The Counseling Department and College/Career Center at West Hartford’s Hall High School invited alumni and community leaders to speak with students about their professions.

Submitted by Gabby Downey, Student Activities/Career Center Coordinator, Hall High School

Early in the new year the Hall High School Counseling Department and College/Career Center relaunched a guest speaker series entitled “What is my Profession?”

Local professionals, community leaders and Hall alumni were invited to speak with interested students about their professions. Each week of the series was themed to ensure different industries were covered in hopes of exposing students to a variety of career opportunities. (There were Business, Medical, First Responder, Mental Health Professions, STEM, and other weeks.) In addition to learning, Hall students actively engaged with guests who provided feedback, answered questions, and connected with students who showed an interest.

Industries/organiztions represented included a medical and nursing; West Hartford Police and West Hartford Fire Department, and Animal Control; licensed social work; information security; WTNH anchor; financial planner; social media and marketing; computer science; licensed attorney; photographer; small business owner; and many others.

The program was started as an initiative to help students learn and hear about career options while also getting to hear about different paths to careers.

Guest speakers like Kevin Ahern, a licensed attorney in West Hartford, were eager to share with students that there isn’t always a need for a traditional path. Ahern said he was able to study theater as an undergraduate and find a career in law without the pressure to “know everything right away.” Other speakers like Lauren Mahler, Nicholas Sanford, Sarah Fuller, Donna Eisner, and Chloe Hart Kindelberger were able to connect with students as Hall alumni themselves. It was important for students to see someone like themselves out in a field or career that they could resonate with. 

This program will continue to run throughout the year as speakers will continue to be invited to Hall and meet with students and classes.

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