Fresh Perspectives

Bad Rap

We have all heard the stories about the health care professionals who don't seem to care.  I've been going through a process of a wheelchair fitting, a driver evaluation, and a fitting for a foot brace.  Hence the reason for my hiatus from blogging.  But my experience with health care people involved has been gratifying!  Every person I've dealt with, including Occupational Therapists, Physicians, Nurses, Receptionists and support people, have all become advocates for me in this transition.  The person who engineered my wheelchair and complex seating told me that the wheelchair "belongs to me"!  He takes every problem and request I have personally.  Without these advocates, this transition would be difficult at best.

I see the same advocacy among people with disabilities.  We watch out for one another!

Remember that health care professionals have a very difficult job.  Treat them right, because they perform a service none of us could live without.  And sometimes, they get a bad rap!

Excellent TED Talk

On the Presentation Zen blog, Garr Reynolds posted this TED talk.  His comments were aimed at the presentation aspects of the talk, and I must agree the talk was engaging from that standpoint.  But the content of the talk was outstanding.  Check it out.

2009 Skills USA Pennsylvania CTC Lackawanna Pics

I'm so proud to be associated with all of the students at our school.  Here are some pics of this years state Skills USA trip which I posted about the other day.

   
Strategy Session

 
At the closing ceremony

 
Shannon ready to go - What a smile!

 
Stage at closing ceremony

 
The crew - CTC Lackawanna

 
Speaker on stage

 
Kyle takes his medal

 
Entrapreneurship crew takes their gold

 
I don't think Shannon (far left) expected to win!

 
Everyone heading home

 
Back home, Kyle Dileo displays his medal

 
Entrepreneurship crew - Shannon, Ashley, Ryannon and Holly.

Congratulations to all who participated!

Entrepreneurship Competition

I'm CFO at a Career-Technical school where students from area school districts attend to acquire job and college prep skills.  Each year, students participate in Skills USA and compete with students from other schools at the district, state and national level.  This year, around 20 of our students advanced and competed at the state level.  All of them had a great time and enjoyed the experience.

This year, 4 of our students participated in an entrepreneurship competition in which they developed and presented a business plan.  Several of the staff at the school, including myself, mentored these students in preparation for the state competition.  The student's tireless preparation paid off; they won the gold medal!  Each of them received a scholarship at Penn Tech College as a result of their efforts.  Also, they now get to compete at the national level in Kansas City in June.  The students are (from left) Shannon Cawley, Ashley Hiller, Ryannon Boyle and Holly Demianovich. 

The amazing thing is that none of these students had any business experience a month ago!  In a short time, they developed an excellent plan, and the materials they presented were outstanding.  I am proud to be associated with these fine individuals.  Their work was an inspirational.  Congratulations to them and all of the students involved.  These are our future leaders!