Career Day allows students to explore job opportunities

Taylor D'Andrea and Alice KorsNews Editor and Staff WriterThe Samohi Ambassadors Club, in partnership with the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce (SMCC), hosted the second annual Career Day on Wednesday May 25th in the Science Quad. Students were given the opportunity to explore many different options for their futures, and speak with working adults about career experiences.Stations were set up around the quad for about 60 professionals currently working in various fields — ranging from commercial directors to environmental lawyers — talked to students, offered information and advice on different jobs and explained how to get started on a career. According to Ambassadors Club Vice-President Alice Wasserman, the club hand-picked each representative prior to the event."We carefully chose which kind of professionals students would be most interested in based off of general popularity and input from all of the club members," Wasserman said. "We then discussed if we immediately knew anyone who would want to participate, and it was built from there."Students also got a chance to  participate in discussions with featured lecturers during periods 4, 5 and 6, which included sports coaches from around the community and representatives from different businesses, some of whom were also offering job opportunities.One panelist, Debra Matsumoto, the director of sales and marketing for the JW Marriot, felt that career day was very beneficial to Samo students."I think it gives [students] the opportunity to be introduced to businesses and careers they perhaps have never considered," Matsumoto said. "It's great overall information, because who really knows what you want to do when you're 15 to 17? It gives you a chance to meet your community. I think it's a great asset."Some students were even offered internships or other opportunities in the fields that interest them, including fashion and business. However, students like junior Kassia Filkins would have liked the event to focus more on placing students in jobs and internships, rather than simply presenting future job options."[Career Day] was interesting, but I wish there would have been more internship opportunities," Filkins said. "They should definitely have another one and have more companies come."The Ambassadors Club was very proud of the outcome of Career Day.""It was kind of a stressful day, but everything worked out very well and it went very smoothly," sophmore and Ambassadors Club member Natalie Keller said. "I think it was a successful event that everyone enjoyed."According to Carla Fantozzi, SMCC  Employee and the Ambassador Club's liaison, the Ambassadors club was extremely mature, and "...the club was an incredibly focused and professional group of students that I am proud to have worked with."tdandrea@thesamohi.comakors@thesamohi.com