Success, One Step At A Time: Allison Tortorici

Allison Tortorici , 2009, Waterbury, CT

What are you up to? I am currently working part time at Marshalls in Watertown and attending Post University’s online program. I am finishing my bachelor’s in Psychology after I was forced to drop put of UConn in 2011. I live with my boyfriend and my cat in a condo that we rent. I lead an average life that doesn’t sound like anything exciting, but I’ve come to appreciate stability and the simplicities of life.

How'd you get here? When I graduated from Watertown High in 2009, I chose the traditional path of going to college. I had always been a smart person and school came very easy to me. I was always told “You are so smart, you can do whatever you want!” I had always had a passion for helping those struggling with mental illness. For me, psychology was the only option for my future career. Unfortunately, in 2010, I began experiencing symptoms of Schizophrenia. In the matter of a week my whole world came crashing down. I was hospitalized and completely lost touch with reality. It was the scariest experience of my life and I completely lost my confidence. Once I regained control of my mind, depression set in. My intelligence and drive didn’t matter, I felt I was failing at life. I had to drop out of school and temporarily leave my full time job. At one point, my illness became so unbearable that I entered a program where I resided for 7 months. There, I learned coping skills to manage my anxiety and symptoms which helped me greatly when reentering the world. I also met the love of my life in the program and we have been together for 5 years now. My story is not of a glamorous career or a super successful job. For me, my success is measured in how far I have come mentally. Being able to manage a daily living was something I thought I’d never accomplish, but here I am, managing a part time job, my home, and school.

What are your goals? My goal for the future are to, in a small way, break down the stigma surrounding mental illness. Schizophrenia can happen to anyone, and symptoms go unnoticed until young adult years (how convenient, right?). Right now I am focusing on getting my bachelor’s degree so I can work with others suffering from mental illness. When it comes to the brain, so much is unknown, and inability to control your brain is the most terrifying phenomenon. I hope that I can help just one person, in any way, that is dealing with a family member with mental illness, or struggling with mental illness themselves. I believe our purpose in life is to help one another, and those suffering from a disease that they can’t control need an enormous amount of help. Eventually, I’d like to become an APRN and own my own practice, but for now I am taking one small step at a time.

What has been your biggest challenge? My biggest challenge in life has been accepting my illness for what it is, and moving forward. I spent so much time comparing myself to former alumni I had grown up with but our lives weren’t comparable. Social media can cause a lot of doubt because we are constantly only posting the good in our lives. I finally am able to accept where I am in life, and appreciate how far I’ve come. I am thankful for my illness because it caused me to refocus my life and regain my passion for psychology. It is a beautiful thing to appreciate the chaos that has shaped you.

What has been your happiest moment? My happiest moment was moving into our condo with my boyfriend. It sounds corny but when we met we were at the lowest points in our lives. Creating a stable and happy home for us has been the best part of my life thus far.

Advice for WHS Students: My advice for WHS students would be to not give up when your life doesn’t go as planned. I thought my life would be simple! Go to college, graduate, get a job, etc. We can’t plan for what life has in store for us so just go with it! It may not be what you wanted or how you planned for things to go, but it is your life. It is your story. Own it and learn from every curveball life throws at you.

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? Don’t stress about everything! Everything works out the way it is supposed to. Let go and have faith.

Accepting the Unexpected: Nathaniel Habegger

Nathaniel Habegger, Class of 2009, Manhattan, New York

What are you up to? I currently work as a Creative Coordinator for a marketing firm in downtown Manhattan. I manage social media and in-house photography. I also help with ideation of events/marketing plans and I contract talent. In addition to my full-time job, I run my own menswear blog and manage social media channels daily. On top of it all, I shoot photos professionally for clients and for my own blog.

How'd you get here? Well, before moving to New York, I wanted to be an actor. I acted in all of the high school shows, loved music, and was incredibly passionate about that career path. Six terrible auditions and college rejection letters later, I realized that acting was too much rejection for me to handle. At this point in my life, I had put all of my eggs in one basket and assured myself that being on Broadway was the ultimate goal. Also, at this point in my life, I had taken advantage of a teacher-student relationship to change my grades in the school computer system. This act of tom-foolery lead me into an emotional downward spiral (as I was almost expelled months before graduating high school.. terrifying). I fell from the pedestal I had put myself on and didn't know who I was anymore or what I was going to do. I felt like a delinquent and that I would never recover from this mistake. So after graduating in 2009, I took the summer to figure out what I wanted to do. I always loved fashion and I loved art. I went to Western Connecticut State University for a year to gain credits before transferring to a private school in Manhattan called The Laboratory Institute of Merchandising. I wish someone had told me that none of my credits from Western would transfer to LIM, but that’s ok. What’s another loan to pay off right? 

