Strath Haven Middle School

Dimensions in Living Day May 20, 2015

Sophie Kujawski

Lillian Liu

Strath Haven Middle School

Thanks Our Speakers for

Their Time & Inspiration •

Alexia Alvarez-Burock

Page 2

Dear SHMS Students and Parents, Welcome to Dimensions in Living 2015, the annual Home and School Association program designed to help SHMS students explore their early career interests. For those new to this program, Dimensions in Living recruits speakers who represent a wide variety of occupations – many of whom are also parents, guardians and residents within our own district! Each speaker presents to groups of students during three class periods. It is a significant commitment of time and we thank all of our speakers for making room in their busy schedules to spend the day with us. This year’s speakers represent career options as diverse as sports management, comic book illustration, policing, photojournalism, nursing, engineering and many more. Here is how the program works: Students complete an online form to select their top choices from 34 possible speakers and topics. The Committee will give priority to students based on grade level, but will work hard to assign all students to sessions that most closely match their interests. Within this booklet you will find a complete listing of available speakers and topics from which to choose. You will also find the prize-winning student art from the 2015 Dimensions in Living Art Contest, graciously coordinated by Art Teacher Pat Cocco. We wish all of our students a day filled with new and interesting career dimensions – and hope that the sessions will spark conversations with parents, too, about their work. Happy explorations! Sincerely, The 2015 Dimensions in Living Committee

Suhita Betal Robin Boyer Nicole Burdette Ranita Chakrabarti Marj Hatzell

Ali Holsinger Stephanie Malarkey Melissa Mandos Dee Paylor Colleen Stellabotte Page 3

Raina Kuzemka

Page 4

• IN GRATITUDE • Dr. George King, for his support and encouragement of this program Ellen Green, the committee’s administrative liaison, for her generosity of time and excellent advice throughout Mary Kraus, for her time and enthusiastic technical support for our speakers Ali Holsinger, SHMS parent and owner of AlaineGraphics, for design of the DIL booklet Pat Cocco, for orchestrating the student art contest and Brad Hosbach and Jocelyn McMahon for their support Kristen McIlhenney for helping to advertise DIL activities in the weekly SHMS e-News Mary Cullen, Print Service Operator at the District Office for reproducing the DIL booklet Cornelia Vieira and the Luncheon Committee, for planning and organizing the speaker luncheon and reception and making all the speakers feel welcomed All SHMS teachers for their support, suggestions and help in the classrooms The Home and School officers and parents for your support of the event

Page 5

Erica Feehery

Page 6

• ART CONTEST WINNERS • First Place:

Sophie Kujawski

Second Place:

Lilian Liu

Third Place:

Alexia Alvarez-Burock

Honorable Mentions:

Raina Kuzemka Erica Feehery James Hess

Thank you to all the students who participated in the art contest and congratulations to the winners!

Page 7

James Hess

Page 8

• TODAY’S SPEAKERS •

1. Actress: The Business of Show Business

Gabrielle Miller, Actress and Educator Let's talk about the business of acting! Learn about the different paths you can take in the industry. Learn how to market yourself in the competitive world of film, TV, and theatre. During the session, Ms. Miller will perform a short portion of her Living Voices one woman show.

2. Advertising Writer: Get Paid for Thinking Up Cool Ideas

.

Andy Merz, Advertising Writer, The Merz Group

Are you creative? Do you like to use your imagination? Then you may want to be an advertising writer. People in advertising are always looking for the “big idea.” Who knows, maybe you’ll write a Super Bowl commercial some day and get to see it while you watch the game!

3. Air Traffic Controller: Air Traffic Controllers - The Eye in the Sky

Nicole Atchley, Federal Aviation Administration, Philadelphia International Airport Learn what exactly air traffic control is and what we do as controllers to ensure safety in the skies. Ms. Atchley will talk about training and working as an air traffic controller in one of the country’s busiest airports.

Page 9

4. Architect: A Career and Life in Architecture

Craig S. Spangler, AIA, Architect and Firm Principal, Ballinger Mr. Spangler will use models, drawings, and software to demonstrate how a building is designed and provide an understanding of the tools and methods that an architect uses. You will learn what the role of an architect is, the broad opportunities that an architect can pursue, and the education required to become an architect.

5. Art Director: Inspiring Creativity

Gabrielle Fulginiti, Art Director, PulseCX Everyone can be creative, but only some people choose to nurture and use their creativity as a career. During the Inspiring Creativity presentation you will learn what an Art Director does, participate in creative exercises, and see if a job in design is right for you. Let’s get those creative juices flowing!

