, routine, self-esteem, confidence, and responsibility. 'As a social worker and youth advocate, I've seen firsthand just how beneficial it can be for teens to engage in structured, purposeful activities during the summer months, helping build a sense of autonomy and provide valuable life lessons that can't be taught in a classroom,' she says. Amodio explains that work and volunteer experience also foster a sense of purpose and community connection, which can be beneficial for mental health. especially during the often unstructured summer break. 'These experiences reinforce values like empathy, resilience, and perseverance, all while helping teens explore their unique interests and passions.' For Bohannon, the best thing she recommends is to have students look for opportunities that align with what they're already curious about or possibly interested in doing in the future. For example, she has had students interested in sports volunteer to help with soccer camps over the summer with the younger kids. She has also had students who were curious about a career in culinary work jobs in the food-care industry as bussers or waiters, just so they could get a glimpse behind the scenes of a restaurant. 'If you're not sure what you want to do yet, that's okay too,' she empathises. 'I still recommend trying something because then at least you will learn more about yourself and what you like or dislike. Even babysitting or helping a neighbor with yard work can build skills in a way you may not expect. I think the goal to remember here is that the summer job should help you learn about yourself while growing your confidence and exploring new experiences.' Groom advises that the best time to apply for a summer job is typically between March and April. 'Many employers start their hiring process in spring, so applying early gives teens a better chance to secure a job. They should focus on jobs that will help them develop transferable skills and align with their interests. Retail positions, babysitting, lifeguarding, and tutoring are classic options, but don't overlook internships, especially unpaid ones, which can provide excellent learning opportunities in various fields.' She also suggests considering community-based roles such as volunteering at local food banks, libraries, or senior centers. These experiences are just as valuable for career exploration. 'Platforms like VolunteerMatch or Idealist list volunteer opportunities across a variety of sectors,' Groom suggests. 'Volunteering is a great way to gain experience while making a positive impact in the community.' Groom further advises that many high schools and community centers offer job boards and career workshops specifically for teens. These are great resources to help teens get started. "In addition to these resources, it's important for parents to help teens stay organized throughout their job search,' she adds. 'Setting a schedule for applying to jobs, following up with employers, and tracking applications will help them stay on track.' Amodio suggests using online platforms like Indeed and LinkedIn for Students, which offer teen-friendly listings. She also highlights that local community centers and libraries often have job boards and volunteer postings, and that summer camps also often look for youth counselors to help with the busy summer schedule, so teens can start there. Bohannon advises parents to start local—library boards, community centers, nonprofits, and even their own workplace. 'Like I mentioned, my student who helped run soccer camps, he found that through the soccer club he was already playing with throughout the year. A lot of teens get opportunities through someone they already know.' 'Many of my students found opportunities by checking out websites like or They may help find local volunteering options based on interests,' she says. Furthermore, Bohannon says that parents should encourage their teens to put together a simple resume early—even if it's just school activities or volunteer experience. 'I know many students get worried about creating a resume before having work experience, but please remind them that school is their work experience, so have them build a resume based on their school accomplishments and soft skills. With a resume in hand, they will feel more confident applying, and sometimes they just need that little nugget of confidence to take the first scary step.' Read the original article on Parents
