The Northeast Minnesota Office of Job Training’s summer youth employment program is drawing to a close. The office reports the season is ending on a positive note with a number of success stories.
Zachary Wood, a 16 year-old International Falls teen, worked his summer at the Rainy River Community College. It was a convenient location for a youth with limited mobility. His mother, Tammy, works in the same building, as does his career counselor, Carol Stegmeir, at the WorkForce Center located in RRCC.
The WorkForce Center offered Wood a summer on a college campus, in what it called an environment of supportive and encouraging people. His various duties included shredding the massive amounts of paper that have been piling up in RRCC offices over the years.
Wood says he has learned about attendance and how to use his time efficiently at work. Stegmeir added that she is happy with the way the program has benefited Wood.
“Zach is our official shredder and he is a great addition to our staff,” said Tammy Cook, an RRCC employee. “Our goal was for Zach to be able to make some money and get out of the house. But he is gaining some valuable work experience, too.”
Now with a little more free time before the start of his sophomore year at Falls High School, Wood wants to enjoy the rest of summer on a pontoon boat and some time to play video games.
Briana Larsen, a Big Falls teenager with limited mobility from cerebral palsy, also reports finding a good match with a summer youth job through the WorkForce Center at Northwood’s LB Foods in Big Falls. The position was created through the collaboration of her career counselor, Sue Fraik and her supervisor Karen Baird.
“At first, it was more teaching than working,” Baird said. “I want to let her get good at one thing before we move on to the next.”
A big accomplishment for Larsen was learning to work the register.
“I learned to count change, and now I can work the till myself,” she said. “Running the till is my favorite part of my job — that and visiting with customers.”
Larsen also learned about the importance of good customer service. Baird says she is impressed with her progress and hopes to have her back next summer.
“It frees up my time to have her here,” Baird said. “Plus she’s patient with me, and she is always so eager to help.”
Larsen is excited to start her senior year at Big Falls High School. Fraik said she hopes to guide her through the transition from high school to college, where Larsen plans to take computer courses.
For more information about the youth program, or any other program offered by the Northeast Minnesota Office of Job Training, call 1-800-325-5332, or visit the Web site at www.jobtrainingmn.org. Fraik and Stegmeir can be reached at 283-3436.