6. Attorney: A Life in the Law

Frannie Reilly, Law Office of Frannie Reilly, LLC Are you a good negotiator? Do you enjoy working with people to help them solve their problems? Do you think that all lawyers practice in a courtroom? Learn about the art of negotiation to get companies sold and real estate purchased. Understand the joy of working with clients to help them understand legal issues and get their problems solved.

Page 10

7. Baker: Are You an Ace or a Boss in the Making? 


Beth DeBruyn, Baker and Owner of Cakezilla In this hands-on session, Cakezilla teaches you the basics of starting your own business and writing a business plan. You’ll create one of Cakezilla’s most popular treats. From there you’ll only be limited by your imagination!

8. Bio-Pharmaceutical Manager: Interested in a Bio-Pharmaceutical Industry Career? You Can Purify your Own Vaccine!

Atis Chakrabarti, Manager, Technical Services, Tosoh BioScience LLC Have you visited the doctor’s office and met with a nurse who gave you a shot in your arm? If you take this career path you will be able to purify those vaccines yourself and save thousands of lives.

9. Blogger / Writer: Blogging 101

Marj Hatzell, Blogger and Writer, www.thegoddess.com

Do you like to write? Do you have something you want to share with the world? Have you ever thought about starting your own blog? If so, blogging might be the career or hobby for you and you can begin today! In this interactive session, Ms. Hatzell will work with you to develop ideas for your own blogs or vlogs, discuss how blogging can be a fun and powerful tool for communication, and talk about key factors of success for a blog. We will also examine where you could run into trouble and a variety of techniques to approach the challenges that come with “putting yourself out there.”

Page 11

10. Comic Book Artist and Illustrator: Digital Art for Comic Books and Illustration

Phil Noto, Comic Book Artist and Illustrator, Marvel Comics Former Disney animator and current Marvel Comics artist, Mr. Noto, will discuss what it’s like to make a living as an artist in the digital age and present examples of his work and process.

11. Director / Actress / Singer: A Career in the Performing Arts

Therese Walden-Murphy, West Chester Studio for the Performing Arts What is life like for a performing artist, and how do you prepare for such a career? Learn what a performer can do now to make life easier when you are a professional.

12. Educator: What Does It Take to Become a Teacher?


MaryJo Yannacone, Ed.D., Strath Haven High School Principal, Wallingford-Swarthmore School District Dr. Yannacone will share information on the skills and education necessary for students interested in a career in the education field, as well as what the interview process is like.

13. Electrical Engineer: What Do Skyscrapers, Bridges, and Power Generation Have in Common? 


John Stellabotte, MBA, PMP, Electrical Engineer, Exelon/PECO Explore the career possibilities as an engineer by applying scientific knowledge, mathematics, and innovation.

Page 12

14. EMT: Saving Lives, Working as an EMT and Running an Ambulance Company

Dee and Alfred Paylor, Emergency Medical Technicians Learn about this life-saving career with hands-on demonstrations. The Paylors are Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and own and operate their own ambulance company.

15. Engineer: Making Product Development Relevant

Cheryl Booth, New Product Engineer, W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. Developing new camo in the hunting industry is not just about a cool looking pattern – it’s about the performance of the pattern and the garment in the field.

16. Entrepreneur: Starting a Business in Digital Lighting

Billy Hodges, Entrepreneur, Lighting Expert, Digital Filaments A long-time expert in lighting (and now LED lighting), Mr. Hodges started a business in Swarthmore to design and sell digital lighting for anything and everything. His business is currently working on architectural lighting projects as close to home as the recent lighting improvements at Strath Haven Condominiums to as far away as the US Embassy in Djibouti – a small country in East Africa near the Persian Gulf. It's the story of a young local business being born into an industry that is changing how we see the world!

Page 13

17. International Recruiter: Building Bridges, Helping Students One at a Time

Song Hoffman, Associate Director, International Recruitment & Admissions, University of Delaware An International Recruitment Officer is a bridge builder between different cultures and countries, and helps students pursue their dreams to go and study overseas.

18. Military Attorney: Deployment to Support the Rule of Law Mission during the Iraq War / Career in the US Army

Albert H. Manwaring, IV, Attorney, U.S. Army Reservist (Retired) and Attorney, MORRIS JAMES LLP, Wilmington
 Why serve in the U.S. Army? I will talk about my active duty experience as a Field Artillery Officer in the 82nd Airborne Division, my reserve duty experience as an Army Lawyer (JAG), and my deployment in the U.S. Army Reserves to support the State Department in its Rule of Law Mission during the Iraq War.

