First Annual Memphis Challenge Career Forum Set goals, think big, students told East Memphis Appeal, March 11, 2004
By Iesha Josephat, White Station High School, 2004 Junior MC
On Feb. 10, 2004, Memphis Challenge hosted the inaugural Career Forum at downtown’s Emerge Memphis Building.
For those involved, it was a mind-stimulating event. Memphis Challenge participants and members of Bridge Builders represented Memphis public and private schools across the county.
These ambitious students all had one common goal – to attain as much knowledge as possible, in order to increase their chances of investing in a prosperous lifelong career.
“Our goal was for the students to meet, listen and talk with young professionals representing a myriad of fields,” said Cassandra Webster, executive director of The Memphis Challenge. “The presenters were only 6-10 years older than the students in attendance, and they are doing what they love. We wanted our students to be inspired by their success and dedication. It is our goal at Memphis Challenge to plant the seed and water it often.”
The professional panel included: Jae Henderson, assistant director of community affairs for Clear Channel Radio; Erika Pearson, the founder of Black Ice Records and Management Company; Cassandra Mattison, strategic planning and analysis manager for Federal Express; Cathryn Stout, editor of the Collierville Appeal; Kendrick Joyce, a medical student at University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Rev. Derrick Joyce, a financial consultant with A.G. Edwards and Sons, Al Bright, an attorney for Butler Snow, Kirk Clayborn, director of media relations for the Memphis Grizzlies, and Donald Dyer, director of KIPP Diamond Academy.
This group of persistent, auspicious individuals left the audience with words of wisdom. Angelica Rogers, a senior at White Station High School, said, “For me, listening to the panelists made me take a step back and evaluate what I’ve done.
“Am I floating from one thing to another or am I working toward a goal? The forum made me ground myself, ask myself what I wanted to do and be decisive.”
Diedre Young, also a senior at White Station High School, stated, “All of the panelists were coming from different perspectives, but they all talked about the same theme for success – thinking big and setting goals.”
