iLead:
In the past year I have attended many conferences. I am a Senior in high school and last year I chose a class called iLead, iLead is a brand new cutting edge course, teaching hard skills, soft skills, and life skills. This has helped me so that I am on my feet to succeed professionally once I graduate from high school. Not only was taking this class an amazing choice but there has been some amazing events that happened in the 2016-2017 iLead class. In the 2016 half of this class we held a morning mentors meeting, during this we partnered up with different community business leaders, during this time you networked and learned more about each other. By attending and being a part of this program it helped me and other classmates to better our communication skills and network with business professionals. Networking is the #1 way of finding a job. By taking this class and participating in these different events it will be a huge benefit for my future.
Traveling:
Every year my family tries to travel to some place new. I have been to Florida, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Hilton Head, South Carolina multiple times. This is a time for me to take some time to learn and enjoy many places I travel. Since its my senior year we are planning another trip this spring break, I hope it is Hilton Head, South Carolina. That is my favorite place to visit, from its wonderful communities, warm weather, good food, shopping, to great weather and fabulous beaches. Although the Carolina’s are stunning i really enjoy taking time and traveling up north. Its very peaceful up there.
Working:
Within the past two years my grandmother has been the owner of McFadden Coffee Company in Dansville, NY. While she has needed help there I have had the honor to help her out being a clerk and greeting and taking orders when customers come through the door. This has been a great experience for me to learn communication, team work, and respect. The past two Christmases we have been open later for a village Christmas, from this village event I have been able to become stronger in organizational and time management skills. When the line of people is out the door you have to be very fast with soft skills such as counting change and being able to talk to different characters of people. It has been an amazing experience to learn all of this from a close relative, to be able to be more comfortable in the future workplace I choose to work in. Also, in the summer of 2017 I worked for The Winners Circle, an ice cream business. By working for my grandma I have grasped experience that benefited me in the workplace of customer service.
Conferences/Leadership meetings:
I have been to many leadership conferences, everyone I have been to are life changing. They teach you life skills to be successful. There was a SPARK leadership conference I attended for two days at Harbor Hotel in Watkins Glen, NY. In this conference I had the opportunity to meet with different business leaders. One of the sessions I participated in was “Branding Yourself,” which is very important in everyday life. The owner of Three Brothers winery/brewery was the speaker at this session. Dave Mansfield is a driven “I will” kinda guy. The Three Brothers umbrella owns and produces over 30 wines, 10 beers, 4 hard ciders, 3 sodas, and on his way to sell cold brewed coffee that will soon be sold in Wegmans. This product was launched the day he came to speak. This is a family business produced In 2006, Three Brothers has three distinctly branded wineries and a microbrewery on there property. “Passion, Heart, and Soul,” said, Dave Mansfield. That is what you need to be successful. Have Passion for what you do, have heart to do it and soul to believe in yourself and product. Dave Mansfield made me believe its okay to be different, its okay to go above and beyond what other people think. “There’s a lot of ways to be successful, choose the one you love.”
