4 minute read
Careers Breakfast
Invaluable insights shared at the Year 13 Alumnae Careers Breakfast
In Term 2, the Year 13 Alumnae Careers Breakfast took place. St Cuthbert’s welcomed 47 amazing alumnae and parents, in person and virtually, to Clouston Hall to speak with our Year 13 students.
The Year 13 students indicated which career area they were interested in and were matched to a table with guests who represented a variety of interesting industries like engineering, film, design, medicine and more. Sitting at breakfast tables, students heard the speakers’ career stories. They were able to have conversations, ask questions and discuss their ideas for the future over breakfast.
There was a wonderfully energetic vibe in the room as Year 13s were able to draw on the collective wisdom and knowledge of a group of truly fascinating alumnae and parents who generously shared their experiences.
Both students and mentors enjoyed this interactive opportunity and it really resonated with the students. Some of the common themes included: encouraging girls to take the lead in their own learning, take charge of doing something they have a passion for and use their St Cuthbert’s Old Girls’ network to access opportunities and knowledge.
This is just one part of a comprehensive careers programme offered to our Senior School students and was particularly special as our Year 13s are so close to becoming Old Girls and taking their next steps in the world.
Rhonda Vink, Head of Careers, explains, “Our goal with this breakfast event was to connect our Year 13 girls to the wider community of Alumnae and parents who are already working in the fields that these students want to explore. Hopefully the students opened their minds further and really gained some depth of understanding about the different types of careers that are out there.”
Our stellar line-up of guests shared the following amazing insights:
“I come to these events with Year 13 girls to have a chat with girls who are thinking about
a career path in engineering. When you start on this path, it doesn’t mean that you are necessarily going to end up doing what you were thinking at the beginning. It is quite normal to pivot and that is exactly what I did in my career,” shares Old Girl and current parent, Caroline Arwanitis, End2End Architect for Skinny Mobile.
“I’m back at school because this is where it all began for me, and I had some pretty inspirational teachers so I’m paying it forward and paying it back,” says Old Girl Emma Comrie-Thomson, Licensing, Safety and Environmental Compliance Principal at Rocket Lab.
Nicola Mirza (née Morris) Executive Search Specialist, Hobson Leavy, and Old Girl had some great advice relevant to any career path. “Going forwards when we talk about the future of work, the ability to have really honed soft skills – be good with people, be curious, be inquisitive – it’s really important.”
Jodie Dixon, GP, Auckland Medical School Lecturer and Medical Board Director, gave sage advice: “If you don’t know what you want to do, do what you love, because you are a long time in a job and if it is really boring you, are not going to enjoy it. If you need some time, go and do what it is that you love to do.” Jodie is an Old Girl and current parent.
The students were deeply inspired by the event and gained invaluable insights into where they want to head.
Year 13 student Chanel Mahon said that “the Careers Breakfast taught me that the job you choose or the degree you choose now doesn’t actually determine your life as there is so much breadth and opportunity that comes with it. Also, another key message was definitely to follow what you love.”
Head Girl, Carmel Ah Chong, commented, “I am really grateful for the parents’ support and the alumnae who have come back. It’s incredible to see Old Girls who have gone on to succeed and come back and demonstrate ‘By Love Serve’ in doing so.”
Helena Haldane, Deputy Head Girl, was interested to learn that with the right attitude, “often the right thing just comes out of the woodwork.”
Thanks go to Paneton who sponsored this event with delicious breakfast treats and to the Year 12 students who helped on the day.