I moved to New York and thought I was the best. Come to find out, everyone in New York is the best and I was the worst of the best (or maybe a little better than the worst, but still.. small fish big pond situation). I worked for Coach as a Visual Merchandiser for about 4 years. A Visual Merchandiser is a term used in the fashion/retail industry for someone who creates window displays. I left that job to start working as a Creative Coordinator, which is what I do now. In the process of all of this, I started my own menswear blog and made insane connections with people all over the city through Instagram.

What are your goals? I want to write a book, open a restaurant, take beautiful photographs, open a ceramics studio and start a fashion company. It’d be really cool if I could do all of that, but we’ll see.

What has been your biggest challenge? Self acceptance. I think the hardest part of this journey (which by the way is still JUST starting) has been accepting myself for who I am and not who I think people want me to be. After high school, I left the comfort of home, family, and friends. I had such a strong sense of self and was incredibly confident. Moving to New York really knocked me down a few pegs. It made me see life on a much larger scale. Figuring out who you are is an ever going project that seems endless, and it kind of is. Figuring out how to love the part of yourself that has flaws and that part of yourself that you don’t like is the biggest challenge. It’s the most rewarding when you overcome all of that; when you can sit with yourself and appreciate who you are through and through. By the way - I’m still working on that…it ain’t easy kids.

What has been your happiest moment? There are a couple happy moments I've had recently. One being the day I started my current job. Another would be being featured in a digital campaign for Uniqlo. Both really made me feel like I had made it even though I’m still fighting to make it!

Advice for WHS Students? Start to look outside yourself. Start to be curious about what else is out there in the world. Watertown is an amazing town to grow up in, but I think it’s incredibly beneficial to look beyond the horizon to see what other opportunities are out there. How can you appreciate something if you never lose it? Another tidbit of advice: If your dreams don’t come true immediately, that doesn’t mean they never will. Some dreams don’t come true (like me being on Broadway because I’m not a knock out actor, but was passionate about it!) but your dreams can morph. Allow yourself to accept the ebb and flow that is life. You won’t win them all, but if you do something that makes you feel fulfilled, you’ll be happy. You can reinvent yourself everyday, and should. ALSO: You’ll realize how lovely being in high school is the second you step into the real world.. so enjoy it while it lasts.

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? I would tell my high school self to shut up and sit down. I was so cocky in high school. I thought no one could touch me and that I was the best. Turns out, I was really lazy and kind of a jerk. Don’t get me wrong, I think most people who knew me would agree I was a good kid, but I was definitely not interested in working hard in class. I’d also tell my high school self that I can do anything I put my mind to and then to actually put my mind to it instead of sitting waiting for life to happen.

Compassionate and Courageous: Anthony Salerno

Anthony Salerno, Class of 2009, Northern Virginia

What are you up to? I am coming up on my 6th year anniversary of serving in the United States Army. I hold the rank of Sergeant and I am Military Police, but I currently work as a Protective Agent for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, so I travel constantly, and never know where I am going to be next.

How'd you get here? Well, when I graduated in 2009 I started working right away for Naugatuck Ambulance as an EMT. After a few years ( in 2011) I decided it was time for a change and applied to the Savannah, GA Fire Department. When that did not work out (they were put on a hiring freeze) I decided to join the military. I knew that I wanted to continue to help people in whatever way I could, and I felt that being a MP would give me more opportunities than being a medic. 

On January 9, 2012 I went to Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. After 5 months, I graduated and went off to my first unit (512th MP Co) which was also on Fort Leonard Wood. Right around July 2012 my company started to ask for volunteers to deploy to Afghanistan with a sister company (13th MP Co) and I volunteered. I went through the process and in mid August 2012 went to Fort Bliss Texas for deployment training with my new company. On Halloween night in 2012, I got on a plane in Missouri headed for Afghanistan. 

I returned home from my first deployment in July 2013 and went on my second deployment about 18 months later in January 2015. That deployment really helped me to get to where I am today. I returned home to Fort Leonard Wood in October 2015 and was on orders to change duty stations to Fort Belvoir Virginia in February 2016. I have been stationed here at Fort Belvoir since, and have spent most days making sure a high level Department Of Defense officials or Army Officials are safe. For all of those who may not know, Protective Services is basically what the Secret Service does for the President.

