BY KERI CHAMPION

Staff Reporter

GARYVIILLE- Garyville/Mt. Airy Middle Magnet School is out to empower and instruct young women about being role models for respect and responsibility in the community.

A new organization called ‘Girls on the Move’ was recently formed at Garyville Magnet. The mission of Girls on the Move is to teach young girls respect, responsibility and etiquette and how to be a lady so they can become successful young women.

&#8220This is a realized dream of principal Kelli Joseph to bring together a group of young ladies and teach them how to hold themselves responsible for their own actions and success,” said Paula Henderson, a parent of one of the students in the organization. She is also the sponsor for the organization and volunteers her time to be a part of it.

&#8220I am happy to be a part of Girls on the Move. We are working hard to encourage positive behaviors through the program,” she said.

Girls on the Move recently held their first event, a Career Day Program that featured young college women and professionals who exemplify the positive role that women can play in their communities.

Speakers included, Beverly Harris of St. John Parish Schools, Judge Mary Becnel Hotard, Judge Madeline Jasmine and Danette O’Neal, a real estate broker both in Louisiana and Atlanta, Georgia. O’ Neal will be named to the Federal Reserve early next year by President George W. Bush.

Speakers stressed the importance of keeping a positive attitude so that girls can accomplish anything they set their mind to.

&#8220If you speak in a positive manner and envision positive things, then they will become a reality,” O’Neal said.

Judge Becnel related her story of success when she started out by saying, &#8220It has not been easy for me to get where I am today. It’s never easy to become successful.”

Becnel said she started out as a secretary and then a court reporter and when she went into the courtroom that first day her first thought was, &#8220This is where I want to be and what I want to do.”

From then on, she worked hard to go to college and then law school at night to get to her place in life.

Judge Jasmine’s message was simple. &#8220Strive to be extraordinary everyday. After all, who wants to be ordinary.”

She said to become the extraordinary person they want to be, girls must step up and take responsibility.

&#8220On Saturday morning, don’t just sleep late or watch TV. Get up and do something to improve yourself everyday,” Jasmine said.

Other speakers like college students Miyagi Henderson and Ashley Scioneaux said that you must be committed to education to reach your goals.

There were many speakers who were in science-related fields, including Jimmie Gordon, an architectural engineer and a respiratory therapist. Speakers told the girls that they will need many skills to compete in the job market.

Members of the Girls on the Move also shared their goals in life with the speakers and were encouraged to keep looking ahead to the future.