Success Summit
Empowering Young Ladies
By KYLIE KINNETT
D
o you remember the awkwardness and feelings at age 13 or 14?
The confusing times of middle and high school, as well as the
uncomfortable growing pains, and stress of career or college planning?
The local Young Ladies Success Summit, created by Conference
Director Essie Childers, helps to challenge those feelings and instead
“expose young ladies in middle school and high school to collegiate
and career opportunities, to boost their self-esteem, and empower
self-responsibility to create success in school and in life.”
Held on February 6 at Blinn College in Bryan, the Young Ladies
Success Summit will provide girls an opportunity to gain information
and confidence to pursue goals and create ambitions that they might
not be exposed to otherwise. The summit is open to girls in grades six
through 12, an age which relays a time of change and new discoveries.
It is not only important but also essential that a seed of encouragement
and drive is planted in their minds at this age, says Childers. “Realizing
your self-worth and loving yourself first are the stepping stones in
success,” she says.
Preparing for college should start as early as middle school, says
Childers. The Young Ladies Success Summit will consist of sessions
discussing a variety of topics including: financial literacy, self-esteem,
Facebook etiquette, bullying, and other engaging topics. This year’s
keynote speaker will be Donna Spann, CEO of Capstone College
Advising from Tyler. Additionally, the summit will feature an essay
contest in which monetary awards will be presented. Young ladies
will have an opportunity to respond to the question, “How do you use
social media to show others how special you really are?” Essay rules
and guidelines are available online at yl-success.com. Door prizes and
essay winners will be announced at the end of the conferenc