What are your goals? Currently my goals are a little different than most who I graduated with. My main goal is to finish a degree, any degree. The military does not require a degree so I never went to traditional brick and mortar college. This in’t a bad thing because I have a lot of real world experience that many of my classmates may not have had. 

My secondary goal is to successfully transition out of the military into a Federal Law Enforcement position. This has, at times, proved to be a little difficult but I know that with enough work and the proper drive anything is possible.

What has been your biggest challenge? That is a tough question. I’ve had many challenges. I have a few that I’m embarrassed by that would be right at the top of my list, but two that I’m not embarrassed by are:

On December 8, 2012 while I was deployed, a US Navy SEAL was killed in action (KIA) in Afghanistan. That Navy SEAL's name was Nicolas Checque and he was one of the best people I have ever had the chance to talk to in my life. Nick was such a humble person and an all around good guy. Losing him was a very difficult moment and it remains difficult. Luckily, as of right now, I am very close to where Nick is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery and for the past 3 years I have gotten the chance to visit him multiple times. 

The second challenge that I can say I've faced is much like the first. On October 11, 2015 while getting ready to leave Afghanistan for the second time, a British Puma Mk2 helicopter crashed on our base. As I had numerous years of medical experience under my belt I responded to the crash site to help tend to the wounded. About 3 1/2 hours later, after all of those who were in the helicopter had been successfully extricated from the wreckage, I was able to leave. 

Those two days stick with me to this day. They remind me daily of how precious life is. They also remind me to help someone anytime I can help. If I can spare change for someone, I will. If someone needs a shoulder to cry on or to punch, I'll do my best to help. There is no way of knowing how long you will be here, but there is a way of knowing what you will leave behind once you're gone.

What has been your happiest moment? I have had so many happy moments it is hard to pick just one. I would have to say that my most recent happiest moment would be December 1, 2016. That is the day I was promoted to Sergeant. I had worked so hard and had been studying my butt off to get promoted, and on that day it happened. My mom flew down from Watertown to come put the new rank on my chest, and I couldn't have been happier.

Advice for WHS Students? Don't worry that life doesn't go as you plan it. There is no way to plan the next 2, 3, 5, 10, 15 years of your life and say, “This is what I am going to do.” In my line of work we always say to new people that you need to remain rigidly fluid in that you need to be set on your current path; you need to be giving your all at all times, but you better be prepared when the schedule changes 14 times in one day. Look at the goals that are within your reach and dedicate yourself to them, they will help you achieve the bigger picture goal someday.

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? Be honest in everything you do, don't rush in unless it is needed, help everyone you have the chance to help.

Food for Thought: Chelsea Kyle

Chelsea Kyle, 2009, Manhattan, NY

What are you up to? I work as Senior Visual Editor, Photographer for Condé Nast, specifically working with sister brands Epicurious and Bon Appetit. I direct, shoot, and produce all the photography for www.epicurious.com. Basically, a food story or recipe idea gets pitched to me from our Food Editors and I help facilitate how that gets represented visually. When we are working on big projects that require a larger team, I’m helping organize a team of freelance artists including additional Photographers, Food Stylists and Prop stylists. My time is split between being in the studio shooting and desk work editing, retouching, coordinating, etc. I occasionally shoot professional freelance gigs on my time off photographing restaurants, architecture, interiors design, and fashion.

I’m constantly surrounded by a lot of very passionate people who love food. Naturally, I have developed a deep love for the food world and I’ve picked up cooking myself. I live with one of my childhood friends (and fellow WHS alumni) who is also a photographer. My third roommate is a food stylist and a chef. My boyfriend is a pastry chef and food stylist. We love what we do so much that most of the time you’ll catch us on weekends in the kitchen with cameras.

How'd you get here? I was raised by my very old fashioned grandmother and my very forward thinking, modern mother. Both passionate as hell, especially when it came to me. I’d like to think I had a nice balance of both their ideals but the reality of it made it very difficult to choose between a traditional path pursuing a “reliable” career in science or break the norm and go to a trade school for photography.

After getting accepted to my dream school, Savannah College of Art and Design, I declined and chose to attend University of New Hampshire to study Nutrition. It didn’t take long for the little voice in my head to start screaming, “You’re in the wrong place.” So I went home to Connecticut and attended classes at Central Connecticut State University until I figured out my next step. I was accepted to University of Hartford for photography but the summer before my first fall semester, I was sitting in my mom’s kitchen expressing how I didn’t want to spend 2 of 4 years taking general art classes before I could focus solely on photography. I wanted a trade school that got me hands on experience with photo equipment and shooting right away. She encouraged me to follow my heart and we started looking at trade schools.

