Calum Drummond, a senior Oban High School student, recently attended Challenge Enterprise, a residential weekend, organised by Rotary District (South Scotland) and sponsored by The Rotary Club of Oban.
The weekend’s emphasis was on business and designed to develop young people’s thinking and personal confidence as they consider their future careers.
Delegates were given talks by a number of business leaders, debated issues from both management and employee perspectives, and worked in teams towards presentations, based on business ideas and scenarios.
Calum attended Oban Rotary Club’s regular lunchtime meeting and spoke positively and eloquently of his experience.
Rotarians were impressed by both Calum’s enthusiasm and his understanding of the challenges of entering the business world. Calum said: “I found the whole weekend interesting and motivational. Not only did it improve my personal confidence but also helped me realise how much can be achieved by working as a team.”
Calum thanked Oban Rotary Club for their support and said: “I had no idea how much support Rotary offered for young people and I’m now looking at the possibility of starting an Interact Club (a young people’s Rotary Club) at the High School”.
Dot Dahl, Oban Rotary Club Youth Services convenor, said: “I’m delighted that Calum found the weekend stimulating. It has clearly helped to reinforce his intention to have a career in business. He also found great kindred spirit among the other delegates”.
Oban Rotary President, Ciorsti Baxter thanked Calum for his inspirational talk and was similarly delighted that he clearly enjoyed and benefited from the experience.
Ciorsti went on to thank Damian Heaney, business studies teacher at the High School, and recognised that “it is the support and generosity of our community that enables us to provide individuals like Calum with these opportunities and continue our aim of developing our young people”.