Post by leunas on Feb 9, 2007 17:56:52 GMT -5
I spoke today at the Switzer Learning Center (Torrance, CA, in LA) to high school juniors and seniors that were severely at-risk from their home life, gang life, or that were learning disabled. These are kids that were mostly kicked out of public schools and ended up here as a last chance. The chance they have is to learn what they need to to live in the post-academic world as a productive and stable citizen.
My friend Mike Eberhard teaches the “Job Training” class there once a week where he helps to prepare them to write applications, learn to get along with co-workers, and how to find a job. He occassionally will have guest speakers come in to talk to the kids. Apparently, the kids love it, but they asked if they could get someone a little younger next time. A few of them also love games, so he thought of me.
The first half of the class I talked with them about my own career in the game industry and also what opportunities there were in the industry. My thoughts were that some of these kids could probably land a job as a tester at some of the larger companies in LA. They would probably improve their chances a lot if they participated in some of the focus groups run by the big pubs like EA or Activision.
The second half of the talk revolved around how to succeed (ie not get fired) in the workplace. From my perspective, these kids need to have the ambition to succeed, and the calm to deal with situations they don’t like. One of them talked about quitting his job after he had a cup thrown at him when he worked at a coffee shop. I wouldn’t expect him not to be angry or act irrationally, but his instinct was wrong. There was not need and no utility in standing up for himself. He should have let the customer go.
So at any rate, I will probably go back to their job fair (not to hire, but to just talk with these kids again) in May. The director of education at the school asked me to ask around in case anyone else might be interested in speaking as well. If you are in the Southern California area, perhaps you might be interested in participating.
And lastly, I’d encourage others to get involved with students. After having spoken with the very talented and driven kids of the San Diego Art Institute, and the very troubled kids of Switzer, I feel connected to these kids, and inspired by them as well. If you work in games, you are a god to many of them. They immediately open up and smile and want to talk. That’s what many of these kids need.
www.qatfish.com/?p=50
My friend Mike Eberhard teaches the “Job Training” class there once a week where he helps to prepare them to write applications, learn to get along with co-workers, and how to find a job. He occassionally will have guest speakers come in to talk to the kids. Apparently, the kids love it, but they asked if they could get someone a little younger next time. A few of them also love games, so he thought of me.
The first half of the class I talked with them about my own career in the game industry and also what opportunities there were in the industry. My thoughts were that some of these kids could probably land a job as a tester at some of the larger companies in LA. They would probably improve their chances a lot if they participated in some of the focus groups run by the big pubs like EA or Activision.
The second half of the talk revolved around how to succeed (ie not get fired) in the workplace. From my perspective, these kids need to have the ambition to succeed, and the calm to deal with situations they don’t like. One of them talked about quitting his job after he had a cup thrown at him when he worked at a coffee shop. I wouldn’t expect him not to be angry or act irrationally, but his instinct was wrong. There was not need and no utility in standing up for himself. He should have let the customer go.
So at any rate, I will probably go back to their job fair (not to hire, but to just talk with these kids again) in May. The director of education at the school asked me to ask around in case anyone else might be interested in speaking as well. If you are in the Southern California area, perhaps you might be interested in participating.
And lastly, I’d encourage others to get involved with students. After having spoken with the very talented and driven kids of the San Diego Art Institute, and the very troubled kids of Switzer, I feel connected to these kids, and inspired by them as well. If you work in games, you are a god to many of them. They immediately open up and smile and want to talk. That’s what many of these kids need.
www.qatfish.com/?p=50