Crystalyn Whitaker

The scaffolded approach to these skills is wonderful. Going out into the workforce with a career versus a job truly can be overwhelming. By reminding students through intentional reflection, it will not seem so scary. 

Problem solving and trouble shooting are most definitely important components of the career training process. People lose jobs for character and skills well before simple book knowledge. They have got to learn how to apply what they know, not just regurgitate for the sake of passing an exam.

Culture is the essence of a program and one of the greatest indicators of its success and longevity. If people are serious and committed, the mishaps that come will amount to very little in the long run because of everyone's devotion to the program working. Reminders of what our purpose for being here is can help us all refocus on what is important. That's the healthiest culture to foster: one of focus and priority.

I have really enjoyed the learning thus far. So much so that I have used some of the knowledge in my customer service class. The graphic with the percentages of employers' complaints about soft skills really opened my eyes to how the lack thereof is much more far reaching than the local issues we complain about. Globally, soft skills are at a deficit. I am glad this training is reminding me that we have to explicitly teach soft skills, in the same way we explicitly teach hard skills, because we cannot assume that all students know.