The Dana Hall Middle School welcomed back six alumnae to talk with the students about their jobs for Career Day 2008.

Kate Saliba '93 is the co-owner and founder of Smudge Ink, a greeting card and custom print company based in Charlestown, Mass. As a student at Dana, she developed a love for art and composition. After a few years of working for Internet companies, she decided to take a chance and start her own business. She and her team of seven create greeting cards, wedding invitations, holiday tags, and other printed items. Her advice to the students: take risks. "I was groomed to do the professional thing; it was expected of me," Kate explained. "But I took a risk, and now I am excited about what I do, I love waking up in the morning to go to my job."

Emily Greenstein's '94 career path was not always so clear. After graduating from college, she went to culinary school, and then moved out West. She worked as a teacher and personal chef, but still wasn't content with her path. Upon returning to Boston, she headed back to school for acupuncture and found her passion. Working in a private practice and at a day spa, Emily has found great pleasure in helping people feel better.

Knowing she did not want to sit behind a desk all day, Heather Wish '01 took her love for food to the next level and decided to attend culinary school to become a chef. "I have learned, it's all about finding your passion," Heather told the students. Having worked in private homes as a personal chef and in several restaurants, including Petite Robert Bistro, Heather explained that working in restaurants has made her a better chef. She challenged the students to do what they love and push themselves so that they are always learning and improving.

Kimberly Maloomian '01 gave students a glimpse into her world on the road. Kimberly works as a nutritionist for Flying J, visiting truck stop restaurants, conducting inspections, and helping the facilities make improvements. She explained the importance of healthy eating and even discussed the recent changes at the Dana Hall Dining Center.

When Abby McIntire '04 decided to do a gap year after graduating from Dana, she knew exactly where she wanted to go: Ghana. She went there with $700 and found that the money could best be used to start a clinic in Nsanfo, Ghana. With the help of her host family and other members of the village, the clinic was established. She returned in 2006 with more donations, and the government assigned a full-time nurse to the clinic. Abby recently was named a Queen Mother of the village for all of her work in Ghana. Although she is still a student, Abby continues to maintain her ties with the village, working with the Northeastern University Co-op program to send nursing students to work in the clinic. Starting at Dana Hall, Abby committed herself to service. She told the students that even though she will have to get a "real" job after college, she always will maintain her connection with Ghana and the clinic.

Meghan Fitzgerald '00 attended Hobart and William Smith Colleges in New York where she played Varsity Lacrosse and interned in the Admission office. After graduation, she was able to continue doing both. Megan began working at Stonehill College as the Assistant Women's Lacrosse Coach and shortly after took a position in the college's Admission office. Now in the middle of her fourth year of coaching and third year in Admission, she still loves it. Recently promoted to Senior Admission Counselor, Meghan coordinates the college's multicultural recruitment, the student ambassadors group of 90 tour guides, and various on-campus events and open houses. Meghan demonstrated how her passions in school translated to the working world.

Anne Gunning, assistant director of the Middle School, said she thought the students would be able to relate to the alumnae because some of them sat in the same classrooms as Dana Hall middle schoolers themselves. The alumnae gave students a glimpse of what it means to be passionate about a job. Gunning is hopeful that the middle schoolers were inspired. "Many of the presenters ended up in their current careers completely by chance," Gunning noted. "Their career is not what they had originally set out to do. They were terrific role models for our girls to see and hear."