19. Musician: Music – A Rewarding Career Path

Lazaro Herrera-Herbert, Musician, Synthesis Latin Band and Pharmaceutical Contractor Music is part of our lives and is found everywhere. Pursuing a music career is a noble and rewarding choice both spiritually and economically and it is fun. Find out if music is a passion for you.

Page 14

20. Neonatologist: Taking Care of High Risk Babies

Swati Murthy, MD, Neonatology Fellow, Thomas Jefferson Hospital, AI DuPont Hospital, Christiana Hospital Dr. Murthy will discuss her career path – college, medical school, and training. She will also discuss working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, what it’s like to take care of babies who can weigh less than one pound when they are born, and the broad array of career options that medicine and healthcare can offer.

21. Network Administrator: Tinkering, Troubleshooting, Developing and Deploying… Not Just Rebooting

Ken Muller, Network Administrator, Microsoft Certified Professional, ReMed Information Technology is in almost every business and every industry. Our world today is connected more than ever and those responsible for keeping the information flowing have a fun and rewarding career. Game Tester to Network Admin — come hear about the path to an exciting IT career.

22. News Reporter: The Life and Times of a TV Reporter

Jeff Cole, General Assignment Editor, Fox 29 News Learn about the life of a TV news reporter. Mr. Cole will share his experiences. He joined the FOX 29 news team in March of 2000 as an investigative reporter for "FOX Undercover" and is an awardwinning political and investigative reporter. He twice won the prestigious Theodore Driscoll award, named for the Hartford Courant's long-time investigative reporter. Mr. Cole is the only broadcast reporter to ever win the prestigious Theodore Driscoll award.

Page 15

23. Nurse: Nursing – Blood, Sweat and Heart

Jennifer Capobianchi, BSN, RN ,CNRN, Registered Nurse, Drexel College of Medicine
 Running everything from urban hospitals to rural clinics, nurses are the brains behind great patient care! What do you need to know to become a nurse? Find out and hear about what nurses do on a daily basis in a variety of settings. Come see real life hospital equipment with classroom demonstrations on how it works!

24. Nurse Practitioner: Advance Practice Nursing / Nurse Practitioner

Colleen Stellabotte, RN, MSN, FNP-BC, Nurse Practitioner, Mercy Philadelphia / Mercy Fitzgerald Emergency Department
 Join Mrs. Stellabotte for an overview of the role of advance practice nursing in healthcare and the educational requirements for the role. Learn about the vast opportunities of this rewarding career.

25. Photojournalist: Snapshot – The Work of a Photojournalist

David Swanson, Photojournalist, The Philadelphia Inquirer Mr. Swanson is a Pulitzer-prize winning photojournalist and has covered all kinds of stories — from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, to the earthquake in Haiti, to the Phillies in spring training. His photos have appeared on the front pages of The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times. Currently he works for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Hear what it's like to tell a story through photography.

Page 16

26. Police Officer: Career Opportunities in Policing

Police Chief David Splain, Nether Providence Police Department What do you think it takes to be a municipal police officer? Learn about the equipment and tools a police officer uses in their everyday life on the job.

27. Policy Researcher: Why Do You Have to Wear a Seatbelt but Don’t Have Fried Food in the Cafeteria?

Alison Karpyn, University of Delaware, Center for Research in Education and Social Policy As a policy researcher Ms. Karpyn studies and teaches about policies that affect our everyday lives. Do policies actually work to save lives, or money or both? Are there other, better ways to get the same result? This presentation will give a few examples of what it means to be a policy researcher, including the types of backgrounds many people who do this work have.

28. Psychologist: From Professor to Therapist to Organizational Consultant and All Points in Between

Hal Shorey, PhD, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, Therapist, and Organizational Consultant, Director of Widener University’s Psychology and Business Joint Degree Program Dr. Shorey will review the many exciting career options open to psychologists in today’s fast paced environment. Most people think of a psychologist as somebody who provides people with psychotherapy. But, being a psychologist can also prepare people to work in medical settings and in criminal justice, the military, schools, Universities, and organizational consulting and leadership development. Dr. Shorey will share with you what it takes to prepare for these careers and the many ways that you can combine them for a professional life full of excitement and endless opportunity. Page 17

29. Set & Costume Designer: Curtain Up! Laila Swanson, Professor in Set and Costume Design, Swarthmore College Learn about the functions of set and costume designers and the elements of design. Professor Swanson teaches at Swarthmore College and has been involved in theater productions in New York, Philadelphia, and other cities.

