Ninth Graders Learn About Various Professions At Career Days

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Onondaga County Undersheriff Jason Cassalia and members of the freshmen class.

Ninth grade students had an opportunity to investigate possible careers that suited their personality and academic areas of interest this past spring, as CBA hosted four career days.

Last October, freshmen took the PLAN test, a comprehensive guidance resource that helps students measure their current academic development and explore career/training options. The PLAN test helps students find careers that match their interest and build a solid foundation for future academic and career success.

As a result of the tests, students participated in “brown bag” informal meetings, and spoke with professionals who represented various occupations from four of the six major areas of ‘career personality’ profiles. The six career areas selected for this year’s class included: medical, business/marketing, broadcasting, engineering, law and law enforcement. Each ninth grade student chose one career speaker to attend, but were not limited to attending all presentations.

Jen Falco of the Syracuse University Athletics Department discusses marketing with members of the freshmen class.

The speakers included: Jen Falco, Kerri Jennings and Drew Zamora, Syracuse University Athletics Marketing (business); Dr. Mark Polhemus, Director of Center for Global Health and Translational Science at Upstate Medical Center (medical); Jennifer Sanders and Christy Casciano of WSYR Newschannel 9 (broadcasting); and Jason Cassalia, Undersheriff, Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department (law enforcement).

Dr. Mark Polhemus, Director of Center for Global Health and Translational Science at Upstate Medical Center.

“The purpose and reasoning behind the career days was for the students to investigate professions/areas of work through actual professionals in the area,” said Chris Dopkowski, ninth grade guidance counselor. “They were able to see, hear and feel the livelihood of these individuals, while learning new information they may have never known. Many students are surprised of the details each job possesses and learned many interesting things from the speakers.”