Kari McCarthy, Class of 2006, Waterbury, CT

What are you up to? I’m currently living in Waterbury, married, and I just had my first child. I have been a science teacher for 8 years. I’m currently teaching 7th grade science in Woodbury.

How'd you get here? Life came full circle. I wrote in my Senior year book that my ambition was to be a science teacher and that’s exactly what I did. I went to CCSU and got my Bachelors in Earth Science (Geology) and my Masters+ credits in education at the University of Bridgeport. I was able to move to my current teaching job in Woodbury because of my internship. A lot of my career path moved forward because of one person that I met, who led me to my job in Fairfield and then to my job in Woodbury.

What are your goals? My husband and I are in the works of owning and operating our own brewery. We are avid home brewers and we are now looking to open our own place. I love the science behind brewing! I loved teaching (emphasis on the past tense). I had made up my mind in high school that I wanted to be a teacher. I did it. Loved it. But now I want more for my life. Now that I’m “adulting” and seeing life as it really is, teaching is not so much for me. I’m looking to do something that will make a greater impact in my life. My husband and I feel that we can impact the community through our business and that’s what really excites me today!

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? You don’t need to decide what the rest of your life looks like right now. If you know, then pursue it and pursue it to your greatest capacities. If you don’t, that’s okay too, explore and experiment, you have your whole life ahead of you. Don’t settle! (Both personally and professionally!)