I finally found a home at New England School of Photography (NESOP) in Boston where I graduated with a focus in Advertising and Commercial photography and minored in Creative Imaging. During my studies at NESOP, I was interning at Boston Magazine and tutoring students in classes below me. Soon I started getting freelance photography gigs. By the time I graduated, I was shooting freelance full-time. I had clients all over Boston, small businesses, publications, etc. Three years later, through connections and recommendations, I got a call from Condé Nast and a month later I dropped everything to move to New York to start my current job.

What are your goals? I want to inspire people to follow their dreams like I have. I want to continue to bring people joy through the world of art, showing people a different side of life, and filling people up with beautiful representations of other people’s thoughts and ideas. I want to encourage people to fight for themselves and what they love.

My grandmother grew up in a time when she wasn’t allowed to pursue her dreams. She was a woman held back by society and an abusive father. She didn't stop; even when her mother killed herself, her sister died from a poorly treated infection and her marriage failed leaving her with 4 kids. She set out on her own and successfully raised four children and then three grandchildren (me!). She was a Girl Scout Leader growing up and countlessly told us girls that we could be whoever we wanted to be. She and my mother gave me a childhood of wonderful experiences and taught me to always say yes to opportunity. 

Sadly, my mother battled with a vicious eating disorder, depression, and addiction and died as a result little over three years ago. She was an incredible person; she tried so hard to be her best and it took a toll on her mentally. My mom studied many religions seeking solace. She could recite scripture, religious readings, and spiritual anecdotes that she had memorized but through her many pursuits she couldn’t find faith in herself. It was difficult to comprehend how someone so smart, beautiful, and strong could be so saddened by their own mind. I wanted desperately to give her courage and support the way she did for me. 

Both of these wonderful women in my life gave me the strength and confidence to achieve whatever I set my mind to when they couldn’t do it themselves. I hope to encourage others to do the same.

Advice for WHS Students? Success means more than just employment and executing your job well. Understand and appreciate the jobs of those who work around you and be inspiring and present. Small acts of consideration and kindness go a long way to making your work and personal life better for you, as well as for those around you. Your work ethic is important, but the attitude you bring to work and the way you treat others is just as important, if not more.

If you could tell your high school self one thing, what would it be? You'll change your mind a lot. That's okay. Nobody except you can tell you what makes you happy.

Air Force Staff Sergeant Making Moves: David Davidson

David Davidson, Class of 2009 (from Kaynor Tech) Luke Air Force Base, Glendale, Arizona

What are you up to? I am currently a Senior Airman (sew on Staff Sergeant) in the United States Air Force, stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. I'm a Aircraft Armament Systems Technician, which basically means Aircraft Weapons Load Crew member. I work on the F-16 Fighting Falcon. It's my responsibility to ensure that the weapons system on the aircraft works properly to ensure safe and successful weapons release. I also load the various bombs, missiles, and guns that are on the aircraft. I'm married with two kids, a 4-year-old and 9-month-old. I am also working on getting a certificate in Medical Billing and Coding.

How'd you get here? I did not graduate from Watertown High School, but I did go to school in Watertown up until 8th grade and spent a pretty good chunk of my life living there. I ended up going to Kaynor Tech for high school. I chose the electronics shop as my trade of choice.

I wasn't too sure what I wanted to do after high school. After graduation, I was denied a scholarship at NVCC, which lead me to work a year at CoCo Key Water Resort as a lifeguard.

I started to become really interested in the military, more specifically, the air force. I got the ball rolling on the process of getting into the air force and I finally left for basic training in November of 2010. I graduated from basic training in January of 2011. After spending 5 months in Texas, I graduated tech school. After tech school, it was onto Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. During the four years spent in Idaho, many things happened. I started working on the F15E Strike Eagle. I was TDY (temporary duty assignment) to quite a few places (Louisiana, Las Vegas, Panama City, Salt Lake City) and had a seven month deployment overseas. Also, during this time, I met and got married to my wife. In July of 2015, I PCS'd (Permanent Change of Stations) to Luke Air Force Base.

What are your goals? Up until recently my goal was to make the next rank of Staff Sergeant. I found out a couple weeks ago that I'll be putting on Staff Sergeant on October 1st, and I can say that I achieved that goal. My next goal is to get back into school and start working on a degree to set myself up for my future outside of the air force.

Advice for WHS Students? Don't limit yourself for your plans after high school. I studied electronics for four years in high school and now I'm working in a labor intensive aircraft maintenance job where I rarely put my knowledge of electronics to use. There are countless career fields out there. If you try one and you like it you should stick with it. If not, then try something else. It's better to do something you like than to be miserable doing something you don't.

