Professional women teach girls an important lesson: You can do it
Posted On: Thursday, Feb. 28 2008 01:28 AM
By Candace Birkelbach
Killeen Daily HeraldMarch is Women's History Month; on Wednesday, Clear Creek Elementary School students got a head start on learning about women in their local community.
Professional women from the Killeen community came to talk to students about what their jobs entail and how students can work to get the jobs they want.
Students saw presentations from an attorney, city councilwoman, news anchor, drama director, musicians, veterans and veterinarians.
Donna Bownds, campus technologist, said she hopes all students – especially girls – will see that their career choices are limitless.
"They can be or do anything they want in today's society," Bownds said.
Ashleigh Wehmeyer, a children's musician who calls herself the "Firecracker Fairy," sang interactive songs with students at Clear Creek. "The Firecracker Fairy" persona comes from the outfit she typically wears when she performs: a pink tutu, sneakers and jacket.
Wehmeyer taught students music theory, lyric writing and melodies. She said she encourages students to use their imagination and write their own songs.
The children at Clear Creek sang along with Wehmeyer as she played guitar. She said she hopes to open children's eyes to the possibilities of what they can do.
"There is no limit to the number of things they can pursue," Wehmeyer said.
Students should pursue things they are interested in, whether for job and personal fulfillment, Wehmeyer said.
Rebecca Griesmyer, children's theater director at Vive Les Arts, encouraged students to find something they love to do and make it into a career.
Griesmyer said she started performing at a young age and was encouraged to study drama in college.
"It's not work for me, I love what I do," Griesmyer said.
After hearing all the speakers, students said they enjoyed listening to the women talk about what their typical day is like.
Several students said they learned that some careers are not always as easy as they seem.
Bownds said she wants students to learn about women's contributions and how far they have come.
Contact Candace Birkelbach at
candaceb@kdhnews.com or call (254) 501-7553