Think Employment Summit at Vanderbilt

Teachers, Lauren and Cathy with
Students Nila, Zakk, Jose and Kaylea getting ready for a fun
 filled day meeting small business owners
and hearing inspiring stories!

The morning of September 17th, the air was crisp, the sun was shinning and excitement was in the air as we drove to downtown Nashville to the Vanderbilt "Think Employment" Summit with TennesseeWorks!  Independence High School Students were all smiles as we approached a team of greeters at the Scarritt Bennett Center on Vanderbilt Campus. 

The conference was all about how to get a job and how to keep it.  Kaylea's favorite part of the Summit was getting video taped by the staff of Vanderbilt.  "I loved it!" Kaylea stated. 


Fiona Hawks - Keynote Speaker that inspired all.

"I think Fiona was nice and amazing!"-Kaylea

The students had a great time with getting breakfast before the keynote speakers began their lecture. Our students listened to Fiona Hawks talk about her life and how she lives independently and works for MTEMC.

Next, our students heard from a panel of their peers, discuss their experiences in the workforce. Students were able to ask the panel different questions about their life and their jobs. The panel explained how they got jobs and how they keep those jobs. They gave the students interview tips and on the job advice and advice for their lives beyond the school walls.








Nila getting ready for her debut on Camera!

Also, our students had the opportunity to meet with small business owners and a job fair. We found out about different opportunities and which companies were hiring. Our students were able to pass out their resumes to the different companies represented. Jose, met the Old School Farms, Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Shop and others. Companies represented were: Goodwill, Holiday Inn, Walgreens, YMCA, Ben & Jerry's, Fifth Third Bank, Old School Farms, Embassy Suites, Center for Independent Living, The Belcourt, The Arc, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Tennessee Division of Rehabilitation Services and Tennessee Disability Pathfinder. For Kaylea, "I loved talking with the people from Old School Farm."

Then Vanderbilt University Media department interviewed our students about the seminar. Our students had a blast being interviewed about the seminar. All of our students did a fabulous job with their camera interviews. They were not shy in front of the camera!



Jose being interviewed about the Think Employment Summit

Dr. Whitlow with Zakk at Think Employment Summit

Our students working on their 30 second speech

Our students also participated in working on their 30 second Elevator Speech for a job. Students discussed amongst each other their strengths, words that best described them and their work experience. After they wrote it out, they had to present their speech to the group.

The IHS Transition II students having a little fun at Vanderbilt

We loved getting interviewed. So we struck a pose!










All of our students had a great time and came home with smiles on their faces. A new excitement for their lives after school was achieved after attending this seminar.  Proof is in the pictures!
Way to go IHS Transition II Students!