Youth First program prepares students for workforce

Youth First participants

The students of Winlock High School have many amazing opportunities to help them succeed. One of these is the program Youth First.
Youth First is a program run through Vancouver-based non-profit Partners in Careers. It is currently funded by the Winlock School District, though it was originally funded by the United Methodist Church. This is the program's first year in Winlock, and it is the only such program run through Partners in Careers in the local area.

Mrs. Zabrinna Wickert is the advisor of the program, and this is her first year in charge of it. Her goals for Youth First are to teach the students job skills and help them get job experience.

Wickert heard about the program from a friend and thought it would a great opportunity for the community. She is from Winlock and saw this as a great way to give back.

"I joined because I thought it would be a good program to help me determine my career path, since I knew about the internships, and I thought it would be fun," said Maggie Howsden, a member of Youth First.

"It helps prepare you for getting and keeping a job," added Rachael Annonen, a junior at Winlock, " I really enjoy the workshops and hanging out with my friends ... and the food."

"The workshops I have been able to make are fun and so are the classes ... We have a blast," Howsden further contributed.
Youth First provides students with many tools to help them enter the real world running, not only through internships, but also by assisting them with other aspects of the job search process, such as the do's and don'ts of resumes.

All in all, the Youth First program is a great way for students to get ready for the future in a friendly setting.