![]() During the Christmas season I have so many plans. I want to get one of my newest business ideas off the ground. My most recent idea is called YA REAL life skills. Origins: The business idea originated from realizing a lot of the academic knowledge I learned in my university and college were not applicable in the REAL work force because it was too specific. Originally I studied at the University of Alberta in the Biological Science Major and Economics Minor program. Biological Science could range from botany, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, zoology, etc. It encompassed anything to do with living organisms, large or small. I came to realize within the science field, there were only two areas that I could eventually work in: research or medical related field in order to really make use of my 4 years of biological knowledge from University. The science job opportunity world was small. After 4 years, I would walk out with a Bachelors in Biological Science, like thousands of other science graduates, all competing for the same small job market. I'm not particularly smart, or have lots of experience. There were tons of other people in my field with specializations in each of the specific fields of biology with much high qualifications such as Masters or PhD's. How can I compete against all these people? I realized to survive in the REAL world, I needed to distinguish myself out among the crowd. What makes me the better choice compared to everyone else? Thus I made a drastic change to my educational pursuits. I switched from Biological Science to Business. I had submersed myself into two completely different worlds. Business is all about communication, networking, and management. It requires all the soft skills. Sciences are all about facts, and theories, and data. It required all the hard skills. Surprisingly the area that correlated was in data collection and analysis. It wasn't the data analysis I was used to. I was used to using plant measurements or concentrations, generating sample calculations and growth curves. Now it had become market analysis, determining population size, survey results, business model simulations. However, the same analytical skills still applied but used and applied differently. Thus I realized, entering into the Business Program, I brought with me my strong data analytical skills background that many of the other Business students did not have. I had finally distinguished myself from the other students. Having now completed my 1st year in Business, I now can say I don't regret the switch whatsoever. Currently I am studying Management Major and Biological Science minor. I realized if I had stayed in Biological Science, I would have lacked so many of the necessary life skills that business provided me. I now knew what managers were looking for when hiring. They were very different from the ones that I learned in school. Nowhere, except a two week long summer class, did I realize in all my high school educational experience, did we ever formally focus on these essential life skills. That class was CALM (Career and Life Management). I realized I can't possibly learn all my future life skills in just 2 weeks and be asked to survive in the real world after I graduated from high school. There weren't formal classes for these skills yet they were necessary in the job field. They were just supposed to be implied. I realized so many people were going the traditional route of going to universities, which were a huge financial investment, coming out with huge debts to pay off, in a job market where their skills were just the basic requirements that anyone in that field needed. People come out realizing they are only at the starting line and still need more to be competitive. Only upon graduating and having to enter into the job market do students realize that what they learned in school doesn't always help them in society. I wanted to help bridge the gap somehow in the system between academic school and REAL life. I wanted to teach students the fundamental skills needed in REAL life but the school system don't. Not just job skills, but LIFE skills. I decided to start small. As basic as household cleaning. I wanted to help students who are living away from home for the first time to settle into an independent environment. Vision: To prepare youth/young adults with REAL skills for future job success. Mission: To equip youth and young adults prior to entering post secondary with necessary household skills to live independently away from home. For more information on the topic:
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AuthorHi. My name is Jane and I dream of being an influencer for positive change. I believe that change is the accumulation of small everyday habits and decisions. Will you journey along with me? Archives
August 2020
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