SIMI VALLEY : Teen-Age Mothers Told of Job Choices

A group of teen-age mothers and pregnant high schoolers were encouraged not to limit career choices at a presentation in Simi Valley on Friday by a panel of women who work jobs typically held by men.

Telephone line technician Diane Hendrick of Simi Valley donned a heavy tool belt and clutched a Pacific Bell hard hat to show the two dozen girls at Simi Valley Adult School what she looks like on a typical work day.

She admitted that it’s scary to climb the occasional pole that doesn’t have steps attached. But anyone would be frightened by having to dig a toe spike into wood for support.

“I love it when the men share their fears because they’re the same fears that I have,” said Hendrick, 37.

Other women who spoke to students in the adult education program included a machinist, two police officers, a firefighter, a paramedic and a music industry production director.

“When you’re a kid, you never think of being a firefighter because it’s just a man’s job,” said Janel Lunsford, 18, a student in the program who has an 11-month-old child. “But now I know a woman can be just as good.”

Teacher Cris Sullivan said she wanted the girls to be encouraged to stay in school and to be open to new careers despite the responsibilities of early motherhood.

“I want them to know they can be anything they want to be,” Sullivan said. “The world’s open to them.”

Just because a job is considered more suited to men doesn’t necessarily mean it’s more difficult, rugged or distasteful, said machinist Joyce Hayes, who graduated from Simi Valley Adult School 16 years ago after she was left widowed with six children.

“I probably get more oil on me frying chicken than I do at a machine shop,” said Hayes, who teaches part-time at the school.