How did you start your day? My day typically starts the same. I wake up at 5 am, shower and put the uniform on, have a bowl of cereal and then I'm out the door for work.

Expect the Unexpected: Lindsay Bugryn

Lindsay Bugryn, Class of 2009, Watertown, CT

What are you up to? I just started my 2nd year of teaching! Last year I taught 2nd grade and this year I am teaching Kindergarten in Waterbury. I absolutely love being in the classroom day to day. It's amazing to see how much my students learn throughout the year. I am also coaching the dance team at WHS. This will be my 4th year coaching the team. It's a great way to share my passion of dance with others! 

Who would of ever thought I'd be dating someone from high school that I never spoke to?! Well, I am! We've been dating for 4 years, 3 of those years he's been serving in the Air Force. Only a few months left until he's back to Watertown! 

If I'm not teaching, planning lessons, coaching or spending time with friends and family, you can always find me hanging out with my dog!

How'd you get here? I attended University of New Haven for my undergrad. I received my Bachelors Degree in Communications. My dream was to become a news anchor. That dream quickly changed after I was crowned Miss University of New Haven my senior year and started working with children in school systems. As I began to spend more time working in different schools, I realized I could be a positive influence while doing something I really enjoyed. I was able to work with children of all ages, however, I became very passionate about working with elementary aged children. Seeing how eager elementary school children are to learn made me recognize I could make a huge impact and help mold their futures. 

This led me to go back to school for my masters degree. Almost two years ago, I received my Masters in Elementary Education from The University of Bridgeport. After completing my student teaching in Wolcott, I was awarded Outstanding Student Teacher of the year. I was then offered a full time position teaching in Waterbury. Since then, I have loved every minute of it and can't wait to see what the future holds.

What are your goals? I plan to go back to school for my 6th year. Down the road I may decide to take on an administration role, but for now the classroom is where I want to be! I also hope to continue to build the dance team at the high school!

Advice for WHS Students? Expect the unexpected, prepare for obstacles, dream big, be happy and always believe in yourself.

How did you start your day? With 20 big smiles from my Kindergarteners!

The Power of Predicting the Future: Ryan Jacovich

Ryan Jacovich, Class of 2009, Watertown, CT

What are you up to? Currently working as a database marketing analyst at Reed Exhibitions in Norwalk. They are the worldwide leader in organizing trade shows in both the business to business (B2B) and business to consumer (B2C) realms. Some of the more well known shows we organize include the PGA merchandise show, New York Comic Con, PAX shows, and Book Con. 

My job comes into play on the data side. I spend a lot of my time writing SQL code to pull data from our internal database of contacts. This determines our set of individuals that would receive messaging about an upcoming show. 

The other major portion of my job is devoted to special projects mostly of a statistical nature. This is the area that interests me the most because I can try to literally predict the future! We use statistical modeling techniques to try and solve business problems. A few examples include predicting which of our exhibitors are likely to not come back to the following year's event, and scoring a specific list of individuals to try and figure out who the best customers are. Some of these projects are being done for the first time within the company, so I've been able to grow with these projects. The fact that all of this can be done using math is honestly pretty amazing. 

My most recent project has been to build an entire database from scratch using a newly learned programming language.  Myself and two others from the team have been pulling our best "Silicon Valley" impersonation by not only building the database, but putting that data into a visualization software program for others in the company to be able to consume it easier.  Rather than having to make some charts and graphs in excel, you simply just pick what you want to see and everything you need to know appears at the push of a button.  It has been the most difficult thing I've ever tried to do, but it has been incredibly rewarding.

I have been granted the opportunity to work on some amazing projects here.  It is easy to go to work when you love what you do and enjoy who you do it with.  Our team knows how to stay loose and have fun.. certainly not your stereotypical data nerds.

How'd you get here? I graduated from Bryant University in 2013 with a degree in Business with concentrations in Finance and Applied Math and Statistics (quite the mouthful). I started off planning to be some sort of Wall Street banker managing my investments, but quickly learned that it wasn't all that interesting to me. 

I've always been a math person and my first statistics class had me hooked. I graduated with a 4.0 in my stats concentration and got my first job right out of college at Mohegan Sun. I was privy to all sorts of interesting data on our customers and was able to learn my second programming language. I also was able to apply the statistical modeling techniques I had learned at Bryant. I was there for a year and half until I was headhunted on LinkedIn (get a profile if you don't have one) and wound up at Reed 3 weeks later.

