Eden Valley Employment Training Program

(Grassroots Page 5)

Contributing writer: Kenneth Amiotte-Dixon
January 2011 is the beginning of a new year, the beginning of many changes for people everywhere, but one thing for sure has remained constant: the successes of the Eden Valley Employment Training Program. The class has had its lows and highs, but lately everything has been really good. We are learning new things about ourselves that we never would have known.
We learn our strengths, and how to apply them to the everyday situations as well as making a professional resume and specifically tailoring it to the type of employment we seek.
We were all just random people in the beginning, not knowing what to expect. That has all since changed. We are now all best friends encouraging each other to push ourselves harder and excel, to succeed, and we all know now why we are here.
Now that we have completed one third of the program, we are popping the clutch and kicking it into high gear as the work is more intense, but we are all ready and willing. Learning used to be dull, lifeless, boring. Now it's exciting, sharp and full of life, like a child on Christmas morning. Everyone is animated and eager to learn. The certificates and respect for ourselves and each other is filling up quickly, yet there is always room for more.
We are gaining recognition about our positive classroom, even from outside sources such as The Gateway Gazette, rather than negative things such as crime and court dates. We all look forward to graduation in April and encourage everyone to sign up for the next program in September.
A few of the many certificates we have worked hard for and earned, are currently earning and will earn in the near future are:
    Personal Development
    Personal Finance & Budgeting
    Stoney History
    Goal Setting
    Medicine Wheel
    Career Force Coaching
    Nutrition
    Life Works Counseling & Training
    Natural Healing
    Therapeutic Counseling
    Values & Traits
    Functional Resumes
    Anger Management
    Cover Letters
    Time Management
It may seem irrelevant now, but employers look for little things like this that show your dedication and work ethics. These will greatly benefit us in anything that we do, even in our everyday lives. The feeling of completion and earning these certificates is not an overwhelming one, but rather a sense of pride that can't be taken away.