Youth Day career fair

Young people between the ages of 15 and 19 attended a Youth Day career fair at Weltevreden Methodist Church on June 16. Hosted by STINT (Supporting Those In Need Together) there were career talks and advice from several professionals from different sectors of the economy.

Keith Goslett explained how he began his career as a chef by washing pots and pans, and learning how to clean and keep his work station neat. “Being a chef is not glamorous; it is hard work and not everybody can do it. Not everybody has the heart to serve people. You have to be versatile, you can’t just learn one way of cooking. It is not always about cooking, I spend more time planning. Start right and finish right.”

From architecture, marketing, security and emergency services, all the invited professionals had one resounding message for the youth; one should come from a place of passion. While going to university and getting a degree may not be the only way – going into any career takes passion.

Melanie du Plessis from Genric Insurance said it is okay to embrace that you might not know what you want to do. “That’s okay. At your age it is not easy to decide what you want to do. When I was younger, I wanted to be a hairdresser with long nails,” she shared as the room rumbled with giggles. “I didn’t make it but the journey never stops. I just completed my master’s in HR management. Embrace right now that you might not know what you want to do.”

Lecturer at Wits, Gift Nemukula advised the young audience not to take the opportunities at the fair for granted. “Make useful friends, don’t try to fit in, and always take care of your mental health. I enrolled for a BCom Law, but I got into insurance and risk management in my second year, and I fell in love with it. I started attending seminars, so don’t squander this opportunity.”