What are your goals? I want to keep learning. I have the privilege of working with a full-time statistician, which has been amazing for advancing my knowledge in the field. I want to be able to answer questions with data rather than opinions. An answer backed up by numbers and facts is a powerful answer indeed.

It's also a goal of mine to get my work-life balance back in order. I've been spending a lot of time focusing on work, so I've made it a point to go out more. I've picked up golf in the last year, joined the company softball team, and made some more appearances at happy hours in the Norwalk area.  I'm still undecided, but I've thought about moving down to Fairfield/Norwalk as well.. great area!

Advice for WHS Students? 

1. Although you may be a ways away from the work world.. make sure you find something you enjoy doing. Sitting down at a desk job would be brutal if I didn't honestly love working with data. 

2. I mentioned it earlier, but get a LinkedIn and keep it updated.  I've come across countless opportunities from it and it's the only reason I'm at Reed right now.

3. Be respectful and open to helping people.  They will remember; trust me!

What is your greatest weakness? Probably my attention to detail. Sometimes I get too wrapped up and focused on a problem. I can do 90% of the work in 30 minutes but the last 10% might take 2 hours.  That 90% might be good enough already!

Software Engineer and Underwater Investigator: Joseph Adamski

Joseph Adamski, Class of 2009, Newington, CT

What are you up to? I am currently working as a software engineer at HYPACK in Middletown, which was a small start up company that was bought out by a Fortune 500. The software we develop deals with the field of hydrography, such as using echo sounders in order to generate maps of the ocean bottom. Most of my time is spent working on magnetometers, which assist various organizations in finding all sorts of objects on the seafloor such as unexploded ordinance or ship wrecks. I've also recently been doing some work on measuring water quality using environmental sensors in order to ensure drinking water is safe. 

I'm currently finishing up my MBA at Central Connecticut State University in business analytics. So hopefully when I'm burned out on being a code monkey I can move onto new things.

How'd you get here? Probably the biggest help in getting to where I am today was financial assistance. Mr. Lozaw and Mr. Brown wrote me a letter of recommendation for a National Science Foundation scholarship, which ended up covering the majority of my tuition at CCSU while getting my Bachelors in Computer Science. AP Java was also a big help in getting me started in the field, so kudos to the now retired Miss Smith. Other than that, I just really like programming and so I made it my job.

What are your goals? In my undergrad, I double majored in sociology and computer science. I have always wanted to get my PhD in a topic such as computational social science which combines the two fields.

Advice for WHS Students? Find a career path you really like. Don't rush into anything and take your time. You're bound to have a few flounders and failures but it is how you learn and recover from them that really matters.

If you could travel anywhere tomorrow, where would you go? Bletchley Park

Coaching with New Goals: Emily O'Connor

Emily O'Connor, Class of 2009, Watertown CT

What are you up to? Well, I'm in school... again. I just got into Waterbury UCONN's accelerated nursing program, where I'll receive my second bachelors degree. 

I actually still spend a lot of time at WHS. I coach during fall semester (volleyball) and spring semester (softball). Coaching has become a huge part of who I am and being able to do so at my alma mater makes it that much more fun! I coach the sports that I fell in love with, with all of the coaches who taught me. Yes - all my coaches are still there. Ally Demarest was my volleyball coach in Senior year of high school. Keith Borkowski and George Palomba have coached me since I was 13 year old. Now, they are the men I stand beside on the softball field, coaching. To have a full circle experience (playing, coaching and umping) has given me a better appreciation for each sport.

How'd you get here? After graduating high school I moved to New Haven and attended SCSU for 4 years and received my Bachelors Degree in Bilingual Speech Pathology. 2 years and approximately 20 graduate school rejection letters later (yes - 20) I decided to move on. I worked for one year as an ABA therapist; I worked one-on-one with children who where non-verbally autistic. While this was a rewarding job, I knew it was not my CAREER.

My new goal is nursing. I'll be the third generation of nurses in my family. I had to re-take EVERY science class I ever took at SCSU, because mine where now either too old or based on speech pathology (I was thrilled). I saved some money and did this at NVCC. During this time, I was coaching and working as the special events coordinator for Watertown Parks and Recreation. All of these things leads us to present day Emily. I'm still coaching, waiting for more schooling, and working at the Parks and Rec office (10 years later).

What are your goals? I would ultimately like to work in pediatric nursing nursing and eventually become a Nurse Practitioner. I love helping people, so cliche, I know... but I do.

Advice for WHS Students? It's okay to be rejected (coming from me, I was rejected over 20 times for graduate schools, I know the feeling). It's is not always negative, it's simply a change of plans. 

