Girls told to dream it, be it at CB Tech
Charles H. Featherstone/Columbia Basin Herald Bryn Hulbert sits and works with Maddi Dale (16), Bethany Von Linsowe (16), Caitlin Christie (15), and Alexis Alaniz (17) at the Dream It, Be It career event at CB Tech on Saturday.
MOSES LAKE — If you can dream it, you can be it.
That’s what Janet Huber told a group of young women meeting at Columbia Basin Technical Skills Center Saturday morning to explore careers and consider their futures.
“Think about your dreams,” she told the assembled junior high school and school students — some of whom came from as far away as Othello and Mattawa to be inspired.
“Consider where you want to be in 10 years. Where are you and who are you surrounded by?” asked Huber, an optometrist at the Columbia Basin Eye Clinic. “There are lots of opportunities for girls, and dreams can serve as a motivation for the future.”
The young women at the Soroptomist-sponsored “Dream It, Be It” career support event learned how to create achievable goals, handle stress, deal with adversity, and recover from setbacks. And, of course … dream.
“I want to travel the world, see different things,” said 17-year-old Moses Lake High School student Alexis Alaniz, who wondered what kind of career could take her across the globe.
Alaniz sat a table with three other young women and a mentor, Bryn Hulbert, who works as a production assistant for Monsanto in Warden. The other three girls, all students at Moses Lake High School, already knew what they wanted to do.
“I want to be a forensic scientist,” said 16-year-old Maddi Drake, who said she’s already starting focusing on medical careers.
Fifteen-year-old Caitlin Christie said she always wanted to be a teacher, and maybe a photojournalist on the side.
“And I just want to be a mom, a normal American mom,” she added.
Bethanee Von Linsowe, 16, said she’s wanted to be a paramedic since she was six years old.
“It’s just a tradition in my family,” she said. “It’s important for me to follow that.”
Rather than take aptitude tests, and focus on what they might be good at, the girls took an inventory of their values — things that are important to them, their families, and where they differ with the beliefs and practices of the community around them — and then looked at the kinds of careers possible, given what they believe.
Alaniz valued being creative and independent, suggesting “artistic” careers might suit her best.
“Do these kinds of jobs allow you to travel?” she asked.
“Oh yeah,” Christie responded. “There’s art all over the world.”
“If your work clashed with your values, you might not be able to remain committed and engaged,” said Carrie Nordberg, a human resources specialist in Moses Lake. “That’s how people get into trouble with work.”
Nordberg is a big believer in making sure work and career fit personality and values, and told the gathered young women that every one of the jobs she has held in her life have fit her referred career types.
“If you’re wired for something, do it,” she added.