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Cox: Seniors prepare for ‘real world’
Published October 25, 2009
SOCIAL CIRCLE — Sometimes, it’s important to know when to eat the right bread.
With more than 100 teenagers assembled together with local business leaders and school officials, the Prepared and Polished Professional dinner sent that message loud and clear, as State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox spoke to the high school seniors about preparing for the real world.
“The real world is about being smart, polished and able to handle yourself around the table with influential people,” Cox said. “My husband never had one of these classes, and when he attended a dinner at the governor’s mansion with me, he ate somebody else’s bread. I had to hear about that incident for the rest of the year.”
None of the students who heard Cox’s speech were in danger of eating the wrong bread. They all went through a crash course of business etiquette, formal dining manners and professional protocol at the Walton Career Academy and Performance Learning Center. The seniors were putting their teachings to the test Wednesday night at the Standridge Color Corporation Conference Center in Social Circle at a formal dinner, where Cox was the keynote speaker.
“The best thing we can do for our students is prepare them for the real world,” Cox said. “There’s this idea that academics should be separated from other considerations at school, but that’s not the real world. We need to spend more time and effort on courses such as this to prepare students for the business world and the challenges they will face after school.”
Cox spoke to some of the challenges she faced in her own political career, including a public forum with President George W. Bush and her well-publicized appearance on television game show “Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?”
“Sometimes as much as you’ve prepared, you’re not prepared,” Cox warned students. “I thought I was used to cameras and crowds, but going on the show was overwhelming. But I just thought about the classroom and answered the questions.”
Cox persevered on the show and won the top prize of $1 million, which she donated to the state’s schools for the deaf.
“That’s what this is all about — tackling challenges with confidence,” Cox said.
As the students sat at tables with businessmen, educators, elected officials and other professionals — shaking hands, talking confidently and sharing a formal business dinner — Cox said the class would leave them better prepared than some of their peers in the future.
“We can help you find your niche, find your spark and give you confidence,” Cox said. “Add to that strong academics and we can provide you with a solid education. You will have the knowledge and confidence to face whatever you may encounter.”
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