JCA Alumni Association hosts second annual Career Day

 

31 JCA alumni returned to school last week to speak to juniors and seniors about their career paths.

31 JCA alumni returned to school last week to speak to juniors and seniors about their career paths.

Former Troy Community Consolidated School District 30C superintendent Larry Wiers spoke to Joliet Catholic Academy students about the importance of finding a career “sweet spot” and he likened it to that special feeling a golfer gets when hitting a well struck shot. Wiers was among 31 alumni from JCA, Joliet Catholic High School, and St. Francis Academy who spoke to junior and senior students last Thursday at the second annual Joliet Catholic Academy Alumni Association Career Day. He joined several successful alums currently working in education, public service, law enforcement, finance, entrepreneurship, and medicine, in sharing their career path stories with current students.

Wiers told students, “Three things make up a fulfilling life: What are you motivated to do? Are you good at it? And does the world need this work? Those three questions, when answered correctly, will create passion for your work.” He went on to extol the virtues of the teaching profession, which “is a profession that makes all other professions possible.”

Current Will County State’s Attorney Jim Glasgow also spoke to the student’s about the moral foundation a Joliet Catholic Academy education can provide. Regardless of the profession students will one day enter, Glasgow said, “don’t hesitate to jump in and affect change. We have a moral obligation to not sit back and watch.” He cited that moral obligation as the guiding principal for several of the highlights of his professional career, including the prosecution of Drew Peterson and the creation of Will County’s Drug Court.

Larry Wiers also spoke to students about the value of the professional connections a Joliet Catholic Academy education can foster, citing examples in the classroom he spoke to. Wiers coached fellow presenter, and former Assistant United States Attorney, John Lausch in baseball. He even taught several parents of current JCA students, some of which were in the class he spoke to.

Throughout the day, presenters spoke for 20 minutes each about their current job, and the path it took to attain their positions. Once done speaking, JCA students were encouraged to ask questions of each presenter. Several presenters noted throughout the day their availability outside of Career Day to help inquiring young JCA students in their future career search through job shadowing, further guidance through conversation, or even potential internship programs.

JCA Director of Alumni Relations Sue Bebar added, “What I love most about Career Day is our alumni telling the students about their journey from graduation to where they are at today. Each presenter has a unique story of their path and how it has impacted them.  Students today can learn from the failures and the successes… true life lessons.”

For a complete list of JCA Alumni presenters from Career Day visit: https://www.jca-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Alumni-Career-Day-Final-List.pdf


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