My Return to High School to Talk Real Estate and Scholarships

by Jennifer Heller

Ever wonder why “Career Day” is so popular on TV but rarely happens in real life? That was my exact thought too until my friend Becky Campbell, a Mandarin High School teacher, invited me to speak to her students about real estate and a scholarship opportunity.

Going back to school felt like stepping into a weird time capsule, yet this time, I wasn’t the student.  My audience?  High school juniors and seniors curious about the real estate industry, and let me tell you, I’ve never been more frightened to speak in front of a group.  These were 16 and 17 year old kids and since I’ve raised two kids that were those ages not too long ago I knew I had my work cut out of me.  It can be hard to impress older teenagers, if you know what I mean.

In class, I shared my unconventional path from property management  to real estate operations, emphasizing that real estate isn’t all sales. There are roles in marketing, social media, administration, staging and operations, to name a few—perfect for those drawn to the intrigue of real estate but not the direct sales aspect of it. It was exciting to see students so well engaged and asking some great questions while discovering potential career paths they hadn’t yet considered.   The depth of the questions being asked really blew me away.

Another highlight was sharing the Ponte Vedra Focus Blog Scholarship, which immediately caught their attention. This annual opportunity invites graduating seniors to write an engaging, community-focused blog post to be published on the Ponte Vedra Focus blog site.  The scholarship has a few criteria items, but it’s straightforward and a great way to earn some extra funds for school. 

Graduating seniors at Mandarin High School

In the end, I left inspired by their interest and reminded of the rewards of passing knowledge forward. Here’s to the next generation exploring careers they might not have considered otherwise! 

If you’re a graduating senior or the proud parent of one, encourage them to take advantage of this scholarship opportunity. It’s as easy as writing a thoughtful, community-oriented article—no crazy requirements, just a chance to showcase their writing skills, gain some experience, and earn $1,500 for college.  Head to the Ponte Vedra Focus scholarship page for scholarship guidelines and topic ideas, and get ready to see where a few well-chosen words can lead!

Jenn Heller is the Operations Manager for The Volen Group, a top real estate team in Ponte Vedra Beach. Jenn has over 20 years of real estate experience in Ponte Vedra Beach and is a resident of Atlantic Beach.

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