TERRACE — Teenagers at risk of leaving school are getting work experience and help this summer from a4 nine-week pro- gram. : The organizer of the Work Orientation Workshop (WOW), Dana Tresierra, says she is try- ing to prepare the teenagers for what they’re.going to enounter.. out in the work force and to en- courage them to stay in school. “From. what I see of the kids I’m. working with, they really need the: help ‘they’ re getting,” she says. Sponsored by School District 88 and the Canada ‘Employment Student won't leave school now TERRACE — Seventeen year- old Dave Hawke has had trou- ble: ‘learning since grade 8. . “y just couldn’t understand some. of the stuff,’’ he says. Although he’s thought about " quitting. school a couple times, he says he won't, ~ ««1¢ | quit school J don’t think my friends would want to hang around with me because they'd think: I was a quitter,”’ he said. “And. if I went for a job and they knew I'd quit school they’d just think I'd quit the job ina few months anyway.” Hawke is enrolled in the Work Orientation Workshop | ‘oMn/Mrs, PMiss/M eens get wor Centre, wow ‘gives the teenagers work experience by paying them the minimum wage for five weeky of work in a business or government institu- tion, Tresierra, who took over the job this summer, says she tries to place the teenagers in better thant entry-level jobs, -and ‘has. found them employment with the City of Terrace, Greyhound Bus Lines, Deep Creek hatchery and the Terraceview Lodge among others. -- The work experience is divid- ed into two separate |.time periods which lets the teenagers come back to thie program to program, which gives work ex- perience and skills to teenagers at risk of leaving school. He said the nine-week pro- gram has helped him decide to. stay in school, gave him con- fidence and taught him about himself. “It teaches you how to have patience with everybody you work with and all your friends,’’ he said. ‘1’ ve learned to be positive; that you're going to get that job.” Having unsuccessfully hunted for a job last summer, Hawke joined the program partly because he receives wages from the work experience — install- GREAT PACIFIC MANAGEMENT discuss what they learned and ask questions. .- In addition to workshops on resume writing and interviewing skills, the teenagers are given assistance with life skills such as : decision making and ‘goal set. ting. “We help them ‘to decide what: goals they. want and how _to achieve those goals," says Tresierra who. is Golden's former community — resources co-ordinator. Many ' teenagers lack self ‘esteem, she says, so the pro- gram tries to build it up. “We get them together to ad- mit they do have gaod qualities ing cable for TK Cablevision _ which will help him insure his truck, He-feels the work experience experience | by putting them into smaller. groups and getting them to say. ‘these are the things I like about you’ to each other."* - The students are also taken on tours of different businesses to show them what kind of jobs are available — for people with and without education. “We want to’ show them what’ things they can do if they stayin - . school,”’ Tresierza said. Terrace schools refer poten- tial students to the program each year with WOW taking 10° each summer. Two dropped out before this year’s program began. verace stanaara, wednesday, July 18, 1990 — Page B3 _Aurters RECREATIONAL VEHICLES (KELOWNA) LTD. We Are Consolidating! Kelowna Inventories Back to : HUNTERS in Edmonton. PRIOR TO THIS The following will be offered at SPECIAL PRICES! ERIE Ee 4 New Class A's . 13 Used Class A’s 7 New Class C's 24 Used Class c 8 (minis) (minis) 7 New Trailers 10 New Fifth Wheels 12 Used Trailers 25 Used Fifth Wheels 3 New Campers - 30 Used Truck Campers he gets from the program, and the help with resumes and inter- viewing skills, will help get him a job when he graduates from 6 New Car Dollies — 16 Used Vans LIMITED TIME OFFER——_—_—_— school next year. _ _ What the program is really -doing is preparing us to go out - and work.’’ The class have become good friends, and WOW organizer Dana Tresierra is ‘‘more of a friend than a teacher,” Hawke Says. “It helps to have someone your own age teaching you.” omer. — 9% "rere Hwy. 97 N. — 123 Penno Road KELOWNA B.C. Telephone: 765-4000 . s1a3/Agar Averua, ‘Terrace, 8.0, -- VaG 1H4 Phone: Please send me information on Trimark tual funds. : d _. Great Pacific Management Co. Ltd. Attn: Bud Hallock: . 5133 Agar Avenue, Terrace, B.C. V8G Ht -_ "Great Pacific Branch Manager: Bud Hallock ae : anything cise We at Trimark know this to be true. 7 _ HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Once you" ¢ established a reputation as a superior’ : performer it’s difficult for people to see you as : | After 25 years of helping B. C. investors Prosper, ’ Great Pacific Management has established themselves : - as leader in offering solid financial advice. you have a lotto celebrate! “From all of.us at Trimark | INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC.