By RANIKA SANCHEZ – Staff Reporter

Young, fresh faces gathered in the East St. John bleachersin anticipation to hear how they could prepare for one of their greatest future goals – becoming successful career persons.

Saturday the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) which, among other functions, gives youths jobs at places such as Radio Shack, Family Dollar and public and private sector businesses, held a youth rally to teach young people how to accomplish this success.

For, in the past, WIA has had problems with young people listening to radios at work, talking on the telephones and not calling in if they cannot make it to work.

“The focus of this set up today is to bring to the youth some ideas on work ethic and work-ready skills so that they can retain their jobs and know how to behave in the workplace and know what employers expect of you,” said WIA Board Director Sharon Simpkins.

SPACE or skills, presentation, awareness, confidence, and enthusiasm is the key to success in the workplace, according to Saturday’s motivational speaker and owner of Models for Success, L.C.C. Sedrick Muhammad.

Muhammad gave a young man money after he completed a math problem to emphasize to the young crowd that skills can bring money and success.

He also stressed that youths must learn to present themselves in a business-like manner when applying for jobs, which means dressing appropriately.

Next in his SPACE acronym of success, he told the young people that they must have awareness of the types of people they associate with, for the wrong crowd can lead to a wrong decision when it comes to being successful in your career.

“When I was 15 I did all the same things most 15 year olds do, which is going to parties, drinking and smoking. I thought I was independent and had my own mind, but what I was doing was being like the people around me. And I was the first in my neighborhood to have a child all because I listened to other people, and they asserted pressure on me,” Muhammad expressed to the young crowd.

Becoming a father at 15 and succumbing to teenage pressure, Muhammad emphasized that teenagers must be confident in themselves to follow the right direction, no matter what others around them may say or do.

He understands that many young people in today’s society fall victim to drugs, having sex at an early age, and even living a life that involves shooting and killing. But he expressed that young people must distinguish between that lifestyle and the life of a person who wants to enjoy a successful career life. To do this, they must look beyond negative influences.

Muhammad shared a devastating experience in watching a man get shot to death, which helped him realize living a life of the streets does not equal a successful business person.

He said, “When I went to college I got a chance to see the world was bigger than the block I was on. For me to see that exposure – to see a man’s head busted open – that was real for me, but that’s how the gangsters do it” not people who are trying to pursue a successful career life.

And towards the end of his speech, he completed the SPACE acronym by telling the youth they must be enthusiastic about anything they choose to do.

After Muhammad’s speech, the young people separated into three workshop groups dedicated to budgeting, employer expectations, and dressing properly for the job.

The WIA also began it’s Work Readiness Enrichment Training Program on Monday, June 7, in which an entirely different group of young people will study work-ready ethics. This group will be given jobs next summer through WIA. One teacher will be at each high school including Hahnville, Destrehan, West St. John, East St. John, Lutcher, and St. James to teach a group of 15 young people per school.

By participating in the six-week Work Readiness Program, this group of young people will already be prepared when it comes to knowing what their employers expect of them in becoming successful career persons.