Junior high school students exposed to career "discovery" (06/30/96)

Junior high school students exposed to career "discovery"

by Maria Koropecky

TORONTO - Imagine building a working rocket, witnessing a live news broadcast, or learning the tricks of computer animation. These were just some of the exciting workshops recently offered to Ukrainian junior high school students in Toronto.

Organized by Nell Nakoneczny from the Ukrainian National Federation's Community Center Library, the second annual March Break Career Discovery Week showed students what kind of career opportunities exist for them. "We wanted to introduce children to non-traditional, creative careers."

Thirteen seminars, taught by Ukrainian professionals from the Toronto area who volunteered their time, also covered topics such as haute cuisine, sports journalism, interior design, newspaper reporting, film and TV scripting, creative science, home building, fashion design, professional coaching and photography. Some workshops were conducted in the UNF's library at 267 College St. downtown, but many were presented in the actual setting of the volunteer instructor's workplace.

"We went to Global TV and saw how the 'News at Noon' was produced," said student Anna Pokotilo. The students watched the live broadcast, met a few celebrities and got a tour of the studio. "I'm thinking of becoming a reporter on TV," said Anna. "Either that or a newspaper journalist."

The students also went on site to the [local daily] Toronto Sun and saw the steps involved in producing a daily newspaper. They watched Sun reporter Marianna Lewyckyj write an article on "Taking a byte out of taxtime," and then read it a few hours later in print - hot off the press.

This year, 55 students participated in the program, with only those from grades 6, 7 and 8 invited, according to the organizer, Ms. Nakoneczny, "because this is the time when they start thinking about careers."

"It was an exciting experience," said student Mark Shumelda. "It was a good way of learning professions by doing hands-on activities." Mark's favorite workshop was the rocket-building class. "In mid-April, our teacher [Taras Tataryn] will take us to a park and we'll be able to launch them, he said."

Thirteen students signed up for the photography seminar taught by freelance photographer Ola Sirant. Armed with cameras and black and white film, the students set off to cover the Kensington Market beat near the UNF Hall. The kids' assignment was to study the character of the neighborhood (one of Toronto's most vibrant and picturesque), and to document a few hours of life in the market.

Ihor Andrusieczko enjoyed taking a picture of a squid, while Michael Szubelak liked capturing "a cat sitting on fruit."

"From the photography class," Ms. Nakoneczny explained, "the children will learn to appreciate and analyze what is a good picture...They may choose to pursue photography as a vocation, but they may choose to pursue it as a hobby, and use it in home situations," said the program director.

Justyna Szarek attended several workshops over the weeklong program held March 9-13, including haute cuisine, broadcast news, the front page, photography and fashion design. "I want to become a fashion designer when I grow up," Justyna said. "I learned a lot about how to pursue the career."

The instructor of the interior design workshop, Irka Sochaniwska, a graduate of the Domus Academy of Design in Milan, was impressed by her charges. "They really showed a great perception of space," said Ms. Sochaniwska. "A vast amount of thought went into [the plans the children made], and they took it upon themselves to do a lot of work outside the program."

The class was held in two parts, and the students learned how to design a home office by making a scale model. "I loved designing," said Bianca Kwasnycia. "I think I will go along that line and see what happens."

Computer animation was the most popular workshop. Two separate groups visited Rick Kogucki at Alias Software. They practiced creating and animating their own computer images.

At the end of the jam-packed week, the students, teachers, volunteers and parents were invited to an open house at the library. All of the finished projects, including computer animation posters, black and white photographic contact sheets, a wooden model house and the orange model rockets were displayed.

Ms. Nakoneczny had words of high praise for the many adult volunteers who also assisted by joining every group and making sure that, for instance, transporting students to and from the satellite classrooms was taken by someone other than the instructor.

The UNF librarian singled out the sponsoring firms and professionals for recognition. "They gave up their time in order for children to learn from a professional. It certainly gives an indication that the community is behind the workshops," Ms. Nakoneczny said.

"[The children] learned quite a lot. They had access to things they wouldn't have normally," said parent Bohdan Leschyshen.

| Home Page |