Eastchester Middle School Eighth Graders Enjoy Career Day

Friday December 20th was not an ordinary day for eighth graders at Eastchester Middle School. The students participated in an annual Career Day, a day designed to get the students to start thinking about possible career paths.

The day began with a Keynote Address by Ereka Vetrini, an Eastchester High School graduate who after graduating from Boston College went on to a career in finance with General Electric, and became a spokesperson for Estee Lauder. She was also a contestant on the first season of Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice,” and is now a TV host on Kidspace HGTV and Yahoo “Easy Does It.” Ms. Vetrini encouraged the students to follow their dreams and go after whatever they really wanted to do. She told them the path to what you love is a difficult one and you should continue to work hard and believe in yourself. She told them that hard work pays off and will be worth it in the end.

After the keynote address, the students participated in three sessions, where they were able to hear from different professionals. There was Paul Doyle, filmmaker; Stacy Gallo, casting agent; Stephanie Barrett from the fashion industry; Tony Cusato and John Heidenreich, both from IBM; Eastchester Police Sgt. Rich Flood along with Westchester County Police Officer Brian Tierney and his bloodhound Saratoga; Danielle LeStrange, nurse; former Yankees catcher and YES broadcaster John Flaherty; Matt D’Amico, Eastchester High School teacher; Victor Mejia, restaurant owner of the Bagel Loft in Tuckahoe; and Eastchester Attorney Debbie Scalise.

The students were able to ask questions of the professionals. The common thread heard from these speakers was the importance of never giving up on what you really want to do. Anything is possible if you work hard and give one hundred percent of yourself. 

The day was coordinated by Health teacher Linda Sokol and Guidance Counselors Pam Magelowitz, Vickie Tucker and Samantha Schnell. Principal Scott Wynne says he loves this day because it gives the students a chance to think about some of the interesting career opportunities out there.