RUMFORD — What do a state representative, a senior account manager for the world’s leading cattle genetics marketing organization, a town manager and clinical laboratory scientist have in common? Each took time from her busy life to talk to Mountain Valley High School’s Girls Talk.

Girls Talk is a summer program to help freshmen girls make connections to gain a feeling of empowerment. Girls Talk is in its fifth year and older girls serve as mentors. Participants also interact with women on staff at MVHS.

State Rep. Sheryl Briggs, Senior Account Manager Natalie Sneller, Paris Town Manager Amy Bernard and Clinical Laboratory Scientist Mary Becke Zurhorst shared personal stories of their life’s journey and lessons they learned along the way. They offered sage advice to the freshmen and other high school girls about being successful.

Sneller is a 2003 graduate of Dirigo High School and a fifth-generation dairy farmer. She earned a bachelor’s degree in dairy science and agricultural business. As a senior account manager for World Wide Sires, Ltd., she travels in many countries in eastern Europe and Asia.

Sneller talked of the importance of having someone to confide in.

She said, “Always make sure you have a ‘person’ like Dr. Grey and Dr. Yang are each other’s person on Grey’s Anatomy. That confidant could be a good friend, teacher, sibling or cousin. If you don’t have someone, people are willing. You need to reach out to find someone. Conversely, don’t be afraid to help someone else.”

She continued, “Always set a high standard of excellence for yourself – be it a project or a role on a team. High standards elevate you and the people around you.”

Sneller recounted an internship she had in England. “I had never traveled internationally. I did communications work for an agricultural sales company. While I hated sitting in the office, I loved the travel. That was a valuable insight when I looked for a job after college.”

“Don’t pass up opportunities because you’re afraid,” she concluded. “That’s how we grow! If you don’t know how to do it, try it anyway.”

Bernard is a 1998 graduate of MVHS who took a rather circuitous journey to become Paris Town Manager. She began college at University of Maine at Presque Isle to get away from Rumford. Then she finished her degree at University of Maine at Farmington. She interned with Congressman Mike Michaud and worked for the Rumford Group Homes. Along the way, she earned a master’s degree in public administration and was Wayne’s Town Manager for four years.

Similar to Sneller’s advice, she advised the girls to not be afraid. “Don’t be afraid to fail, you will learn from that. Without failure, I wouldn’t have known what I didn’t want to do.”

Bernard continued, “Sleep on it! You get an email and the person is really upset with you. In the heat of the moment, you send a reply without thinking. That stays there [on the Internet] forever. Employers look at that stuff so be careful what you post.”

Briggs grew up in Mexico. After attending St. Theresa’s school, she graduated from Mexico High School. She worked at a shoe shop and then went to college to be a court stenographer. She then worked at the Registry of Deeds in South Paris and as an executive secretary for the Town of Mexico.

Briggs explained, “John Patrick [state senator] asked if I would like to run for a higher office. At that point, I knew God had a bigger plan for me. I am now in my fourth consecutive term. I am proud to represent the people in my district.”

Due to some issues during her growing up years, she told the girls, “I grew up never talking about things that happened to me as a kid. That’s not healthy. Find a mentor and reach out. You are not alone. Those challenges helped me to learn to make healthy decisions as an adult.”

Briggs urged the girls to avoid placing blame. She said, “I can point the finger at someone else for my mistakes and challenges but I have three more fingers pointing back at me.”

Zurhorst was a world traveler at a young age. She lived in Germany while her father taught at a German High School and she graduated from a high school in Iceland. She credits a high school biology teacher and a trip to a doctor’s lab with her decision to learn about medical technology.

What was once common, no longer exists was one of her themes as she explained her life’s journey. The program in medical technology no longer exists and the hospital where she received her training is no longer a hospital.

She challenged the young woman with the question “What kind of life do you envision for yourself?”

She continued, “I’m sensing your generation has a lot of pressure for woman to have traditional roles. I lived at a time that was really good for women because they were not stereotyped into traditional roles.”

Zurhorst cautioned as the other woman on the panel nodded, “Young women today have access to birth control and family planning and this gives them the freedom to decide when and if they want to get married and when they want to have children.”

All four women urged the high school girls to design their own lives, challenge themselves and make healthy choices along the way.