A Scholarship named after me.

Hi everyone,

So, I was reflecting on how challenging it is for students today to pay their way through post secondary studies. I thought of how I'd like to help those in such a position.

If possible, I'd like to create the Clara Mai Yan Wong Scholarship. Valued at ten thousand dollars, this award is presented to the student who demonstrates dedication and perseverance towards achieving their childhood goals.

:) 

Male Principal teaches sewing class, Junior Achievement Student says he wants to be happy, healthy....AND Wealthy.

Sometimes, it's hard waking up for work. Especially when two out of your five working days are dedicated towards your counseling practicum.

But today's journey at work was so rewarding. It started with me finding the last ounce of java in the kitchen's coffee pot, catching a glimpse of my puffy eyes in the microwave's reflection and meeting Linda, the art teacher.

"Hi, I'm Clara. *extends hand for handshake* "I'm Linda. I teach Art."
"Oh wow. You do pottery at all? I made this mug. *points to mug*

"What, you made that mug Clara?" Well, yeah.

I explained to Linda my mug technique and she shows me her classroom afterwards.Upon seeing her teaching area, I yelled, "OH MY GOD, you have a kiln, WHAT."

"Yes, well Clara, we're going to have to get rid of the kiln due to funding cuts". It apparently costs 250,000 to operate the kiln. I expressed sadness at the loss of yet another kinesthetic/therapeutic activity in schools, but shared with Linda that I'll ask a friend if a kiln can be donated. Linda shows me the collection of items kids have made with clay and reached towards a shelf for this item:

I SQUEALED with glee as Linda handed me the mug. According to Linda, the student who made it, graduated a long time ago and has never claimed it. I think Linda sensed what I was thinking and said that I could have it. I thanked her and off I went to see which teachers needed assistance.

A few mins prior to recess, I made a pit stop to see Faye, the home economics teacher responsible for cooking and sewing. Word from the principal has it that I was responsible for teaching some hand sewing techniques to 30 students. Checking in with her, she shows me a vintage classroom (code for classroom that has been abandoned for 10 years) where heaps of sewing projects were cluttered in one pile.

I stared at the pile thinking, "Holy shit. I gotta get this shit organized before the kids rumble in". Faye laughed at some of the sewing and said that the principal, B, is responsible for teaching this sewing class.

"WHAT?"  This is my first thought. I said, "Wait, come again. Say that again? Faye laughs and says that this sewing class is actually headed by the male principal and that he would be coming in to teach it with me. I was impressed. A man who sews. I gotta see this go down and know that this will be a GOOD teaching day all right. Faye leaves me to be saying that she'll be three classrooms down teaching a cooking class.

After organizing supplies for a good 20 minutes, the kids come through the door, clamoring to find their sewing projects. Some were confused at the organization but managed to settle in. I announced to them that there were two types of scissors, one for thread and one for fabric. Amidst their listening, Principal B arrives at the door.

I guess I was mostly impressed with a dude knowing how to sew. Faye had shared with me that B's grandma taught him how to sew. The class got down to business with B and I helping various individuals with threading needles, tying knots and demonstrating a whip stitch.

In conversation, it turns out Principal B was a former police officer, corrections officer and is also a school counsellor. YAY, I thought! Another jack of all trades. We exchanged high fives for all our successes in various professions.

The day proceeded with a class of gifted students who were being introduced to entrepreneurship via the Junior Achievement program. Donald M, from the financial industry, was to arrive at the Library to do a presentation on merchandising, promotions and bookkeeping. The class was full of ideas. During introductions, they were asked to share with everyone what they would like to do as a career in the future. Answers include:

1. Engineer
2. Doctor
3. Surgeon
4. Happy
5. Professor of Astrophysics
6. Author, illustrator or cartoonist
7. Piano teacher
8. Baker, cook
9. Celebrity interviewer or optometrist.

The goal was for the whole group to come up with one business idea that will generate a profit. After brainstorming in small groups, the ideas that came up were:

1. Bake sale
2. DIY t shirts
3. Hug Elmo (this is where a student dresses up as Elmo and charges everyone 1.00 per hug).

After a tie breaker, it was decided that the group would pursue the DIY t shirts. Donald assigns groups responsible for merchandising, promotions and bookkeeping. A buzz of excitement ensues. Questions regarding, "Where are we going to get the t-shirts?" to "What does promotions mean?" are blurted out.

Promotions. I share with that group to create a design prototype and to perhaps show it off to the school via a runway show. They can lay down bricks to resemble a 'runway' for all I care.

Then I hear a student's voice in the background..."Miss Leigh? How about laying down a red carpet for the show?"

I love it when kids think out of the box.

Keep it authentic and genuine everyone.