The Tribune

MORE than 150 Senior High students attended the 5th Annual Workforce Readiness Boot Camp, sponsored by the Career and Technical Education Section of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in conjunction with the Culinary and Hospitality Management Institute (CHMI) of the College of the Bahamas and the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA).

“Poised for Success Thinking Outside the Box” was the theme for the two-day seminar staged for the high schoolers to learn about employment expectations and have an opportunity to speak with industry professionals. The students heard from representatives from the hotel and tourism industry, the financial services sector, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Bahamas Telecommunications Company and the College of the Bahamas.

Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Education brought remarks on the second day of the seminar. Minister Fitzgerald told the students that they must prepare themselves well to embrace the opportunities that will be offered to them.

“Good manners and a good attitude are the most important elements to achieving success”, he said. The Minister stated that discipline, commitment and the willingness to become a lifelong learner are characteristics that the students will find beneficial to their progress in the workplace.

Frank Comito, executive vice-president of BHTA, pointed out to the students that job opportunities in the Tourism sector were available for those who show promise, excel, do their best and are punctual. Mr Comito said to the attendees, “preparation for a job in tourism prepares you for a job anywhere”.

He reminded the students that first impressions are lasting and you need to make a positive first impression when you present yourself to a future employer.

Dr Sophia Rolle, the Acting Director of CHMI, said that she would like to see more focused attention on tourism education and training from the kindergarten to the tertiary level in the Bahamas. Dr Rolle noted that Bahamians entering the sector need to attend college and become certified so that they can assume management roles. She encouraged the participants to embrace not a job but a career because they will invest their time, resources and passion in the opportunity that they are creating for themselves. She told them to take ownership of their future and set examples in academics and skills.

Dr Rolle said: “You have to be the best that you can be. At CHMI, we want to assist in shaping and moulding you into the best in this field.”