Also, stay in touch with your high school friends because while your college friends are great, my best friend has been the same person since day one. Thanks Han!

If you could travel anywhere tomorrow, where would you go? Ireland.

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A Townie Pirate: Mike Lemay

Mike Lemay, Class of 2009, Fort Lauderdale, FL

What are you up to? I've been living and working as the first mate onboard a private yacht for the past year or so (yes, like the show Below Deck). We basically just go island hopping around the Caribbean, helping the boss and his family on vacation.

How'd you get here? Well, after I graduated from UConn with my Bachelors in Education and a business management minor, I stepped into the "real world" and wasn't sure what I wanted to do. We've all heard the cliché "do what you love and you won't work a day in your life." Well, two of my favorite things to do are boats and beaches, so I packed my truck and drove to Fort Lauderdale. That pretty much brings us up to here.

What are your goals? I actually just started the process for my next two steps. I'm getting my captains license next month, and shortly thereafter I plan to start a yacht management company. Other than that, I've woken up happy every day since I started in this industry, so if I can keep that up, I'll be satisfied.

Advice for WHS Students? I'll have to answer this with the same cliché I've been living my life by:

DO WHAT YOU LOVE!

It doesn't matter if it's cars, art, sports or science. There are far too many people I've met that don't enjoy what they do, and it kills me. It's great to have goals in life, just make sure the juice is worth the squeeze. 

Also, listen to your parents! I never thought my dad knew what I was going through, but it turns out he did. Now I'm asking my dad questions nearly every day.

What is the last movie you saw in the theatre? The Revenant

A Ski Bum & Soccer Coach with a Masters: Jamie Trayer

Jamie Trayer, Class of 2009, Castleton, VT

What are you up to?: I was recently hired as a Program Director for Rutland Recreation and Parks Department. In addition, I am the assistant and goalkeeper coach for Castleton University Women's soccer team. My program director position is very hands on and diverse; one of the main reasons I applied for the job. Currently I develop, direct, supervise and evaluate assigned program activities specific to two facilities within the city, Giorgetti Arena and White Pool. Girogetti Arena is a three season facility that converts from an indoor skate-park (summer), to an ice arena (winter) and then to a turf field (spring). White Pool is currently under a complete renovation and expected to open in June 2017! I also oversee the mountain biking programs, day camps, and adult athletic leagues. My job definitely keeps me on the toes with it's ever changing environment and circumstances, but it allows me to take a creative approach when researching current trends and developing new programming and facility updates. I feel like I need a climbing rope for this huge learning curve but I wouldn't have it any other way. It challenges me just as my athletes do coaching at the collegiate level.

In my spare time I am the part-time assistant and goalkeeper coach for the Castleton Women's Soccer Team. This is my third year with the program and I am hyped to see what this fall has to offer. We are bringing in one of our best recruiting classes yet, that not only offers great talent but phenomenal young women as well.

How'd you get here? I moved to VT just before the end of my undergraduate degree to finish an internship at Green Mountain College as their Assistant Strength and Conditioning coach. Upon completion, I "ski-bumed" it for a year, snowboarding at Killington Mountain while working at Darkside Snowboard Shop and Sun-up Bakery, both located on the Killington Access Road. I was just hanging out, living life, when I ran into one of my connections through Green Mountain College. I was told that the Graduate Assistant (GA) Women's Soccer Coach position unexpectedly opened and they needed someone to step in. Having a background of coaching and playing at the collegiate level, I applied and was hired that week. That opportunity was incredible. As a GA, I coached for their women's soccer team while pursuing my masters degree in Athletic Leadership. I just graduated this past May with a Masters in Athletic Administration. Due to my incredible relationship with my coaching staff and athletes, I decided to stay in the area post-grad and was offered a part-time coaching position for the Fall. Knowing that I was staying, I began searching for a job while I was interning at Middlebury College in Event Management this past spring. I happened upon the Program Director position three days before the deadline and applied. One thing lead to another and here I am!

What are your goals? Since I was young, my end goal has been to be happy in every aspect of my life. I don’t need to make millions of dollars or own pricey materialistic things to define my success or happiness. I’ve discovered that if I obtain a career that I love and am passionate about it, I’ll never have to work a day in my life. Right now, I am happy where I am. My job gives me opportunity to give back on a much larger scale. I get so much love and enjoyment seeing my athletes progress with a new skill. My position as a Program Director allows me to do just that for so many more people. I provide people with fun.

