On Tuesday, January 6, Dana Hall hosted its second annual Career Day. Six alumnae were welcomed back to speak about their professional experiences with sixth, seventh and eighth grade students. Jane Monti Young '98, Art Gallery Director, Christina Omori '00, Marketing Research Associate for the Boston Globe, Kat Lafferty '02, Molecular Diagnostic Technician, Maryclare Dignan '03, Paralegal, Kelly Heard '02, Quality Control Manager at Kraft Sports Group, and Chidi Iruka '06, Senior Corps Member for City Year, shared what their school and professional lives have been like since attending Dana.

All six alumnae spoke about two themes: exploring different areas of study, and not being afraid to try new things. "Through Dana and college," said Kat Lafferty '02, "it's really important to have an open mind." Christina Omori '00 echoed that it is important to keep your career options open, noting, "You don't have to follow what everyone else is doing."

The alumnae also agreed it only takes one class or experience to make you realize what your area of interest is. Jane Monti Young '98 recalled being assigned an essay in her Western Civilization class at Dana that could be about a topic of her choice.  She chose to write about a famous sculpture and "was more excited about it than about anything else I ever wrote about." Years later, Young is the Art Gallery Director at Chase Gallery on Newbury Street in Boston. She went on to say, "If you find something you're really interested in, chances are you'll be good at it."

After students spent 20 minutes with each alumna, the seventh and eighth graders listened to a panel of six different alumnae who are current Dana Hall employees. While the seventh and eighth graders attended the panel, sixth grade students were given a taste of what it will be like to be Dana alumnae. Alumnae Relations and Annual Giving Assistant Erin Welch asked each sixth grader to pretend it is the year 2025 and write an update on her life since her Dana days to be submitted in the Bulletin's Class Notes.  Students wrote about families, jobs, and where they see themselves 10 years after they graduate. Welch plans to have the sixth graders receive these notes at their actual 10-year Reunion.

"Career Day is a chance for our young alumnae to come back to campus and see how Dana is doing today," said Welch.  "Not long ago, the alumnae were sitting in the same classrooms, taking the same courses, and working with the same teachers as the girls who listened to them today.  For the students, it's an opportunity to see how the alumnae's time at Dana shaped them to be the young women they are today. They are great role models to the middle school students, whose college and career ideas are just beginning to take shape."

Click here for pictures from Career Day.