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Rio Lindo Academy holds Career Day
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| What’s your career path? - Rio Lindo career counselor Kailisha Madrid organized Career Day at the school last week for the first time in the last 10 years. Professionals from various industries spoke to students about their careers. - PHOTO BY Ryan Rudnansky |
Event helps guide students on career path
By Ryan Rudnansky
Staff Writer
On April 5, Rio Lindo Adventist Academy had its first Career Day in 10 years.
The event had speakers from a variety of professions-from Healdsburg to Oregon-come in and speak to students at the academy for the day.
Speakers talked about their day-to-day experiences at their jobs, how they got where they are, tips on how to be successful in the working world, trials and tribulations, obstacles they’d overcome, and how to work with different types of people, among other things.
Speakers were divided into four career categories: business, technology and computers; social and community services; the medical field; and art and music. Jobs included: a lawyer, educator, computer professional, businessman, physical therapist, nurse, artist, mental therapist, technical engineer, public health professional, surgeon, musician, cable car worker, firefighter and EMT, police officer, small business worker, dentist, veterinarian, and a journalist.
Kailisha Madrid, in her first year as Rio Lindo career counselor, organized the event.
Madrid said she thought up the event last year when she noticed that some Rio Lindo seniors “didn’t know what path they wanted to take” after graduating from the academy.
To find out what careers students would be most interested in, Madrid administered “ACT Discovery” career tests that tested what they valued. Based on this, Madrid was able to identify what professions students would most like to learn about. She then sat down one-on-one with them to follow up.
“I thought, ‘Let’s find some way to connect them to where they want to go,’” Madrid said.
Madrid said students were excited when they heard they were going to be a part of a Career Day.
“None of the students ever had a Career Day so they were really interested in it,” she said.
Students also were given the opportunity to ask questions after each professional spoke, and wrote comments about each presentation afterward.
Madrid thought it was a valuable opportunity for students to come closer to deciding what they wanted to do after the academy.
“I think it allows them to find out what interests them and hear what (professionals) go through day-in and day-out,” Madrid said. “It’s a link for kids to find a pathway. Today somebody’s going to touch them and it’s going to help them.”
Alan Abbott, a surgery consultant for Loma Linda University Medical Center, kicked off the event with a 45-minute presentation.
Abbott talked about how to “get the job and keep the job,” good interviewing techniques and skills, how to communicate and work with people, the importance of “professional courtesy” and a “firm handshake,” and his journey to where he was and what he learned along the way.
He also stressed for each individual to find the right job for them, noting he had hired people that were fired from other jobs because their skill sets worked well with his company. The key, he said, was finding what you were passionate about.
“If there is any reason you don’t think this job is for you, close the door,” Abbott said.
Students seemed to find Career Day opened doors for them.
Jay Hammonds, an 11th grader at Rio Lindo, seemed to respond well after one of the earlier sessions.
“So far I like it because it’s a good experience to see what’s heading towards us,” he said. “I think it’s a good experience for all high school kids and gives us a little bit of an edge.”
Jay said “making good contact with people” during the job was the best advice he heard.
“Not just being in a job, being a part of a job,” he said.
Jay said he wanted to be a newspaper writer when he grew up.
“I love to write and I figure writing in a newspaper wouldn’t feel like I was working,” he said. “I’d be doing something I enjoy.”
Shannon Pennisi and Heather Young, 12th graders at Rio Lindo, found Career Day to be rewarding as well.
“Especially for people that don’t know what they want to do, it definitely narrows it down,” said Shannon, who wants to work in the medical field.
“It points out which jobs are interesting,” added Heather, possibly a future pediatric nurse. “It’s a great way to learn about careers.”
The event had speakers from a variety of professions-from Healdsburg to Oregon-come in and speak to students at the academy for the day.
Speakers talked about their day-to-day experiences at their jobs, how they got where they are, tips on how to be successful in the working world, trials and tribulations, obstacles they’d overcome, and how to work with different types of people, among other things.
Speakers were divided into four career categories: business, technology and computers; social and community services; the medical field; and art and music. Jobs included: a lawyer, educator, computer professional, businessman, physical therapist, nurse, artist, mental therapist, technical engineer, public health professional, surgeon, musician, cable car worker, firefighter and EMT, police officer, small business worker, dentist, veterinarian, and a journalist.
Kailisha Madrid, in her first year as Rio Lindo career counselor, organized the event.
Madrid said she thought up the event last year when she noticed that some Rio Lindo seniors “didn’t know what path they wanted to take” after graduating from the academy.
To find out what careers students would be most interested in, Madrid administered “ACT Discovery” career tests that tested what they valued. Based on this, Madrid was able to identify what professions students would most like to learn about. She then sat down one-on-one with them to follow up.
“I thought, ‘Let’s find some way to connect them to where they want to go,’” Madrid said.
Madrid said students were excited when they heard they were going to be a part of a Career Day.
“None of the students ever had a Career Day so they were really interested in it,” she said.
Students also were given the opportunity to ask questions after each professional spoke, and wrote comments about each presentation afterward.
Madrid thought it was a valuable opportunity for students to come closer to deciding what they wanted to do after the academy.
“I think it allows them to find out what interests them and hear what (professionals) go through day-in and day-out,” Madrid said. “It’s a link for kids to find a pathway. Today somebody’s going to touch them and it’s going to help them.”
Alan Abbott, a surgery consultant for Loma Linda University Medical Center, kicked off the event with a 45-minute presentation.
Abbott talked about how to “get the job and keep the job,” good interviewing techniques and skills, how to communicate and work with people, the importance of “professional courtesy” and a “firm handshake,” and his journey to where he was and what he learned along the way.
He also stressed for each individual to find the right job for them, noting he had hired people that were fired from other jobs because their skill sets worked well with his company. The key, he said, was finding what you were passionate about.
“If there is any reason you don’t think this job is for you, close the door,” Abbott said.
Students seemed to find Career Day opened doors for them.
Jay Hammonds, an 11th grader at Rio Lindo, seemed to respond well after one of the earlier sessions.
“So far I like it because it’s a good experience to see what’s heading towards us,” he said. “I think it’s a good experience for all high school kids and gives us a little bit of an edge.”
Jay said “making good contact with people” during the job was the best advice he heard.
“Not just being in a job, being a part of a job,” he said.
Jay said he wanted to be a newspaper writer when he grew up.
“I love to write and I figure writing in a newspaper wouldn’t feel like I was working,” he said. “I’d be doing something I enjoy.”
Shannon Pennisi and Heather Young, 12th graders at Rio Lindo, found Career Day to be rewarding as well.
“Especially for people that don’t know what they want to do, it definitely narrows it down,” said Shannon, who wants to work in the medical field.
“It points out which jobs are interesting,” added Heather, possibly a future pediatric nurse. “It’s a great way to learn about careers.”
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