By. Ser Connolly
From early ages we’ve been asked the question by parents, teachers, even strangers: “What are you going to do when you grow up?” Of course, when you’re younger it may be a pretty lighthearted question, but as you approach the time of “growing up” it becomes stressful, and your childhood dream job probably doesn't seem so realistic anymore. It's easy to try your hardest not to think about it and procrastinate, but with the support that our school can give you, it's really not worth it to put it off. Springwater is not shy about the programs we have to help students academically and otherwise. To get more information on these programs and opportunities, I talked to the school counselor Mrs. Centurion.
Springwater students are encouraged to volunteer, but a lot of us don’t know where to start. There are many options our school offers us to get involved, including but not limited to, Youth Advisory Council, Multnomah Youth Commission, Cadet Teaching, and Outdoor School:
Youth Advisory Council is a group of 15-20 high school students from Gresham Barlow, Reynolds, and Centennial school districts who meet twice a month to discuss, learn and advise on city operations and projects. Mrs. Centurion said, “We also want to push kids into YAC, they work on changing policies and also student voice, which I believe is very important.”
Multnomah Youth Commission is for people ages 13-21 who live in Multnomah County and the city of Portland who strive to provide a voice for youth in the City and County.
Cadet Teaching is a class here at Springwater that offers students the chance to go to Hogan Cedars and help teachers and students alike. Mrs. Centurion mentions that even though Cadet Teaching is primarily for seniors and juniors, select freshmen and sophomores could get in. She adds, “It sort of feels like a job to the kids that go over there in terms of discipline, showing up, taking initiative, all those sorts of soft skills that you need.”
Outdoor School counseling is an opportunity for students from 10th to 12th grade to get outside and help younger kids, and you can earn credits!
Additionally, you can talk to Mrs. Centurion personally to find more specific volunteer jobs for you based on what you’re planning on studying or what you’re interested in. There's a reward for your good deed! “Kids can earn .5 credit for every 50 hours of volunteer work.“ said Centurion.
Finally, our school gives students many opportunities to get out and be active in the community with career based field trips, equity meetings, and community care days. These field trips include going to places like Mckenna Metal to learn about the metal fabrication industry, and Aveda Institute in Portland to learn about Cosmetology.
If you're interested in learning more please visit Springwater's website at https://www.gresham.k12.or.us/sths