The Southwestern Experience

To whom it may concern,
My son, Shannon, working in Portland, ME really enjoys working for your company. Especially, the support he received after his car blew-up. I, too, thank you for your help in a situation being so far away one feels kind of helpless.

My question for Southwestern is there any way on the website to track his progress through the summer? He seems to be doing well and I am getting excited along with him. There is nowhere he could be working and have the opportunity Southwestern has provided him.

Thank you again.

Have a blessed day,
Michael

Dear Lester

i got the book about a week ago and was so excited and thankful, you are
really great. I am so glad jes and john have found you and Southwestern,
what a future they have in store for them!!

To go out of your way and mail that to me special, was
well...................very special, as you are.

Once again thank you so much for all you do and all that you are,
you have touched my family's life in so many ways. If there is EVER ANYTHING
that I can do for you, PLEASE just ask and i am there. Can't wait to see
you at the awards and give you a great big hug.

It is difficult to describe.....actually, it's a pleasure to describe the extraordinary differences that fifteen weeks "on the road" with SW made in our daughter's life.
She learned to run her own business, and to manage its financial aspects responsibly and independently. Inventory, budgeting, ordering, distribution, and projected earnings became part of her every day "business plan". She learned to distil and clarify her ideas; to refine and personalize her sales presentation; to anticipate and adjust to her clients' interests; and finally, to have the fortitude to keep going....even in the face of rejection, discouragement, and yes...even in the rain!! Most importantly, daily discussions, and constant positive feedback from her SW advisors inspired confidence in her own achievements, and the wisdom to hone and carry over these new found skills into future
endeavors.

All this......AND she earned lots of money!! Her earnings were commensurate with the time and effort she invested in the program. What an incentive!! At this stage of their young lives, being monetarily rewarded for hard work can mean everything to them.......independence, schooling, contributing to family, travel,
personal enrichment.......everything!

This SW leadership program is tried and true. At its heart are the exceptionally dedicated and talented mentors who nurture the whole person. They bring out the very best in young people........inspiring the focus, the self esteem, and the personal ethics needed in any and all life pursuits. They give them real skills to help them live real lives.

Our son, Joey, was born with a mind of his own and a positive attitude that could not be stifled. He has always marched to the beat of his own drummer, excelling at just about everything he's done. We thought him a kind, bright, and generous person, that was perhaps a tad naive when it came to what was waiting for him in the "real world". Last May he called from school (University of Richmond), and told us of his summer plans.... My husband thought he was insane, and wanted to veto it. I thought he was insane, and knew once he'd decided on something, it would be hard to budge him.

I asked him to research your company for the "cons" as well as the "pros". He did. I spent countless hours searching for one bad thing about Southwestern on the internet. I found, instead, many positive testimonials. No good material for me to use to argue against his plans seemed available. Off he went to Ohio. He struggled the whole summer, and worked over 80 hours each week. He didn't meet his sales goals. He walked till he could buy a bike, and then when the bike was stolen, he walked again. He lived on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and the $2.00 breakfasts at a little restaurant. He had no weight to lose, and still lost weight.

It was the best experience he has ever had, and he's had many. He walked off the plane, seemingly a foot taller, with a bandana around his head, a Spiderman watch on his wrist, and a smile that lit up the area. Confidence radiated from him. He'd gone off on his own, found his own housing, supported himself, and did it in the heat, the rain, and through hundreds of rejections. He'd done it. He'd earned enough to pay for the MG convertible that was waiting for him in the driveway. A walker, no more.

This is his second summer, and he's selling up a storm in Indiana. He's a student manager, and the experience he got over the last year recruiting has been invaluable. The attitude he took with him this May was that of a man with high goals, determination, and an absolute joy to be back on the street with a bookbag in his hand and trail mix in his pocket. His current future plans include a few more summers with Southwestern, a year abroad after graduation this year, studying language in an Arabic immersion program, and then off to law school. He knows that he can do it all now. He also knows that he's ready for the hard work needed to follow these dreams.

The sceptic (me) has reluctantly (because I'm always right), come to the realization that this has been an incredibly valuable experience for my son, and will remain valuable throughout his lifetime. He will be a better judge of people, more organized, more focused, more determined, and (if possible) more able to see the brighter day just ahead. Thank you.

There have been trials along the way including car problems, hot weather, long days and unfriendly people to name a few, but the rewards are immeasurable. The financial reward is certainly excellent, but the life lessons about goal setting, time and money management and people skills are far greater than money can buy.

The management and support staff of the Southwestern Company is driven by their desire to speak into the lives of college students a message of a quality work ethic and achievement. Their encouragement and mentoring bring values that are lacking among today’s young adults.