Career Day Exposes High School Students to Different Career Paths

Students at Alexander Hamilton High School in the Elmsford Union Free School District had a break away from their usual schedule Dec. 6 as close to 30 professionals visited the school to share their experiences and advice on a variety of different careers.

Some of the professions in attendance included a drama coach from Random Farms Kids Theater, a real estate financing attorney who works on Wall Street, a marketing representative from the Westchester Knicks, a teen librarian at the Greenburgh Public Library, a sports writer, a United Nations judge, a plastic surgeon and much more.

Christina Harper, senior services and special events coordinator at the Theodore D. Young Community Center in Greenburgh, emphasized the importance of networking and getting to know people in a profession that students might want to pursue.

Crystal Davis, a junior account executive at Swat Fame Inc., a textile company that makes several fashion brands for women and young girls, recounted her work history after graduating from college.

“Everything I learned in internships I was able to take and use in my career,” said Ms. Davis, who worked as an intern at Tommy Hilfiger and Diesel.

Dr. Mahjabeen Hassan, a plastic surgeon affiliated with Phelps Hospital Memorial Center, recounted her life’s experience as a doctor and counseled students to work hard in order to get ahead in their chosen professions.

Linda Ferone, executive director of sales and catering at the Double Tree by Hilton hotel in Tarrytown, described her duties and what it takes to get a job at the popular hotel. Ms. Ferone said she is involved in event planning, budgeting and other aspects of management.

“What you need most to get a job at the Double Tree are people skills, common sense and the ability to work hard,” said Ms. Ferone, who has been responsible for generating several accolades for the hotel, including awards from The Knot, three Diners’ Choice awards from Open Table and two TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence awards.

The Honorable Judge Alexander Hunter, Jr., a former Bronx Supreme Court judge who now sits on the United Nations Dispute Tribunal, reiterated the importance of schooling, but said that students should never discount the power of the heart and mind.

“You have to create options in your life in order to achieve your goals,” he added.

AHHS alumna Meagan Rivera, now an architect at Keller/Eaton Architects of Mamaroneck, described her quest to find a job in her chosen profession.

“Architecture is such an intense program in college,” recalled Ms. Rivera, who held a supervisory position at a local Staples before getting the coveted job in the award-winning firm. “I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am today if it weren’t for some hard times.”

Ms. Rivera said that since joining the firm she has worked on a million-dollar landmark building renovation in New York City and smaller projects around Westchester.

“It’s exhausting, but I love what I do,” she said.

AHHS librarian Lisa Watson, who helped recruit many of the speakers, said she tried to include many different professionals and also solicited students’ opinions to see what they might be interested in.

Ms. Watson said the professionals who agreed to participate were friendly, receptive and excited to share their experiences.

“I love days like this because they take our students beyond the walls of Hamilton and inspire them to be anything they want to be,” she added. “From what I saw and heard, both the professionals and the students loved the experience.”