On Tuesday, January 5, Dana Hall welcomed seven alumnae back to campus for Dana’s third annual Career Day. The alumnae spoke to sixth, seventh and eighth grade students about their experiences in the workplace. Vyda Bielkus ’93, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of B1 Community, Lauren Giblin ’97 and Ameila Finau ’98, Owners of Adara Spa, Wyley Proctor ’98, Senior Associate at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, Myisha Rodrigues-Scott ’00, Case Manager/Mentor Coordinator at Just A Start House, Jenny Bai ’02, Founder of The Red Connect and Jess Isner ’05, Production Coordinator in the New Media Department at NESN described their career paths.

The alumnae encouraged students to combine their natural talents with what they enjoy when choosing a career. “Use what you have and discover what is special about you,” said Jenny Bai ’02. Entrepreneur Vyda Bielkus ’93 integrated her professional skills acquired in previous jobs with her passion for wellness to develop health coach training for health care providers, as well as opened a yoga studio with her mother and sisters. “When you are helping something grow, you grow too,” commented Bielkus.  

The guest speakers told students not to get discouraged if they change their minds about their career. Coming from a family of doctors, Wyley Proctor ’98 thought from a young age that she too would be a doctor. After enrolling at Yale University and changing her major from Medicine to Economics, Proctor decided to attend Duke Law School where she received her J.D. in 2006. Proctor now calls her law career “the best accident.” When Lauren Giblin ’97 and Amelia Finau ’98 both decided they needed career changes, the Dana friends put their skills together and opened Adara Spa in Boston in April 2008. Giblin told the middle schoolers to, “Ask yourself what your passion in life is and what your goals and dreams are.”

Students spent 30 minutes with each alumna and were also given a preview of what is it like to be a Dana alumna. Young Alumnae Associate Erin Welch asked the girls to look into the future and write a Class Notes-style update on her life after graduating from Dana. The students shared new of future families, jobs, and exciting adventures.

“This year’s Career Day was a great success,” said Welch. “We had a professional group of alumnae with diverse backgrounds, and they all shared how Dana guided them to where they are today. Career Day is a great chance for Middle School students to get a glimpse of what their futures could hold from women who were once in their shoes.”