Madison Brazell also contributed to this article.
A single presentation may not determine a student’s future, but it can provide them with a clearer idea of where to look next. By connecting students with professionals and introducing them to opportunities available before graduation, the STEM Week discussion gave attendees a chance to consider careers beyond what comes next.
On Monday, October 19th, students gathered in the Jenkins Auditorium for a STEM presentation that introduced them to healthcare professions, hospital volunteer programs, and opportunities to gain real-world experience.
Organized by Chemistry Department Leader Katherine Shank and guidance counselor Erin Craven in partnership with MassHire, the presentation featured Ren Garcia, a Programs Director at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Joe Williams, a Human Rights officer at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.
Shank, who has taught at Malden High for 14 years, expressed that the event was organized to help students understand how career pathways can begin before graduation. “We wanted to expose students to different areas that they might be able to get involved in and let them know what opportunities are out there, not only after graduation, but also now.”
Throughout the presentation, Garcia and Williams discussed how students could gain experience in hospital settings through volunteering and internships. They talked about the application process, volunteer responsibilities, and career prospects, including Williams’ work, which consists of overseeing volunteers who welcome visitors and help navigate the hospital.
The discussion highlighted careers beyond patient care, including radiology technician, medical interpretation, and laboratory work. Students also learned about certification programs and other educational routes that could help them qualify for certain positions.
The meeting was successful in promoting student outreach by connecting students to new resources. “Both of the presenters gave their contact information to Ms. Shank, who then gave it to me, and I posted it on Classrooms,” Shannon Votaw, a science teacher, remarked. “I’ve had a couple of students already reach out about different opportunities or just follow-up questions.”
Sophomore Eliott Youmell, who attended the event, expressed that the possibility of gaining experience stood out, as he could get “hands-on experience” from volunteering.
Youmell identified a lack of information as one challenge students face when exploring career options, as “they don’t know what is available to them.” He also wished that the presentation had consisted of more information about salaries across different professions.
Maya Sanh, another sophomore who attended the presentation, valued that the students could interact directly with the speakers instead of listening to a lecture. “I wasn’t sitting there listening to them talk, and other audience members interacted with the speakers.”
Craven, who helped organize the event with Shank, stressed that students would gain a better understanding of what working in a particular profession is like. “I hope that the students who visited the STEM info panel with the two industry professionals will take away some sort of insider information about what it’s really like to live in the day of someone in that field.” She estimated that five or six classes attended the event, potentially bringing the audience to around 150 students.
Kathy Maglio, an Environmental Science teacher, also respected the presentation’s conversational atmosphere. Reflecting on Garcia’ explanation of her professional journey, Maglio added, “It’s not always linear. There are a lot of options to get someplace.”
“I hope they understand that they don’t have to have everything figured out by the time they graduate high school,” Shank elaborated.
Votaw noted that gaining experience early could help students determine whether a career matches their expectations before investing years into specialized education. “You don’t want to go through medical school and end up with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of debt and realize this might not be what you want to do,” she reiterated.
“Sometimes you have your mind set on something that you think is going to interest you, or be something you want to pursue, and then when you experience it, it doesn’t live up to your expectations,” Maglio added.
Craven added that Malden High would likely continue partnering with MassHire during STEM week while seeking additional ways to bring people from different industries into the school. Shank was especially encouraged by the students’ participation, acknowledging that the event was better than she had anticipated. “The students had such good questions, and I wasn’t sure what to expect first thing in the morning. I was really happy with the way it played out and the way that they responded to everything.”
Students interested in exploring research opportunities can discover more through the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging.
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