Hho es Se ae “up .on ‘Three: ‘persons were ‘injured, 0 one seriously, and. traffic oo snarled early Tuesday; in this fiery multi-vehicle crash on the ramp leading WINNIPEG (UPC) - A unique counselling and assessment centre now being set up by Winnipeg’s Fort Garry School Division will help take the clement. of chance out of career choice. The $171,000 centre ‘usés sophisticated electronic equipment available to help students from Grades 9 through 12 assess their talents and personalities and find their” most suitable choice of job. ma “Today's student often'has a job: concept based on fantasies, he may have picked "said Art Ferguson, ‘52, the school division’s work experience counsellor and brainchild of the centre. Ferguson said too many students are drifting into jobs for which they are unsuited or unqualified with the result they end up in a frustrating deadend. “Students should be seriously thinking about their future life’s work in grade 9, not grade 12,” said Ferguson, who is determined to bring the light of cold reality into career decision- making. The centre, financed in part with a $128,000 federal grant, has computers that give students in-depth ap- titude tests and access to an Ottawa computer that can -of personality, leadership potential, FoR ST UDENTS GRADES. 9- 12 uters ‘help provide “answers to any queries about any job. - ELECTRONIC GAMES “ayy will tell them the qualifications needed, t salary, promotion prospects. and a variety of other in- formation,” Ferguson said. A sophisticated device known as CAL (Career Awareness Lab) allows students to play a series of electronic games that help them learn their own temperament, needs, skills and preferred lifestyles. CAL has eight electronic keyboards, cach concealed from the other. It allows participants to press out confidential responses to some questions. “He may chink he's a friendly, strong person with but . from the casthound lane. of Interstate 95 to the Alexander Hamilton bridge. CAL allows his peers to give their assessment con- fidentially. The individual thus gets to learn what his peers think of his qualities and it may help him to make more valid career = decisions.” The centre also works closely with the school division’s existing work experience program that allows students to attend school parttime, while working at temporary jobs to get a grasp of everyday, working life. “Our objective is to bring realism. to a. student's ex- pectations,”’Ferguson said. “One girl was determined she'd be a vet because she loved animals, After working as a vet's assistant, she decided it wasn’t for her - too much blood and suf- fering. “As a result, she’s decided to join the police force in a 1974 Cutlass “’Salon’’ 2 Dr. -40,000 miles -city tested -new paint -new mags & tires." -immaculate condition Asking +5000 _ ‘The spectacular accident which involved several tracks, was followed by _ two explosions. (UPI Wirephoto) ot section where police dogs are trained.”' DROP-OUT SKILLS The centre has 30 salaried staff working on four main projects, one of which in- volves compilation of a job bank for Fort Garry and metropolitan Winnipeg. The bank isn’t a simple list of jobs available, but a detailed listing of all area companies, the. type of workers they hire and the qualifications needed. “Most employers are co- operative, though ‘a few don’t want to go into salary details,” Ferguson said. “They realize that this kind of information can help them find workers and it will be available to anyone who wants it. Another aim of the centre is to provide a_ skills assessment program for physically, academically or Grosvenor Place saw eep mye + 540 Lonsdale — Concrete Hi-rise Deluxe 1&2 bedroom suites with wrap around baliconies Free laundry every floor Free Parkin Saunas - Billlards large storage lockers lounge starting from *39,900 Open every day except Friday 12 tillG p.m. Evenings by appt. ° / socially handicapped students. Counsellors test their skills and give training in resume-writing and job interviews. ” A key aim is to provide those considering dropping out of school a job skill before they leave. _ “Too many drift into restaurant work and find ’ they get stuck in the lowest paying jobs,” Ferguson said. oom