How do you measure experience? At the August 12 meeting of advisors for The Future Is Mine, it was equated to the terms “rare, medium and well done.”

The planning session for the coming term singled out advisors with fewer than two years experience (rare), those with three to five years experience (medium) and those with six years or more years experience (well done). The idea, according to the Consortium’s TFIM director, Holly M. McGraw, was to “have those who are considered rare listen and learn from those who are more ‘seasoned’ by experience…the well dones.”

Following an online tutorial of program operations, the advisors – from McKeesport Area, Bethlehem-Center, Thomas Jefferson (West Jefferson Hills S.D.), West Mifflin Area, Steel Valley, East Allegheny Brownsville Area, South Allegheny, Trinity Area, California Area, Monessen City, Mapletown, Woodland Hills, Belle Vernon Area, Clairton City and Gateway high schools as well as Forbes Road CTC, Steel Center AVTS, Central Westmoreland CTC Center and Mon Valley CTC – had chance to discuss the upcoming year’s projects and work.

Mapletown School District’s Sarah Dille shares some of her experiences as a long-term  advisor as her new co-advisor, Jennifer Daniels looks on.

“TFIM is more than a club; it’s more than an activity,” said California Area advisor Tom Webb, who was one of the 10 advisors who earned a well-done designation. Addressing the group of “rare” advisors, he added that TFIM is a great way to help those students “find their way out of the alleys (of life) and onto the roads that lead them to the interstate” to productive careers and lives.

The day’s activities concluded with an overview of the 2008-09 TFIM school calendar, with special attention to student project dates and deadlines as well as the annual student leadership conference in April of 2009.