Connecting Classrooms to Careers

Hallways buzzed with activity and classrooms were filled as students gathered to meet face to face with the very careers they might one day hold, and professionals arrived to mentor and inspire the next generation in their field. 

On Monday, April 7, Shorecrest Upper School hosted its annual Career Day. The event was organized by the STEAM Club and Career Club and assisted by their advisor, Dr. Anna Baralt. After weeks of planning, the event finally came to life. Students were visited by professionals who presented and explained their fields of expertise.

The day started off with a lesson in the importance of failing from the Vice President of Goldman Sachs, Natalie Gebicke. Following the keynote students had the opportunity to choose their own adventure from an impressive lineup of speakers from a wide range of industries. Presenters included ArtStar founder and CEO Chrissy Crawford Corredor '98, Raymond James financial manager and investment firm owner Matt Frey, and veterinarian and small animal dentistry specialist Dr. Sarah Longino '13 who presented alongside many Shorecrest alumni and faculty members. 

From actors to surgeons, the students had a chance to learn from professionals in various careers. “While it is impossible to find speakers to meet the interests of every Shorecrest student, the committee worked hard to bring in dynamic individuals from across 18 different fields,” said Dr. Baralt. “I also love seeing our alumni come back to engage with the students.”

Career Day not only brings the community together in a positive, future-focused way but also provides students with clarity and direction about their futures. The speakers offered advice from their own struggles and experiences. As actress and activist Alexandria Crawford '12 said, “It’s not the end of the world, until it's the end of the world,” sharing the necessity of resilience to succeed in challenging fields.

Building connections is an important step in starting your career, and according to Leilani MacIntyre '26, who helped organize the event, Career Day introduced students to people they could form connections with and solicit advice and guidance from before entering the working world.

Students at Shorecrest were excited to meet professionals and develop those connections.

Lily Davila '26, who attended a session with Judge Michael Hooi '02, said, “My favorite thing in the world is just listening and watching someone talk about what they love, and it was so insightful, you could tell he loved what he did.” 

Thank you to all the speakers who shared their stories with us.

Learn about the presenters on this student-created website.

Photo from the Instagram account of The Chronicle, the Shorecrest Upper School student newspaper.