Despite an early strong interest in aviation and operating ‘complicated machinery,’ veteran commercial pilot Michael Don Carlos said the route to his career was ‘not a straight arrow.’ After high school, he initially chose to attend the University of Colorado, Boulder, with the intention of becoming a professional, competitive skier. He then proceeded to change majors four times while an undergraduate — from math to mineral and earth management to Spanish, before finally earning a degree in economics — and then deciding to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot.‘At a very early age I fell in love with flying and airplanes,’ shared Don Carlos, a guest panelist at Mount Madonna School’s (MMS) recent 6th annual Career Forum. ‘And despite my early plans and the changes in my educational focus, sometimes it only takes one moment, one memory, to come back and hit you, and it all becomes clear: you know you have to pursue what you love to do.’
The event was attended by 9th through 12th graders and featured guest presenters drawn from the School’s parent and alumni body spotlighting an array of professions. Participants talked with the gathered students about their chosen professions, about how they arrived at their career path — which seemed more frequently than not to have been a circuitous one – and the importance of finding a career that you enjoy. “No matter what skills you have, keep and develop them, because at some point in your life you’re probably going to need and use them — and you will meet and work with incredible people when you do,’ said career forum organizer and criminal attorney Christine Smith. She shared with the assembled students about her own circuitous career path.
‘As an adult I’ve lived in other countries where I couldn’t practice law, so I’ve had to work at other things,’ she said. ‘I was raised in Puerto Rico so I can somewhat speak Spanish. This Spanish background came in handy years later when I was living in India and a Spanish teacher was needed for a nearby international school. More recently, I was living in Singapore, and was recruited as a fashion editor for Harper’s Bazaar magazine because of my English skills!’ The intent in hosting the forum annually is to provide an environment where students are exposed to and inspired by occupations they might already have thought about, or might never have considered, and where they can hear for themselves that a career path is hardly ever straight and narrow, Smith explained.
Students quickly immersed themselves in the fun format of the event — beginning with a mini ‘quiz show’ emceed by parent Rod Caborn, where teams — divided by grade level — competed to answer questions about the guest panelists.
“I was an insulated little kid who grew up thinking there was nothing beyond my city or my state,’ commented guest panelist Carl Rising, an aerospace engineer currently working as a NASA consultant. ‘At that time there was no internet and no ability to see what was going on in the world. I had an opportunity early on with my grandfather (to travel around the world at 15) and this was a great way to see how much people are the same. It really opened up the world for me and helped make me becme who I am today.’ ‘I spent my early years in college studying music and philosophy because I enjoyed that they were both artistic and technical,’ shared software professional and United States Air Force veteran John Thomas. ‘But I had always been interested in technology and was an avid hobbyist programmer before I knew it could be a career! The act of making something out of nothing with software just fascinates me, a lot like music and philosophy; if you keep doing what keeps you passionate, your career will find you.’
Beth Brennan, a physician who specializes in palliative care, said she knew early on she wanted to ‘take care of and heal people.’ In college, however, she didn’t want to major in biology, so instead chose anthropology and travelled to Israel for a year, where she studied Hebrew. Following the ‘quiz show’ introductions, students were divided into mixed-grade groups for a segment of ‘speed dating’: rotating around the room in brief intervals to ask questions of each additional guest presenter.
‘People need to follow their hearts to be successful,’ shared landscape business owner Jeff Powers. ‘Looking forward, you can’t always ‘see’ the threads, but looking back they are apparent. My parents tell the story that when I was five years old and they bought a house and we went to a nursery, I told them what plants to buy!’
‘I fail every day,’ shared Noah Diffenbaugh (’92), an associate professor at Stanford University. ‘Most of what I do is fail — I’m a scientist. It’s important to be open to failure and open to finding your own independent identity.’‘Failure is key,’ agreed middle school Principal Lisa Lewis. ‘But you always have to ‘fail forward.’ Do you know what that means’ she asked the small group of students she was talking with.
‘I think so,’ said junior Alex Marshall. ‘It means ‘learn from your mistakes’.’
Each year a planning committee of parents comes together to organize the event. This year the committee members were: Ariel Benson, Brian Liddicoat, Debbie Dutra Lord, Jessica Thomas, Rod Caborn, Stephen Harrington, Vik Sheldon, along with Brennan, Don Carlos and Smith. The guest presenters change each year. In addition to those mentioned above, this year’s participants were: magazine publisher Gene Ching, environmental projects manager Nancy Lockwood; poet Magdalena Montagne; Jay Sullens, a captain with the Seaside fire department; Karina Vogen, prothesist/orthoist; patent attorney John Wagner; and Catherine Willis, executive director of the Tannery World Dance and Cultural Center.
‘I’m planning to major in dance at Chapman University,’ shared senior Cassie Caborn, talking with Willis. ‘What advice do you have for us as we prepare to head off into college’ ‘In my experience, you have to have a certain kind of ‘drive’ to get to the top,’ observed Willis. ‘But there are so many avenues to having a successful dance career: tech, management, running the house — know that you have options.’
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Photos by Vik Sheldon
Contacct: Leigh Ann Clifton, Marketing & Communications,
Nestled among the redwoods on 355 mountaintop acres, Mount Madonna is a safe and nurturing college-preparatory school that supports students in becoming caring, self-aware and articulate critical thinkers, who are prepared to meet challenges with perseverance, creativity and integrity. The CAIS and WASC accredited program emphasizes academic excellence, creative self-expression and positive character development. Located on Summit Road between Gilroy and Watsonville.