What are you going to do when you grow up?
What kind of life do you want?
Those questions and more bounce off the heads of high school students often as they make their way through their teenage years.
But knowing what you want and taking steps to get there can be a difficult journey without adults along the way to guide you.
Enter the Soroptimist International of Tri-Cities, a group of local professional women, which is hosting a two-day Dream It Be It conference for girls 14 to 18 years of age this summer at Douglas College.
Organizer Colleen Penrowley, who is retired from teaching software development, said the event will help participants gain tools for imagining, setting and achieving their goals, and participants will get help and advice from professional women who will be there to show them the way.
"The background research says it's the largest cohort of adolescent girls in human history. Girls are being told get an education, get jobs and take care of their families… girls are given these messages, and they feel like there's a lot of pressure on them.
"They need skills, they need guidance, they need resources and they need role models," Penrowley said.
The conference curriculum was developed by the Soroptimist International organization and this is the second year of Dream It Be It in the Tri-Cities.
Penrowley said she would like to see about 100 local teens sign up for the free program. Already, a number of professional women have been contacted to participate, and many other details are being worked out for the conference, which will be held Aug. 22 and 23.
"Hopefully, when they leave, they'll have their own individual plan of action they can tackle over the next few weeks."
Coquitlam is partially sponsoring the event with a Spirit Grant, and meals will be provided.
• To register, visit soroptimisttricities.org.
