Listen Ups
Want to know what different careers are really like? Hear it first hand from these pros.
René
President & CEO
René
"My name is Rene Drouin and I'm the President and CEO of the NHHEAF Network Organizations. Some people wonder why we decided to create a college website for middle school students. After all, it will be years before you attend college, right? Well, did you know that in a recent survey 36% of high school seniors responded that they decided in the 6th grade or earlier that they would attend college? It is never too early to plan for higher education. We want you to be prepared and inspired to go to college. We want you to have every opportunity to develop your talents, interests, and skills. We want you to be a college graduate. So become a member of the college club, and begin to plan today."
Jeff
Editor
Jeff
"Hi. My name is Jeff Feingold, editor of a newspaper called the NH Business Review. When I was in college I worked different kinds of summer jobs. A couple of summers I worked on the hot summer streets of Manhattan delivering packages. I spent another summer working as a janitor cleaning bathrooms in a giant department store. I didn't mind the jobs very much. But the one thing I took away from them all was the people I worked with, the other delivery guys and the other janitors, all told me, very often how jealous they were of me because I was going to college I wouldn't have to spend my life working on the hot streets or cleaning bathrooms. They were right. Because I went to college I have the job I always wanted editing my own newspaper and writing. College gave me the opportunities that they never had."
Theresa
Chocolatier
Theresa
"Hi. My name is Theresa and I make gourmet chocolates for a living. Before becoming a chocolatier I was a hair dresser and owned a successful salon and spa. After that I worked with small businesses as a sales consultant and now I make chocolates and own a gourmet chocolate company called Swan Chocolates. I took college courses and specialized training programs to learn about business, accounting and management and most importantly it is how I learned to create delicious chocolate treats. I really believe that I wouldn't be who I am today and have fun every day working with chocolate if I hadn't explored different college courses and training programs after high school."
Tom
Radio Production Manager
Tom
"Hi. My name is Tom. When I was growing up I liked sports. Whether it was playing, watching or talking about them, I could never get enough. Now, after studying broadcast journalism in college, I still get to talk about sports and get to go to a ton of games except now they pay me to do it."
Kevin
Parole Officer
Kevin
"Hi kids. My name's Kevin Valenti. When I was growing up I always knew that I wanted a career in law enforcement because my father was a police captain in Manchester and my grandfather had been a police officer in Boston. After graduating from high school I joined the army for five years. I thought that having military experience would help me get a good job-and it did. For 12 years I worked at the NH State Prison for men as a corrections officer and I liked my job but I decided that I could help the inmates more if I became a probation parole officer. Probation and parole officers, also known as PPOs, help inmates to successfully plan for their life after they leave prison. But in order to reach my goal I knew a college degree was required. I went to Springfield College in Manchester, NH where I received my Bachelor's degree in Human Services. I learned a lot about resources in the community that would help these former inmates to find jobs and whatever else they might need to be successful. Now I work as a probation parole officer for the State of NH. Getting my college degree helped me to have the best of both worlds. I still work in law enforcement. Yes, I have a gun, a badge and a bulletproof vest but most of the time I help people to plan how to make their lives better and how to avoid making the mistakes that sent them to prison and that's what I really love about being a probation parole officer."
AJ
Country Forester
AJ
"Hi. My name is AJ Dupere and I'm a community forester with the NH division of forest and lands. What does a community forester do? I work with local cities and towns to care for trees in their community. I became a forester because I lived in northern NH and I grew up on a family farm where we cut wood to help heat our home. When I was in high school I participated in FFA organization and competed in a variety of forestry competitions throughout the state. To be a forester I went to the Thompson School of Applied Sciences at UNH and received an associate's degree in forest technology. My favorite class in college was arboriculture where I studied tree care and maintenance. If you are interested in working outside contact your local conservation committee and help plant and care for trees in your community."
Mike
Sports Talk Show Host
Mike
"Hey students. This is Mike. I get to talk sports for a living. Yeah, it's a good gig. But it's a gig that never would have been possible without going to college. My experiences in the classroom and through internships gave me the knowledge and the know-how I needed to start a career in radio. And that career started in college."
Colleen
Dental Hygienist
Colleen
"Hi. My name is Colleen and I'm a dental hygienist. When I was young, the dentist that lived next door to us needed someone to clean his office on Saturdays. So he asked me if I'd like to help him. When I grew up I went to college to learn how to become a dental hygienist. I worked with families in my community helping them learn to take better care of their teeth and gums. College helped me become an important member of my neighborhood."
Dan
Americorps Vista Volunteer
Dan
"After graduating college I found myself at a crossroads. I knew I wanted to get to law school eventually but I wanted to gain some substantial experience in the public interest field and I wanted to find a way to better my community. I wanted to find a way where I could truly utilize the critical thinking and problem solving skills I worked so hard to develop throughout college in a meaningful way where I could tangibly measure the outcomes of my work. Choosing to serve as an Americorps Vista has provided me with the exact opportunities I was seeking. As a vista, I have a choice of taking on a variety of jobs in a number of different fields. From planning financial literacy workshops and rural legal clinics to lead gardener at urban community gardens, I spent my last year developing and implementing programs that have helped underserved and low income students in southern NH to think about college in new ways. The programs I built helped to mold volunteer students into agents of change in their communities. I feel fulfilled knowing that while being an AmeriCorps vista I had served to better myself, a community, and my country. I have been able to use my college experience to help inspire others to go to college."
