Jaylin Margerum is a high school senior who plans to make trades a career. Girl Power Camp practically sold her on it.
Margerum was one of 49 young women who spent Oct. 30 at the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives’ fifth annual Girl Power™ Camp in Palmyra, Va. Girl Power broadens job horizons for teen girls who may not have considered making a career out of working for an energy cooperative.
“It’s definitely given me more of a path of what I want to do,” Margerum said. “It’s given me a lot more options to explore. I really love that they do this because it creates a lot of opportunities and opens a lot of doors for people who want to go into the electrical field.”
Margerum is from Fluvanna, one of 13 counties across Virginia represented at the camp.
The Next Gen
For REC and other co-ops, it was a chance to inspire the next generation of workers. And open their eyes to a great career at an electric co-op.
Girl Power participants learned key industry skills, such as:
- Job safety.
- Climbing a utility pole.
- Operating a bucket truck.
The girls met with experts in human resources and got tips on writing resumes and coaching for interviews. Advisors from community colleges answered their questions about career paths and the required classes.
Many of the girls may choose a different career path. But they learned things about the power industry and co-ops that will be valuable wherever their career takes them.
REC Communications & Public Relations Generalist Keli Hughes said volunteering at Girl Power for the first time was truly inspiring.
“I watched these girls take on tasks usually done by men with curiosity, confidence and fearlessness,” she said. “It reminded me that anything a man can do, a woman can do and oftentimes do better. I hope more girls get the chance to experience this event, especially those still discovering their path after high school.”
‘Do What You Love’
Alyssa Flevarakis, from Greene County, said her first career choice revolves around photography. But after Girl Power, she can see working at a cooperative. Most importantly, she left inspired.
“Do what you love,” she said. “Don’t be too scared to do what you want just because it’s a traditionally male industry, or this doesn’t fit with me. If you like it, that’s all that matters.”
Margerum is now a Girl Power proponent. “I would definitely suggest to anyone to come to this event,” she said. “It’s great for people that have no idea about line crew work or electrical careers in general.”
