Career talks are now a regular part of the day at Gorham High School (GHS), with professionals in careers ranging from nursing to law enforcement meeting with small groups of students to talk about their experiences, backgrounds, and the decisions that led them to their current jobs.

Community and career coordinator Eliza Kenigsberg arranges the visits, based on information she gathers from students about their aspirations and career interests.

“Asking the question is as important as their answer,” said Kenigsberg. “It starts the process of thinking, and it’s empowering to be asked what you want to do with your life.”

The goal is not to force students to make a choice, but to encourage them to consider the possibilities. Juniors Talia Catoggio and Kate Tugman are open to all sorts of options.

“I either want to be a journalist, a profiler in the FBI, and/or a professional runner,” Tugman said.

Catoggio’s list is even longer. “I’d love working as a veterinarian or anything with animals. I’ve considered work in law and law enforcement. I like the idea of being a physical therapist or sports trainer. Once or twice I’ve entertained the idea of becoming a dermatologist,” she said.

Many students are considering areas of interest, but haven’t homed in on possible careers.

“I’m not really sure what I want to do. I like art, science…maybe education,” was the response from junior Haley Burns.

Gorham Business-School Roundtable member Becky Winslow knows it’s not unusual for students to be stressed about figuring out their futures.

“When I talk with students, I let them know it’s okay if you don’t know what you want to be when you grow up,” said Winslow, who is a senior vice president at Gorham Savings Bank.

More than 400 GHS students have completed interest inventories and, in many cases, had follow-up conversations with Kenigsberg. She works to match students with career exploration experiences both in and out of school.

“There is a natural match,” Kenigsberg said at the February roundtable meeting. “Community members are eager to be involved and students are similarly eager to figure out what their future is going to look like. It’s a natural opportunity to create that connection.”

The work is part of Aspire Gorham, a community-wide initiative designed to encourage students to think not just about what they want to be when they grow up, but what kind of life they want to live.

Interested in learning more about how you can help Gorham students identify and develop their aspirations? Contact Eliza Kenigsberg at eliza.kenigsberg@gorhamschools.org.