For one day, the Mount Carmel gym and classrooms were full of excitement, questions, and real world advice as students got a peek into the future. MC held its annual Career Day on Tuesday, December 9, and students had the chance to hear from people in various professions about their jobs, challenges, and tips for life after high school. Some speakers included Chris Janyk ’12, a financial advisor, Marvin Carr ’11, an orthopedic specialist, and Jack Klees ’07, who works in technology sales. The event was organized by Mrs. Kristina Luster and Mr. Dan La Count from the Counseling Department, and Mr. Craig Ferguson from the Advancement Office, who all helped book the speakers and make sure everything ran smoothly.
The goal of Career Day is simply to help students explore different careers and see what might interest them. As the whole school attended, listening to talks, asking questions, and learning how these professionals built their careers.
“I wanted students to see that success isn’t always a straight path,” Mr. Carr said. “It takes effort, the right attitude, and a willingness to keep learning.”
Career Day is something that MC has been doing for years, meant to give students a taste of real world experiences.
“This event gives students direction at a time when many of them are unsure about what comes next,” Mrs. Luster said. She explained that her goal is to bring in people who can honestly talk about the challenges of adult life and the choices students will face.
A topic several speakers talked about was how unpredictable careers can be.
“Not everything will go according to plan, and that’s completely normal,” Mr. Jaynk said while sharing his own experiences. His message reminded students to stay open to change and keep trying, even when things don’t go as expected. Networking was another important lesson.
“Building relationships and asking for advice can open doors you didn’t even know existed,” Mr. Klees said, sharing how mentors helped him succeed in his work.
Rocco Lopez, a senior at MC, said he left the event feeling less stressed about the future. “It made me feel better about not having to pick the perfect major right away,” he said, “Hearing their stories showed me that careers can change, and that’s okay.”
Every student seemed to have a real engagement in Career Day, and it has become and event that students can look forward to.
By the end of the day, students had new ideas and confidence about what they might do in the future. “If even one student leaves feeling more sure about their path,” noted Mrs. Luster, “then the day was worth it.”
