By Maryjane Donohoe
Q: Where are you from? Where did you grow up?
A: I'm from Chelmsford Mass, about an 1 Hour and 45 minutes north from here. I grew up there and attended all of my elementary and high school years there.
Q: Where did you go to high school and college?
A: I attended High School at Chelmsford High and when it was time to come to college I went to Assumption College in Worcester for my grad and undergraduate degree.
Q: Where are you from? Where did you grow up?
A: I'm from Chelmsford Mass, about an 1 Hour and 45 minutes north from here. I grew up there and attended all of my elementary and high school years there.
Q: Where did you go to high school and college?
A: I attended High School at Chelmsford High and when it was time to come to college I went to Assumption College in Worcester for my grad and undergraduate degree.
Q: In high school/college did you always know that you wanted to work in a school environment? If you had any other professions, what were they?
A: I always knew i wanted to work with high school students and people in general, and I've always liked helping people go through their problems, i'm a good listener. I’ve always been in school counseling. At one point I worked with middle schoolers, then just specifically high schoolers and then just seniors. Now i work with almost everyone, it’s always been a job inside a job.
Q:What's your job position? What's your role in the school?
A: My position is College: College and Career readiness/guidance director. My job is to ensure that early as possible students are aware of opportunities outside of high school, maybe even as far as 6th grade teachers and other people should always be willing to be open to helping their students and let doors open for students. We make kids prepared so even if they wanted to go straight to a career in the beginning of their high school journey, but want to switch when they are a senior they can because we prepared them for that.
Q: Did you teach anywhere prior to mashpee? If so was it the same job?
A:I was a school counselor at Plantation Key School in the Florida keys and I was able to teach psychology at the community college there.
Q: What do you like about your job, what are the benefits about it, any cons?
A: What I like about my job is the students, I love my job, my biggest passion and goal is to help students. I want them to have the best future they can have. Some cons however are having to travel to school in the winter, I hate cold weather. Another may be that there isn't enough hours in a school day to help all the students I want. I don't have much cons, this is a great field to be in.
Q: Since you work with students and try to give them the best high school experience and prepare them for their life, do you have any advice for students going to college? How about a career?
A: My best advice and probably most useful is: It takes no more time to see the positive side to people than the negative, so many people think negatively and it blocks them from doing what they love, don't let anyone tell you can’t pursue your dream. Too many people focus on the negative...life’s too short! Another small advice I would give is to try not to focus on the “distracting” elements of high school, like drama, focus on your education and have learning be your number one priority.