CIL Career Camp Experience- Asia Abualsamid

Asia Abualsamid, 17, has participated in the Center for Independent Living’s Career Camp for the past two years. The camp is a completely immersive program where high school students with disabilities can experience pre-employment skills training and get exposed to opportunities that will ultimately help them to transition to adulthood and careers. Asia originally found out about the camp after CIL gave a presentation at her school and she was interested in learning more about the program.

Due to COVID-19, this year’s summer camp was held totally virtually, to protect the health and safety of students.

One guest speaker at this year’s camp was Ms. Shakira Ellis, a representative from CenterState Bank. Her presentation focused on the basics and importance of budgeting, saving, and being aware of spending. She outlined the differences between checking and savings accounts, and the benefits of each. Not only are the students benefiting from the experience, but the employers are also learning how to connect more with all different members of the community.

Asia was excited to once again join camp and to learn new skills. “I learned how to build my resume as well as how to keep track of a budget,” Asia said. “I also learned about the importance of communication while at work,” she added.

In previous years, CIL has hosted the summer camp at Publix, offering in-person demonstrations for all participating students. Camp members were given hands-on experience in a variety of departments within the grocery chain; from food packaging to shelf stocking. Another guest speaker during this year’s camp session was Voncara Daly, who is the Retail Staffing Specialist at a Publix located in Lakeland, Florida. Interview skills and customer service were the focuses of her virtual presentation. Rosa González, the Programs Manager of CIL and coordinator of the career camp, knows the importance of this program to these students, in addition to the opportunities that it creates for them. “This camp teaches them a lot of new skills. They learn how to advocate for themselves and how to prepare for their future employment.” Rosa said.

Voncara Daly, Retail Staffing Specialist at a Publix located in Lakeland, talks with the students about the values instilled in Publix employees.

The camp’s benefits range from helping build a resume to finding professional clothing. The presenters are experts in their unique fields, so they can offer real-life, hands-on expertise, advice, and answers to any questions that campers throw their way. “When you have a professional giving you a private tour and presentation about their careers, the students want to listen and engage. They are so eager to learn.” Rosa said.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, camp this year was offered online in a virtual setting. While there were a handful of changes made to the structure of the program, the students learned how to adjust and to change, ultimately coming out of the summer camp session with additional learning experience. “Having our guest speakers and tours virtually gave the students practice with Zoom interviews,” Rosa said. “Before the camp, some students didn’t have experience with Zoom, and now with a lot of employers going virtual, they now know how to work the application.”