WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012
FEATURES
PAGE 19 THE SPOKE
Camera ready: teen models face advantages, disadvantages
Emily Klein Staff Reporter Step one: get recruited. Junior Jenny Larkin happened upon this crucial step to becoming a teen model as she was passing through the King of Prussia Mall March of her sophomore year. Step two: sign a contract. Larkin recently signed a modeling contract with Vision Modeling, an agency based out of Los Angeles. Step three: maintain model requirements. This is perhaps the “My least favorite time is having to eat really healthy and working out all the time to maintain everything,” Larkin said. Larkin’s road to modeling is not the only path taken by Conestoga’s teen models. Senior Juliane McCue’s modeling career began with an interest in acting, which led her to “open call” auditions and a pageant. Today McCue maintains a contract with Reinhard Modeling in Philadelphia, in addition to one with an agency based out of Denver. “On the side, I did a litte [photo] shoot with Polka Dots Boutique in Paoli,” Larkin said. The pressures that young mod-
els face, including maintaining a certain size, facing harsh stereotypes and devoting great amounts time to their work, suggest that modeling can be a stressful profession. In the fashion industry, the average female model is a minimum of between 108 and 125 pounds. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a teen inches and weighs 108 pounds is underweight. McCue feels more affected by the so-called “model persona.” She of models by explaining that many of the models she knows are in school or are young women who are working hard to earn a living. “Some of the girls I work with, they’re really smart. They’re studying for their school. One of the girls was going into medical school,” McCue said. “A lot of them have a lot going for them.” Along with the stress of various stereotypes, the large amount of time that McCue has devoted to her modeling job can affect her high school life negatively. McCue was forced to miss the homecoming dance during her sophomore year
Senior Juliane McCue enjoys having a part-time job as a teen model. McCue began modeling by attending “open call” auditions and a pageant. She has a contract with Reinhard Modeling in Philadelphia. because of a modeling show that awhile because it’s something that now, Conestoga’s teen models plan was scheduled for the same night. I’m really interested in and it’s fun, on enjoying their part-time jobs. “It’s a commitment, and it’s but I don’t plan on doing that for “Getting in front of the camera [is fun because] you can kind of the rest of my life,” Larkin said. worth it,” McCue said. Larkin would one day like to just be yourself,” Larkin said. Despite the pressures they face, channel her interests in fashion modeling provides these Conestoga and modeling into opening her Larkin said. students with jobs that they enjoy, own boutique. McCue spoke of at least for the time being. perhaps trying out the other side of Emily Klein can be reached at “I really want to model for the camera as a photographer. For eklein@stoganews.com.
“In my proposal for the club I basically said that our goal is to let the students of Conestoga walk out of our doors feeling comfortable, knowing that they have the ability to get a job,” Yasgur said. “I feel as if we learn a lot of things in school, and I understand why we learn them, but they’re not practical. When am I ever going to need to know about the Kansas-Nebraska Act, right?” Yasgur said that she has never had a job and therefore has never gone through the hiring process. Because of her limited authority on the subject, her strategy is to bring in business professionals and experts to present to her club. Goltz attended the first three meetings to lend her expertise while the club got on its feet and developed a routine base of members. On Dec. 7, two Robert Half employees gave a presentation on business etiquette. Like QUAD656, Robert Half is a staffing firm but it is much larger with more than 350 locations around the world. Robert Half representatives
Stacey Machalette and Blake Mammuth spoke briefly to the 21 attendees about communications etiquette in the business world and gave their audience tips for the college or job application process. “Remember that you’re talking about yourself,” Machalette said. “Not your dog, not your mom. It’s about you and what makes you special and the best candidate for the job, so what you’re trying to do is present yourself in the best possible light.” She described the “One, Two, Three Column Method” as the best way to prepare for an interview. The first column is for students to list everything they’ve ever done, and the second column describes how much time they spent participating in each activity. The third column defines all personal accomplishments within the activity. Junior Natalie Purinton says that she learned many useful tips about preparing for and making a good impression during an interview.
Zach Lowry/The SPOKE
Interview Club prepares job applicants, college-bound students
Kelly Benning Staff Reporter Members of the newly-created Interview Club are all familiar with the song “Money Can’t Buy You Class” by Countess LuAnn, featured on the show “The Real Housewives.” The song serves as the club’s theme song and is played at the beginning of the club’s monthly meetings. “We say money can’t buy you class, only a good interview can buy you class,” said junior Chelsea Yasgur, founder and president of the newly created Interview Club. Yasgur was inspired to start the Interview Club last year over spring break. Her mother, Randi Goltz, runs the company QUAD656, a staffing firm that specializes in helping people through the hiring process. Goltz suggested that Yasgur start a club to help students learn how to give a good interview, noting that it is a crucial component of both the college application process and the hiring process.
Karolis Panavas/The SPOKE
Robert Half representatives Blake Mammuth and Stacey Machalette and junior Chelsea Yasgur give students tips about college and job interviews during an Interview Club meeting. “You shouldn’t have extreme and believes it will help him durjewelry or makeup,” Purinton ing his college search. said. “You shouldn’t be chewing “Etiquette can be really gengum [and] you should always eral, but because [Machalette and make eye contact. Make sure Mammuth] have brought in difyou inform yourself about the ferent staffing firms, we’ve really company [you are interviewing learned a lot of specifics and I’ve with] before you go in so you compounded my knowledge,” don’t ask stupid questions. You Miller said. should look classy.” Sophomore Christian Miller Kelly Benning can be reached at appreciated their input and advice kbenning@stoganews.com.