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Former
national cyclist Michael Phillips gives out a career handbook
to students of Malick Youth Centre during last Friday’s
Guardian in Education presentation.
Photo:
Keith Matthews
By
Jessica Pouchet
More banners than students greeted Michael Phillips, former
national cyclist, at the Malick Youth Facility’s auditorium
for the Guardian in Education presentation last Friday.
Malick Youth Centre’s principal manager Lennard Noen
said about 20 students were missing, in addition to the
seven who came to school. Nonetheless, Phillips made the
motivational presentation.
“If
there was one student I would still do it,” he said.
Phillips focused his talk on building a good name for oneself
by following through with responsibilities.
“Whenever
you do a project it’s your name you’re putting
on the line.”
Painting, one of Phillips’ passions, served as an example.
He brought one of his pieces close to the single row of
students so they could see his signature. That signature,
he said, represented his reputation.
He then helped the students apply the lesson to their own
lives. He asked what trades the students enjoyed. Two said
woodwork.
A project left only halfway done, Phillips said, would attach
a bad reputation to a carpenter’s name, and would spread
by word of mouth.
Mindy Mohan, 17, to whom Phillips presented a career handbook,
said she wanted to be a hairdresser.
“Every
time someone sits down in your chair, you are running a
risk,” Phillips advised her.
Phillips discussed some of the obstacles students may find
in life.
“One
of the biggest challenges you’ll face is dealing with
other people,” he said.
He added that profiling was a reality and future customers
would be suspicious of them on occasion. But he advised
them to accept the fact, and not take it personally. He
said students should, instead, use it as an opportunity
to positively build their reputations.
Phillips spoke in a relaxed, unrushed manner. When he finished,
he opened the floor to questions and repeated that the students
could ask anything.
“Being
able to ask questions is a very important tool,” he
said.
Mohan asked the price of his paintings.
Chrislon Bess, 17, appreciated Phillips’ openness:
“I like how he come and break it down for us, because
sometimes these speakers come and you can’t relate.
But he made time for questions,” he said.
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