While I was there, a woman (Ms. Regina) began to speak. She spoke about many things, but her main focus was always on the organization that she was the Executive Director of, the East Oakland Youth Development Center. She mentioned that she employed teenagers at the organization and was trying to instill leadership skills into them to make them and their community better. That was all my step dad needed to hear. After the panel was over, he introduced himself to her and inquired about the opportunities available to people my age. My instructions from her were to show up to the Center for orientation for the summer program they were having. The next Wednesday, I had my first job orientation. That orientation led to summer employment, which lead to employment the following summer, which in turn led to my current year-round part-time job.
During my employment at EOYDC, I have held two different positions: Summer Youth Leader and Computer Technology Assistant. These two jobs, though different in many ways, required some of the same things: responsibility, the ability to think on your feet, and communication skills.
Responsibility is the main key to any job, and the two positions I held were no different. As a Youth Leader, I was required to supervise children during the day for 6 weeks. I had to make sure they were safe, where they were supposed to be, and that they were learning. I also had to work with other teenagers to make sure this got done. The cooperation and effectiveness of our group was shown based upon our level of responsibility. If we were irresponsible at any point in our job, that could have resulted in people getting hurt, lost, or even kidnapped, especially on our field trips. As a result of the responsibility that I showed during one of the two summers I spent as a Youth Leader, I was awarded the Youth Leader of the Year Award.
As the Computer Technology Assistant II, I have a different kind of responsibility. I am responsible for taking pictures at various events, creating promotional fliers and collages, teaching classes, generating monthly reports, supervising the youth computer instructors, and providing other staff assistance whenever needed. I have had to take on more responsibility than I ever have, and I am grateful for that. It has helped me learn prioritizing and to take seek out even more responsibility. I also learned how to be ready for anything, small or large. It has also helped me work efficiently to get things done, meet deadlines, and satisfy my employers without running myself into the ground.
The essential part to all of this is communication skills. The better the communication, the faster I can get things done. I have learned how to articulate what is needed properly so that I can do things in a timely manner without a bunch of unnecessary obstacles. With these lessons, responsibility, communication, and the ability to think on my feet, I have become the young woman that I am today.
I have met a lot of people and formed a lot of friendships here. I have also bonded with a lot of the children that come to EOYDC. It feels good to walk into the building and be greeted with a chorus of hellos. I enjoy working with people my own age while learning lessons that I can use for the rest of my life. I am glad I was “compelled” to go to that panel, because without it I may have never been a part of EOYDC and I may have never learned all of
the valuable skills that I have acquired today.
-Janiece Clark, Computer Technology Assistant II