Students speaking with an alumna during Career Day Photo by Jill Champion

The Bishop’s School Where Are They Now? (AKA Career Day) was a “standing ovation” success if the middle school students response was an indicator.

On Friday, March 25, alumni returned to campus and shared with the School their careers and defined what success means to each of them, making it a day when students heard about out-of-the-norm careers. Alumni motivated and inspired students to seek the best in their futures and find careers that fit their skill sets and passions.

Speaking to the middle school was Lisa Gordon ’84 who works for the San Diego Office of the Mayor as a Small Business Ambassador. By quoting Mahatma Gandhi, “You must be the change you want to see in the world,” Lisa encouraged the students to develop the “will to participate at their highest potential and the will to be an inspiration to other students who study at Bishop’s.”

This theme resonated throughout Lisa’s remarks, “. . . being open to the opportunity and doing a really good job at whatever you are doing at the time will allow great opportunities to come your way even if you are not certain what your life time career should be. Doing a good job stands out and others notice and say, ‘Hey, you would be really good at this, you should go for this job.’” Lisa echoed a great military saying “be all you can be,” and at the end of her talk, the middle school student body gave her a standing ovation.

Keynote speaker and alumna Alison Davis Gerlach ’89 (left) advised that a student cannot always control getting an “A” in the class; however, a student can control completing all of his or her reading and homework. A student can also control the amount of effort he or she invests in a subject in order to learn. “Taking control of your own individual learning style and understanding how to stimulate your own intellectual curiosity is powerful and worthy goal.”

To encourage and reward asking good questions all students were given a card and, if they asked six thoughtful questions to alumni during the lunchtime Career Festival, they would receive a sticker for each question. All of the completed cards were entered in a drawing and an opportunity to win $100. Congratulations to the winner, William “Andres” Worstell ’17.

Throughout Career Day alumni reminded Bishop’s students to be grateful that they are at a school that fosters curiosity and encourages learning through thoughtful and engaging questions.

Alison Davis Gerlach '89 photo by Ria Custodio

Visit the photo gallery for more pictures from Career Day >