A career symposium in high school and one of those formulaic 'choose-your-occupation' quizzes led Darrell Cole to his calling. But not in the way you might expect.

He left the symposium with a bag full of pamphlets but no real clue about his future direction. "I remember, even then, thinking ‘This is ludicrous. How can I make a life decision about what I'm going to do based on brochures?’" Darrell says.

He also recalls how he and his classmates were told what they should do with the rest of their lives based on their responses to a survey. This unsophisticated tool couldn't even pinpoint a career for the one friend of his who seemed to have it all figured out.

“His whole life he wanted to be a professor - and he went on to do so - but the test told him he should be a forest ranger. I thought, ‘If they can't even get him right, we're all doomed.’"

"I believe in these kids and I believe in what we're doing here..."
- Darrell

So, when Darrell had the opportunity years later - in 1996 - to create a federal government-funded project that would help kids stay in school, he knew it had to be something that would let young people experience careers for themselves. He also knew how important it was to recognize the potential in kids and not use grades as a barometer for intelligence or future success.

Darrell himself failed Grade 12 and had to finish in summer school. "Since I was a weak student, a lot of people confused my grades with academic and life potential," he says, noting kids do poorly at school for lots of reasons. Maybe they don't understand how school is relevant to them. Maybe their teachers or parents haven't done enough to engage them. Or maybe they live in poverty and come to class on an empty stomach.

Darrell went on to get his master's degree in Social Work. As a graduate student, he worked for Mini U (an academic and sports summer camp for youth at the University of Manitoba) and for the first time saw kids making the connection between school and future careers.

A father of two, Darrell believes young people have to be shown that link early on, so they not only get fired up about one day going to university, college or taking part in an apprenticeship but pick the appropriate high school courses that will help get them there.

It can be a tough road for a lot of young people - not unlike Career Trek's journey.

Over the years, funding has been sporadic but Darrell - who at times paid company bills with his own cheque book - stuck to his vision.

"I believe in these kids and I believe in what we're doing here," he says. "All I see are possibilities."