Three Forks. One Mouth and No Cell Phone?????

Sitting down in any formal setting can be nerve wracking and when you are trying to make a good impression but not sure what utensil to eat with what do you do? Pick up your cell phone and call a friend for help? Send a text message or a quick plea for advice to Facebook friends? Having a quick shot of self confidence can help you land that perfect job, or college placement. That is exactly what Christy Strickland, Family Consumer Science (FCS) Extension Agent and Shea Ann DeJarnette, 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent with the Robeson County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service tried to do for almost 40 youth and adults taking part in the Upward Bound Program (UBP) at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP) tonight.
Youth learned the basics of handshakes and introductions, on-line and cell phone manners, the art of the conversation, and how to set a table. With each lesson came time for hands on practice and critique. The most important lesson to learn from the night was that etiquette is not about drinking hot tea and keeping a pinkie finger in the air while you do it. Etiquette is about following a certain standard to make sure everyone feels comfortable and has a good time. After the hands on practice we got a chance to put our new found talents to work. Veronica Powell, the Upward Bound Coordinator (and 4-H volunteer) had a spread of snack and dessert foods ready for the youth to put on plates as well as beverages. In turn they had to figure out how to balance the plates, cups, eat and be able to shake hands and carry on a conversation without sitting down. It is something you don't think about until you end up trying to balance it all. Before we left one of the students presented the workshop leaders with UBP t-shirts that they will proudly wear (especially since they are 4-H green). We are looking forward to working with Upward Bound students again in the future.