Poet and musician Caridad De La Luz.

The Annual College and Career Fair was vastly expanded this year, to offer students an opportunity to think about and prepare for their future lives in the working world. The event was assembled by Mrs. Romero who wanted students to have the ability to see that there is more to life, past the walls of PHS. This year was different because schools, professionals and past students came to PHS to offer their stories about how they became successful.

The assemblies, designed to present as many students as possible to the guest speakers, included notable people, such as PHS graduate, Landon G. Woodson, who attended Rutgers University. He told students who do not know what they want to do with their lives that it is not important to have everything planned out. He said he fell into acting and never even considered being an actor until he was half way through his first degree. Later he attended the Mason Gross School of the Arts, where earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting. Landon Woodson has been in various plays and some short parts in movies, but he said, “Going to work every day is a pleasure when you are doing something you love.” His message seemed to have an effect on students in attendance who are unsure of what they would like to do for a career.

Fairleigh Dickenson University professor Catherine Acosta

There were multiple representatives from a group called Latino Promise. The motto of this group is “Dream it, believe it, achieve it.” The Latino Promise program is a part of the Farleigh Dickenson University Latino Education Pipeline Project, which has as its stated goal, to overcome the traditional barriers to higher education for Latino students and to develop Hispanic leaders that will be able to serve our nation in the future.

Catherine Acosta, represented Latino Promise, and is a professor of psychology at Fairleigh Dickenson University. She discussed how the Latino Promise program can help the students of PHS. She has 20 years of experience in higher education, and has been with Latino Promise for the past four years, as an advisor and professor. Her message to the students of PHS was that education is an empowering process. She said that education is the key to a successful future.

Lawyer Jadihel Rodriguez spoke to students about setting goals for their future.

Another representative from Latino Promise was Jadihel Rodriguez, who is a lawyer, a graduate of the University of Central Florida, and Barry University School of Law. He is currently working to help improve the financial resources of Latino Promise, so that they can help more students. He wants to use his career to advance the cause of Latino students in America.

His message was similar to Mrs. Accosta’s. Education after high school is important. It is the key to the future. He asked students to set a goal for their future and then achieve it. Students in attendance seemed to take this message to heart.

Students were treated to the music of Caridad De LaLuz, a poet and musician. She rallied students to pursue their dreams and enjoy life after high school. As a poet and a singer she stressed the importance of the spoken word and even sang for her audience.

Mr. Michael Rose, the CEO of Diversified Health Services

There were many other presenters as well, from lawyers, like Alberto Rivas, who is a judge in the New Jersey Superior Court, and Anna Maria Tejada, who represents companies in commercial suits before state and federal courts. There was Debbie DuHaime who is a traffic reporter for True Traffic on many local radio stations. Dr. Hannah Janoowalla, M.D. a recent graduate of Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and who graduated from PHS in 2006. She told students that PHS can be the beginning of a great career. Even the new PHS Assistant Superintendent, Rachel Goldberg, who is in charge of curriculum and instruction, spoke to students about her path to success. She came from the private sector to have an impact on students and do something important with her life.

PHS art teacher Mr. Peña also spoke. Photos by Michael Harmon

There were also many other speakers, each giving his or her experiences about schools and careers. The students were respectful and thankful for all these professionals taking the time to come to PHS and discuss their career paths. Mrs. Romero, who organized this year’s program, hopes to expand it next year. With Mr. DeNaples stating that this year’s career fair was “a huge success,” the bar has been set high for next year.

By Vanessa Cespedes