Approximately 125 high school girls attended a special Thursday conference conducted by the Soroptimist International of Ceres to get them thinking about career choices.
The “Dream It, Be It” event was held from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ceres Community Center.
Years ago the service club introduced the “Dream It, Be It” workshop series that focuses on helping young women in high school identify and develop a plan for achieving their dreams. Workshops focused on career exploration in the areas of medical, political science/social service, education, and psychology have been held during February and March.
Twenty occupational booths were set up representing companies and entities like E.&J. Gallo Winery, UPS, Modesto Nuts, Ceres Unified School District, California State University Stanislaus, UC Merced and Stanislaus County government.
Objectives of the “Dream It, Be It” program are to increase the number of girls who:
• Feel prepared to pursue their career goals;
• Are comfortable creating achievable goals;
• Develop the tools to overcome obstacles to reach success;
• Understand the importance of resilience;
• Connect personal values with possible careers;
• Are more confident about their future;
• Have access to professional role models.
Based on a survey of what career options the girls are interested in, panelists represented occupational fields of nursing cosmetology, education, counselors and psychology and instructional coaches.
Learning directors from the high schools identified the girls in their respective schools who would be ideal to benefit from the program and the recruited them to attend.
“It was a diverse group of students,” said event organizer Lourdes Perez, who is also a trustee of the Ceres Unified School District.
The opening session featured Dr. Christina Elviso talk about ways girls can balance stress and incorporated some activities.
The second session involved a panel from different careers on the topic of “Exploring Careers” while the third session focused on college readiness with a panel of educators. Ceres High graduate Katie Rodriguez, presently attending Modesto Junior College, related firsthand experiences of moving onto higher education.
The fourth session, “Putting Dreams into Action,” asked the participants to envision their future and the steps needed to accomplish their goals. Carroll Fowler Elementary School staff member Rachelle Garrett led a number of interactivities like human bingo.
At noon the girls were able to check out the resource booth and grab lunch provided by Ceres Unified School District’s nutrition program.
“We’ve been growing the conference every year,” said Perez. “We began small the first year, pre-COVID, and then offered virtual workshops on Saturdays since there was social distancing.”
The program fits in with the mission of Soroptimist, which is to improve the lives of girls and women in Ceres as well as offer support. The club also offers the SET (Soroptimist Empowering Teens) program at the junior high school level.
