39 upper school community life
Exploring College and Career Paths Each year, the Journey program’s College and Career Perspectives Day in the Upper School highlights successful women who share their educational and professional wisdom with our student body. They hope to spark new ideas about college and career, and inspire students to achieve their full potential. This year’s diverse panel and mentoring sessions included: • Pamela Edwards Brown ’93, Monterey County deputy public defender • Katherine Carnazzo ’02, Ph.D. student in psychology at UC Santa Barbara • Barbara Domingo ’87, senior director of professional development at Claremont Graduate University’s Drucker School of Management • Lia Edwards, former NCAA and NFL administrator • Leslie Hayner, practicum coordinator of the Graduate School of Translation, Interpretation & Language Education at Monterey Institute of International Studies • Kendall Hoxsey ’04, compliance manager at Napa Wine Company • Megan Hutchins, meteorologist at Fleet Numerical Meteorological and Oceanography Center • Patricia J. Nervino, RN, MSN, nursing instructor at Monterey Peninsula College • Susan Smith Nixon ’87, district manager at Starbucks in Hawaii • Elizabeth Maher Purdum ’89, education management consultant at Purdum Associates • Christine Riley, meteorologist at the National Weather Service • Lindsey Rockwood ’00, veterinarian and co-owner of Toro Park Animal Hospital • Erin Schelcher, creative consultant, stylist, historian, and gemologist • Monica Johnson Steiner ’03, J.D., legal writer for Nolo.com
Before the panel, keynote speaker Mary Looram Moslander ’84, president and CEO of LiveHealthier, spoke about the changes in her career path over the past three decades, pointing out that there is no fast track to becoming successful. The 14 panelists who spoke after Moslander affirmed that it’s important to remain open to learning new things and to exploring various paths. Lia Edwards explained that she started out studying politics and law but ended up in sports administration. Patricia Nervino shared that when she was in high school, she did not even want to go to college; now, she holds two master’s degrees. Barbara Domingo ’87 tried three college internships before she discovered what she was best suited for. The panelists stayed after the event and led individual small-group mentoring sessions around campus. These meetings gave students the chance to ask questions and get to know the panelists on a personal level. In addition to attending the day’s events, student leaders helped direct, manage, and host segments of the program. Karli McIntyre ’14 and Gabby Sigrist ’14 served as panel moderators; several juniors served as point persons for the mentors; and the entire senior class participated in POINTS Portfolio Open House events at the start of the day. Each freshman, sophomore, and junior attended two open-house sessions, at which small groups of seniors talked about their Santa Catalina journey and the college admission process. Two seniors at each session also delivered senior reflections. These sessions gave the students, faculty, and staff the chance to ask the seniors meaningful questions about their future plans and how they plan to make the most of their remaining time at Santa Catalina.