Kevin
Meteorologist
Kevin
"Hi. My name is Kevin Skarupa and I'm the morning meteorologist at WMUR TV in Manchester, NH. I went to school at Lyndon State College in Vermont for meteorology and was fascinated with the weather ever since I was little. I realized I could actually have what probably was going to be my hobby through my life as an actual profession. My dad was actually the one that kind of took me out into the storms when I was a kid and from that point on I was truly hooked. We have truly four seasons here in and NH and so it makes forecasting a really big challenge. College truly prepared me for the real world. We did everything there that I do in my profession now like forecasting, television and public speaking. I've been on TV doing meteorology for 17 years now and truly love coming to work every single day."
Mark
Orthopedic Surgeon
Mark
"My name is Mark Scheffer and I'm an orthopedic surgeon at Dartmouth Hitchcock clinic. I've been practicing orthopedics there for the past 12 years. Prior to that, I was an orthopedic surgeon in the military at the air force academy. I went through undergraduate training at Auburn University in Auburn Alabama and then medical school at Vanderbilt Medical School and then five years of residency afterwards at the Mayo Clinic. I wasn't sure exactly when I started off how I was going to pay for medical school and I was fortunate enough to get a military scholarship that paid for my last two years at University and four years of medical school. I did a civilian residency and once I completed that I was able to serve my time with the military on active duty prior to coming to Concord, NH. When I was in high school the thought of spending what ultimately ended up being 14 years after high school on an education to become an orthopedic surgeon would have been absolutely intolerable for me. I found when I got to college I was able to proceed at a much quicker rate, the classes were only a small part of my schedule for the day. I spent a lot of time in labs and a lot of time in extra-curricular activities. So, basically I would say that I wouldn't let the fear of being in a classroom for long periods of time dissuade anyone from being in college because it's a very different experience and a much more efficient, pleasant, fun experience to be in college. To learn, to get your academic requirements under control but not feel as though you're being smothered in a classroom for a prolonged period of time."
Amber
Physical Therapist
Amber
"Hi. My name is Amber Cullen Ferreira. I practice as a physical therapist at Concord Hospital and have been practicing sports medicine physical therapy for three years. I got my doctorate in physical therapy at Northeastern University in Boston, Mass. I chose Northeastern because of the co-op program. At Northeastern you get the opportunity to start working in your field of choice the first year. This hands-on experience is priceless. I learned how to interact with my patients in the real world. After graduating from Northeastern University I also pursued my lifelong goal of being the best athlete I could be. I am the reigning national snow shoe champion and qualified to race as a professional triathlete next year. The saying ‘hard work pays off' is absolutely true in the game of life. Working hard at school or sport or your chosen profession will ultimately allow all doors to open. Eventually all the pieces of the jigsaw will come together but not without hard work. This is what I live by when I train and what I preach to my patients. We often wonder what our purpose is on this earth as we make our way through life. I am beginning to think that my path is more clearly defined for me since graduating from Northeastern University as a physical therapist and pledging to lead a healthy life. I spend my days with the hopes of inspiring others to make healthy changes. In closing, as Eleanor Roosevelt once said, ‘You gain strength courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself I have lived through this I can take the next thing that comes along. You must do the things you think you cannot do.’ "
Dan
Accountant
Dan
"Hi. My name is Dan and when I was a kid I loved numbers. Believe it or not, I really enjoyed all my math classes. I liked playing with calculators. I liked budgeting too. When I went to college I studied accounting to learn how to make reports about money. Because I went to college I now work doing what I love. I get paid to play with numbers in the millions. Billions even."
Cindy
Veterinarian
Cindy
"Hi kids. My name is Cindy Hoisington. I'm here to tell you about the story of becoming a veterinarian. I grew up reading Dr. Dolittle and the Black Stallion. Later I got my own horse named Amber. In middle school instead of babysitting I was grooming horses and mucking stalls. I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian. As soon as I was old enough I started working at a veterinarian's office. Initially, I was walking dogs and cleaning cages. However, I continued working with the animals and worked my way up to being able to assist in surgery. Through college, at UNH, I continued my work with animals working at grooming facilities and boarding facilities. Then I went to Cornell veterinary school. Today I own a small animal hospital. I am able to help shelter animals for the local humane society and help clients with their dogs and cats. One of the things I like best about my job is that it allows me to use my problem solving skills and that there is always something new to learn about medicine and the treatment of animals."
Whitney
Programs Manager
Whitney
"Hi, my name is Whitney Tyson and I am the Programs Manager for New Hampshire's Granite State Ambassadors. We are the organization who staffs New Hampshire's visitor centers with trained volunteers who are information specialists on our state's tourism industry. I have the opportunity to promote all of NH's attractions, restaurants, and hotels to visitors. This gives me great satisfaction because tourism is one of my biggest passions. If I would suggest any advice to students trying to get a jumpstart on their work experience, I would focus on working at places related to what career you would eventually want to have. If you know you want to go into hospitality, hotels and restaurants are where to go for part time jobs during high school and college. If you are interested in becoming a nurse, volunteer at the hospital in your spare time. This will give you a great insider's look of how the work environment will be. You can ask the people who work there all the questions you have about the job that you may be curious about, and you would be building work contacts. During college, I took advantage of gaining more formal experience by doing an internship by promoting attractions at a ski resort. Internships are an excellent opportunity to build your resume, gain job skills you will need for the future, and it will provide you with priceless knowledge of that career before you officially enter the workforce. Overall, it is never too early to start preparing for your career. The earlier you begin, the more certain you will become about your career preference, and the easier it will be to find opportunities for your future."