30. Sign Language Interpreter: Communicating with Sign Language

Maria C. Elia, CI/CT, American Sign Language Interpreter This presentation will begin with an exercise designed to share what a deaf person experiences in the presence of hearing people, followed by a series of vignettes that will demonstrate the process of interpreting. You will get a chance to participate and identify and learn several signs.

31. Sports Professional: Working in Professional Sports

Rob MacPherson, Director, Corporate Partnerships, Philadelphia Phillies Mr. MacPherson will discuss his career path and current work with the Phillies. He will answer questions, offer advice, and give you a glimpse into the world of professional sports.

Page 18

32. Veterinarian: From Nose to Tail – A Day in the Life of a Vet Katherine Trow, V.M.D., Veterinarian, Unity Animal Hospital, Wallingford Are you interested in what goes on in a veterinary hospital? Today’s veterinarians do much more than just give shots. With the use of much of the same high-tech equipment as human hospitals, veterinary medicine and surgery go to a whole new level.

33. Wall Street Trader: Trading Games – A Career in the Stock Market

Bill Brophy, Trader, Private Trading Firm Learn about stocks, the markets, and trading through interactive discussion and games. Not sure what a stock is? Don’t worry. This presentation will make it easy to understand.

34. Wellness Manager: Developing a Culture of Wellness

Ralph Lardieri, Wellness Manager, Wawa Successful wellness initiatives in the workplace are implemented to reduce healthcare costs, increase productivity and much more. Learn about Wawa’s wellness program and how associates become positively affected by improving their health and well-being and thus have an influence on the overall culture of the entire workplace.

Page 19

Page 20

CAREER DECISION-MAKING: It’s Not Too Early to Explore Your Interests by Kristie Beucler, Career Counselor, Swarthmore College There are three basic steps to Career Decision Making. Read on to learn how you can apply them to choosing your Dimensions in Living presentations and as you listen to the speakers during Dimensions in Living. Like to take questionnaires? Be sure to check out the link after Step 3. Step #1: Learn about yourself. What are your skills and abilities? What are your interests? And what are your work values? Some skills and abilities are easy to name, for example, “I usually understand the new math chapter right away.” Or, “I can draw anything that Mr. Hosbach suggests in art class.” Or, “I am strong enough to hit home runs.” Some skills are more abstract, but still able to be named, such as “I thought of new ways to tell the story in the 6th grade movie project. I’m a creative thinker.” As you listen to the speakers, think about the skills they use in their jobs. As a middle school student you probably won’t have those specific skills yet, but you can think about whether you’d like to continue to study that subject in high school and beyond. Your interests may be limited to the areas to which you’ve been exposed. Fortunately, SHMS offers a lot of interesting subjects in your classes, clubs and field trips. Do you like the Art Club? Did you enjoy Robotics? Did you start a Science Fiction club? What is your favorite class? Ask the speakers about their interests as a middle school student. If you have the same interests they had, you might like that job as an adult. Then, try to read about and get more involved in those interests. Join a new club or explore various classes in high school. Ask the speaker about places to visit related to those interests. Work values are something you may not have discussed before. Your work values can guide you in making career choices. For example, does your income matter to you or are you interested in a certain job no matter what the pay? Do you care where you

work (in a city, out in the country, outdoors in all kinds of weather) or will that not be a deciding factor for you? Do you want a job where you’ll be helping other people? Do you want to have a lot of prestige for your work or does that not matter to you? Do you want to have a lot of independence in your work? Step #2: Learn about the career. There are many ways to do this. Dimensions in Living is one great way. You can also ask your parents, friends’ parents, and others about the skills they use, daily tasks and other information about their jobs. You can also read about hundreds of jobs on this Bureau of Labor Statistics website: www.bls.gov/k12/. It will tell you about necessary training, average salary, working environment, expected job growth or decline, in addition to what they actually do at work all day! Step # 3: Explore, try and re-try! Try to choose jobs in your life that are a match between numbers 1 and 2 above. You’ll have lots of jobs in your lifetime – some say the average number of jobs a person will have is 16. You might not like some of them. They may not match your skills, interests and work values. If that’s what happens, you can learn from that experience. Think about the not-so-great aspects and decide if you want to make sure your next job doesn’t include those aspects. Think about the great aspects and make sure your next job does include them! Would you like to do a short questionnaire? (Special thanks to parent and guidance counselor Laura Spalding for suggesting it) Here’s an amazing website where you can answer questions about yourself in relation to school and work! http://educationplanner.org/students/career-planning/find-careers/ career-clusters-activity.shtml Follow the links it provides to learn more about the jobs which could be a good fit for you!