Testimonials: Voices of Experience.

When Christine Shewbridge asked me in 1993 to teach a Junior Achievement JA) class at my two daughter's elementary school, I said yes. thought I'd teach that one class fulfilling my "school involvement" quota for the year and then get back to my "regular" life. Was I in for a surprise-I fell in love with the program! I was delighted when Ms. Shewbridge said I could teach mire than that one class -- needed to teach, as much as the children needed to learn about, JA. A first grade teacher told me (after her first involvement with JA) this was very important information that needed to be taught, but it never occurred to her to include it in her curriculum.

At the June 2001 year-end Board meeting of JA, which I was privilege to attend, I was totally overwhelmed by the caliber of business and professional people serving on the board. For the first time it hit me -- junior Achievement is not just five classroom lessons taught by business volunteers and a few lucky parents; it is a program which teaches youngsters values that have slipped away from our daily life lessons -- individual responsibility, leadership, integrity and compassion. It is steered by individuals who have made impacts in their chosen fields of business, which, in turn, drive the free enterprise system in the United States.

Leaders of business mentor the program, not because community involvement looks good on their CVs, but because they realize how important it is for our future adults to see that each individual matters. As I point out in my classes, every student needs to get the best education available for their line of work, and become the best worker they can be in their chosen. Not everyone is headed for college; but every child needs to be committed to becoming their personal best.

September 11, 2001 changed our lives in America forever. It also reinforced my belief that JA needs to be taught to every student across our country. WE NEED JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT MORE THAN AT ANY OTHER TIME IN OUR HISTORY! It is our responsibility to teach children about our free-enterprise system and stress to them that our way of life cannot be taken for granted -- it must be strengthened and molded constantly to meet the needs of an ever-changing world.

I look forward to many more years of sharing the junior Achievement concepts and ideal with our young people.

Connie Grey

2001 Junior Achievement

Orange County & Inland Empire 

Volunteer of the Year

I'd love to continue working with Junior Achievement. Working with Mrs. Calo's first grade bilingual class allowed me to look at these kids from a completely different perspective: it was a huge learning experience for me. It helped me appreciate the challenges teachers encounter on a daily basis. I look forward to hearing from you.

Lisbeth M. Lopez

Assistant Vice President

SunAmerica

I decided to volunteer again this year because it was an enjoyable experience last year with the 1st graders. However, I wanted an older group, so I went with 4th graders this year.

It was one of the best experiences of my life. Even more so than last year. The students were so happy to see me each week and they were sad when our time was over.

The class prepared a memory book for me and presented it to me at the reception. It was so touching that it made me cry. To read what they thought about their experience with me and to see that I made an impact on their lives was worth every bit of driving 130 miles that one day a week to be with them. (I live in Palm-dale, the school is located in Los Angeles).

I took them a small gift on my last day with them, which was not much, crayons and pencils, but to see how much it meant to them, it made me feel so good.

I will ask for the same teacher and grade again next year.

It was such a rewarding experience that I would recommend others to volunteer next year. It only took 1 hour per week, which was like taking my lunch hour, and it will never be forgotten.

Lynn R. Joshua

Paralegal 

SunAmerica

My name is Luis, and I would like to thank the Junior Achievement volunteers for coming to my school to teach a lot of kids about different businesses. All the students liked learning all about that.

In my class we learned how to start our own business. If I ever get to start my own business, now I will know some things that I can do.

The volunteer who taught me all of that is a person who teaches well. Whenever we needed help he helped us. He always tried his best to make learning fun for us. That's what shows me that he really cared about us.

Luis S.

6th Grand Elementary School Student

I hope all of the volunteers were like that with the classes that they taught. I really appreciated these guys coming to my school. I won't be there next year to have fun again with any of them, but there are still a lot of kids that have a chance to have fun with Junior Achievement next year.