The world is your oyster.
It's a seed planted by parents in their inquisitive young children, who eventually become teenagers with a laundry list of questions about what they should be when they grow up.
In comes Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta – a charity headquartered in Calgary with seven regional offices in Southern Alberta – to help foster inquisitive minds, answer lingering questions and instil confidence for a bright future.
This will be celebrated at the annual World of Choices career forum, to be held at the Cochrane RancheHouse on April 3, with 186 confirmed students attending from grades 10 to 12 to check out the 43 career mentors and take part in round table discussions, followed by games and lunch.
"We run programs for our schools for grades 4 to 12 in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship," explained Tanya Gaillot, regional co-ordinator for the Bow West Region – which encompasses schools from Springbank to Banff.
The annual forum recruits volunteer career mentors from a range of disciplines – from journalism to mechanical engineering.
"It's busy, it's fun ... this year we have a huge turnout, more than ever before."
Career mentors are asked to share personal experiences, educational backgrounds and requirements to enter their fields and the doors opened by their experiences. The majority of mentors are local or have an established local connection.
Mentors are encouraged to bring props or literature to help students learn more about their careers of interest as they circulate between round tables for 20 minute conversations with mentors.
Keynote speaker this year is local photographer Michelle Spice.
Funding is provided by primary sponsor, the RBC Foundation, as well as the community fund from the Bow RiversEdge Campground.
To learn more visit jasab.ca.
