Above: Government & Public Service panel discussion at Possibilities Week: Career Fest 2006, facilitated by Cathy Keates, associate director of York’s Career Centre |
“Eye-opening”, “informative” and “inspiring” are just three of the many positive comments from students who attended Possibilities Week: Career Fest 2006, Jan. 24-26. A degree from York opens many doors and this event showcased a range of exciting career options to students. The three-day event presented 14 different panels in which more than 50 York alumni shared their career stories and experiences. The panels covered everything from careers in arts and culture to careers in business management and a host of options in between.
Students who attended got great information and advice to inform their own career choices, said Brandie Pritchard, a second-year student who has not yet chosen her major. “Career Fest was extremely informative and useful,” she said. “It increased my confidence that, so far, I’m on the right track. Thanks so much for providing me with such a great opportunity to meet so many intelligent, inspirational professionals.”
Left: Students talk to an alumnus after the panel discussion on public relations & media
The event also provided alumni with an opportunity to reflect on their own careers. Sharing time with students was rewarding, said alumnus John Remington (BScN, Hons. ’04) of Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre, who spoke about his career in health and healing. “Being a member of the panel was a great way of giving back to York. The questions were very interesting and made me really think about how I had come to both York and my profession. The panel was fascinating and I could have talked for hours.”
Right: John Remington
This unique event was able to show students how careers cross degree and discipline boundaries. Each panel purposely had alumni from a variety of majors. “The alumni shared wonderful messages of hope and how to construct your own unique career. What a showcase of interdisciplinary paths,” said Cathy Keates, associate director of York’s Career Centre and Chair of the Possibilities Week: Career Fest 2006 steering committee.
Possibilities Week: Career Fest 2006 was sponsored by MBNA Canada and York’s Alumni & Advancement Services, and hosted by York partners including the Faculty of Arts, the Atkinson Faculty of Liberal & Professional Studies, the Faculty of Environmental Studies, the Faculty of Fine Arts, the Faculty of Science & Engineering, and Student Community and Leadership Development.