Students listened to alumnae speak about their professions during Maison time at Career Day Jan. 16. Rather than following the tradition of previous years with panels of alumnae in similar areas of work, individual alumna gave presentations in separate classrooms to small groups.

“I hope to give them awareness of all the opportunities that exist,” Allison Fox DiGerolamo, Class of ‘00 said, “and what they can do with the education that Sion prepares them for.”

Each maison attend three presentations, each lasting 15 minutes. The speakers talked about a range of topics, including the education that led them to their current career, what their everyday work looks like and why they chose their job. 

“It was cool to get to learn about their different professions and how their education here helped them in the future,” sophomore Kat Riggs said. “Learning about all these different jobs taught me that there are a wide variety of professions and options open to me and my peers.”

The alumnae in attendance represented a variety of professions and fields of work. Eighteen speakers were present, including attorneys, business owners and executive officers. Katrina Keyes, Class of ‘02, spoke about her experience in sales and and how she ties art and creativity into her everyday business interactions as an account executive.

“It was good to speak to just kind of communicate what I do,” Keyes said, “and I hope to shed light on a career that’s not necessarily talked about in the education system”

Many speakers talked about their struggle to figure out what they wanted to do after college. Some spoke about how they eventually found their passion and how they turned that passion into a career. Lauren Cimpl, Class of ‘04, highlighted her struggle finding the college major that fit her interests and getting on her current career path. 

 “I want students to know that you can get a career in anything,” Cimpl said. “Just find something that interests you and it won’t be that hard; it won’t feel like work”

Most alumnae present wanted students to know that it is okay to not know exactly what you want to do after high school, according to Cimpl. Many gave advice over how to find their passion and what steps to take to turn that passion into a career.

“Career Day kind of shows students that you don’t have to know exactly what you’re doing now,” junior Emily Bukaty said. “Pretty much everyone that came didn’t know what they were going to do until they were  actually in college, so I feel like it kind of calms people down about not knowing what they want to do yet.”