All people know the feeling of uncertainty. Whether old or young, we have felt the question of “What’s next?” trickle into our minds, exploiting our doubts and fears.
Month after month, Aspire Gorham has showcased students who have their minds set and are going after what they are passionate about. It is important, too, to spotlight students who aren’t certain.
MarieAnge Lohomboli is a senior at Gorham High School (GHS) who is weighing her options while utilizing internships, job shadows, and other opportunities provided by the school.
Photo courtesy of MarieAnge LohomboliMs. Cherry, Lohomboli’s school counselor, says, “At GHS, the school counselors utilize the Naviance Career and College platform to help students through the postsecondary planning process from interest exploration through college applications and graduation.” She mentioned this helps generate career recommendations after gathering data through personality surveys and career assessments.
Then, Cherry and her fellow counselors encourage undecided students to set up exploratory meetings with Eliza Kenigsberg, the district’s Career Coordinator, and participate in workplace learning experiences like career talks, job shadows, and internships.
Lohomboli started her exploration by taking career surveys and digging into her interest in real estate.
With help from Aspire Gorham and Lohomboli’s teacher Ms. Alden, she was able to set up a job shadow and potential spring internship with Josh Plowman, a Gorham Realtor off Main Street.
Lohomboli likes the aspect of pursuing real estate but wants to go to college and is struggling to find a place where she could study and cultivate her skill set. She is looking to go to the University of Southern Maine or Saint Joseph’s College to pursue business.
Whenever she ends up, she hopes to help people. This has been Lohomboli’s passion since junior year when she created the Cultural Mentor Program. The program is for new students who don’t speak English — a club she wished was in existence when she moved to Westbrook a few years ago.
Right now, Lohomboli’s future is far from set in stone, as she considers college, real estate and the nonprofit sector. While high school comes to a close, she is finding her way through the moving staircases, making her way to the top, ready for wherever her journey may take her.