Passport to Prosperity

Speech delivered by Michelle Murray, Breakfast with the Mayors Spring 2003

Good Morning,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for attending today. I feel that the launch of Passport to Prosperity is extremely important and it is great to see so many of you here this morning. I cannot begin to say how excited and proud I am to be the Coordinator for Passport Prosperity Coordinator at HIEC. I truly believe in this initiative and feel that the opportunity to take part in schooltocareer/P2P is invaluable to both employers and students.

Pathways are very important to students since they show the variety of ways to reach a destination. For that reason, I would like to take a moment to describe my own pathway to this point in my career. In high school, I was quite unsure as to what I wanted to do after graduation. I had always enjoyed the social science classes so I decided to look into a degree in Sociology. That fall, I attended Guelph University where I completed a degree in Sociology. After finishing my degree, I felt I was ready to join the workforce. For the next several months I applied to all sorts of different job postings but to no avail. I did not even receive an interview. I was extremely frustrated and felt that I was never going to find a job. It was at that point that I visited Sheridan College and saw that they offered a diploma program in Human Services Administration with a cooperative learning component. I decided that this would be an ideal way to gain some experience in the field I wanted to work in.

I did my co-op placement at a large not for profit in Mississauga, where I was fortunate enough to work with a professional, caring staff who believed in experiential learning. The highlight of my placement was being under the supervision of a woman who would become more to me than just a supervisor. This woman believed in my capabilities and gave me projects that I could gain tangible skills and experience in. She encouraged me when I was down, taught me about professionalism and offered advice that made me want to surpass any expectations I set for myself. This woman became my mentor and helped me to become ready for the work force.

This is why Passport to Prosperity is so important on the most basic of levels; it encourages and instills confidence in students who are in need of experience for the workforce. Not only do students gain work experience, but they also receive an opportunity to grow and learn from those who are qualified in each of their fields. I can honestly say that throughout my path of education, the experiential learning aspect taught me the most. I believe that every student deserves this kind of an opportunity and it is my goal to encourage as many employers as possible to take part in the Passport to Prosperity initiative.

Passport to Prosperity is a mutually beneficial relationship in which both the student and employer win. Through my own story, I have described some of the benefits for students who take part in coop, but it is important to illustrate the benefits to the employers as well. Under the initiative of Passport to Prosperity, employers have the option of offering a variety of work place experiences. Programs range from short term, one-day events such as career talks, to having a student take part in a company for a whole semester. This way, employers can select the option that best suits them and their company. One way everyone can encourage experiential learning in the short term is by taking part in job shadowing such as in,‘Take our kids to work day’ where children accompany their parents to work to see what their workplace is all about.

Passport to Prosperity gives employers the chance to build the talent pool for their future employees. Employers can create better prepared workers, therefore reducing recruiting, hiring and training costs while enhancing the work ethic in students. Additional benefits include better morale in employees since they gain new leadership and interpersonal skills and enjoy the enthusiasm of the youth. Work experiences reinforce the organization’s commitment to its workers and their families, by benefiting the community.

For all these reasons and more, I feel that Passport to Prosperity is something each and every employer in Canada should be a part of. I encourage you to spread the message of Passport to Prosperity and to consider the benefits of experiential learning. In each of your packages you will find a Passport to Prosperity pledge form and an information pamphlet that outlines Passport to Prosperity in more detail. I hope that all of you will take the time to read the materials and explore how each of you could contribute to PtoP. If you have any questions or are interested in learning more about P2P please contact me so we can discuss matters further. I am truly determined to make this coming school year full of more experiential learning opportunities than ever before. The bottom line is that when students make a successful transition from school to work, it’s good for all of us – our society, our economy, our workplaces and, most of all our students.

Thank you and enjoy the rest of this morning.

For more information on Passport to Prosperity, visit this information page. Also check out School to Career for Passport to Prosperity information useful for students, parents and employers.