Power of confidence
By From staff reports
Published in News on September 1, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Ashley Morales, 12, Yamili Zunun, 12, and Deniss Enriquez, 14, combine ingredients needed to make chicken stir fry while learning how to cook as part of the Power of Girls program.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Ua'Ryiah Shepard, 11, learns how to properly fold a napkin and make a place setting during the Power of Girls program. Girls from all over the area gathered to learn all sorts of skills that they can use in social settings later.
Full SizeThere were two forks.
Michelle Estrada remembers sitting in a country club as an adult looking in horror at the formal place setting.
Growing up in Mexico, she did not have any training that would tell her which fork or spoon to use or when to use them.
Now, she is the woman behind the Power of Girls program. In two days, 10 girls had the opportunity to learn table manners, table settings, how to cook and proper self-care.
"I did not want the girls to have the same experience I had as an adult," Michelle said.
Through a grant from the Extension and Community Association and donations from several stores, the girls were able to spend the days playing and learning.
The program was for girls ages 10 to 14.
"I want them to be more confident," Michelle said. "That age is hard. They think other girls are judging them."
When the girls met on a recent Monday afternoon, Summer Young from Wayne County 4-H started them off with goofy team-building activities. Some were shy at first, but it soon became a rowdy bunch.
They spent that night playing mini golf and shopping for jeans and shirts at Wal-Mart.
Zoe Lawson, 13, was named mini golf queen, having the lowest score.
The evening ended in a dance party.
Xiomara Sanchez, 12, said she stayed up all night.
"I've learned what it is like to live with nine sisters," she said, laughing.
But the girls weren't the only ones who camped out.
"My eyes are like this because I didn't sleep," Michelle said.
The next day, the girls went swimming at the Family Y. For lunch, Michelle taught them how to cook a chicken stir-fry and strawberry shortcake.
"I'm not much into cooking," Xiomara said. "I'm more into microwaves."
Michelle explained the importance of kitchen safety to her pupils, especially stressing how to properly check if meat is cooked.
"How do you know if the chicken is ready? Do you ask it 'Chicken, are you ready?'" she said. "No, you take its temperature."
Anne Turner instructed table setting.
"They need to know proper table manners, how to set the table, not to text on phone at meal times," she said. "Meal time with family is a special time, it's more than a hamburger out of a paper bag."
Before Ms. Turner's lesson, Xiomara said she would use the same fork for all parts of her dinner.
"I would just clean it off," she said.
After a home-cooked meal, the girls went shopping for dresses at Belk and shoes at Target.
Their families were invited to come to a special dinner show where the girls demonstrated what they learned.
Keynote speaker Jill Howell, former Miss Goldsboro, explained the importance of being more than just a pretty face. It is about being kind and confident.
"This is a wonderful program, they are very special girls," Ms. Turner said.