I would love to continue to excel within my coaching career as well. I currently hold two certifications in strength and conditioning and soccer and have goals to renew them annually. I would like to obtain my Level I, II and III Goalkeeping License from the National Soccer Coaches Association in America within the next year or so and obtain my National and Advanced National Goalkeeping Licenses within the next five years. We all have goals to travel and see the world, so in time, that will present itself.

Advice for WHS Students? Breathe, trust yourself and take chances. Every opportunity that has presented itself to me since graduating college and moving to VT, has just happened. I never really had a "plan". It's okay to not know what is next and it's okay to be scared. Sometimes you just have to go with it. That's what I'm doing and the ride has been incredible. Work hard but make time for you. Remember that work is work and life is life. Do what you love and smile.

What are the ingredients for a perfect day? Sound sleep, delicious coffee, killer tunes, great company & spontaneous adventures (waking up to 24" of snow would be amazing as well *pow day*!)

Business Chic and Inspired: Gina Bianca

Gina Bianca, Class of 2009, Southington, CT

What are you up to? I currently own a successful hair salon in Southington which I established in 2014. Gina Bianca Hair is one of the best hair salons in the state and I employ eight talented professionals who are dedicated to making people's day! We service clients from all walks of life and always enjoy the diversity that our location and brand gives us. Currently, I am in the process of expanding my location from 1600 square feet to 4,000 square feet and we have only been open 18 months. Outside of working in the salon, I am in the process of closing on my first home, which will double as an income property. In my free time, which is scarce, I enjoy hanging out with my friends and family, spoiling my dog and traveling when I can.

How'd you get here? When Junior year at WHS came along and I had to start thinking about college, I must have applied to 20 random schools for all different things. I wanted to be a plastic surgeon, a marine biologist, a teacher, a guidance counselor, a social worker - I had no idea. I had never performed well in school, so I ended up finishing high school and planned on working until I figured it out. Right before graduation, Mrs. Zimmerman assigned us a project where we had to create a business plan and a business for our final project. For no specific reason, I created a hair salon that doubles as a tattoo shop. I was so excited about it and put more time and passion into that assignment than any homework I had ever had. It got me thinking about hair school. I ended up signing up on a whim at the Paul Mitchell School in North Haven and it changed my life forever.

Flash forward a few years and I was doing hair, stuck in auto pilot and not truly fulfilled. I was partying every night, not giving work much effort and pretty much lost passion for what I loved. If you really want to know the secret of how I became successful so quickly, it was that I gave up drugs and alcohol for a solid 3 years and became solely focused on my goals. I knew I wanted to open a business and the one thing holding me back was myself. I spent all my money at the bar, didn't have motivation and surely wasn't looking professional; so I completely stopped! My sobriety opened my eyes to a new world. It hadn't dawned on me that I was never truly myself all of these years, I was living a lifestyle that was destructive and not pushing me towards my goals. I stopped drinking 9/13/12 and remained sober until January of 2016. After all of my hard work and accomplishments I decided that I was allowed to have a little fun again! The discipline, focus and control I had when I was completely sober and focused is how I got where I am today. Now I have no issue partying and having fun in moderation but I am so grateful for the time I spent focused on my career goals!

What are your goals? My goal is to follow through with our expansion and help my team achieve all of their personal and professional goals. I hope to have a staff of 20 inspiring people and grow GBH into a million dollar salon by 2018. We are projected to hit our goals if we keep going the way we have been. I also would like to build my dream house by 2020 and invest in a few more rental properties!

Advice for WHS Students?

1. Always be true to yourself and never think your dreams and goals are too big. Have goals and dreams that are so big you feel uncomfortable telling small minded people. You will be surprised how much support you receive from strangers over friends and family. The people you think will be there for you sometimes won't and that's okay - some journeys are meant to be traveled alone.

2. You have no control over how people act or what happens to you. The only control you have is how you react to what life throws at you. Life is 10% what happens and 90% how you react. Also know that if your dreams and goals aren't happening then chances are the problem is you. If you are strong enough to make sacrifices and adjust your behavior you can literally achieve anything in this world that you want - and if anyone tells you otherwise cut them out of your life because chances are they will never be happy for you anyway. 

3. If you're the smartest person in the room you're in the wrong room.

4. Make your Mom proud.

What is the last movie you saw in the theatre? I can't even remember the last time I was at the movies but I'm obsessed with Netflix and am currently watching The Office for the 10th time!!!! Something therapeutic about it for me :)

Yeah, well, that's just like your opinion man: John Dipaola

John Dipaola, 2009, Watertown, CT

What are you up to? Surprisingly, not that much at all. I'm currently waiting to hear back from The University of Bridgeport for (hopefully acceptance) into to their Secondary Education Graduate Program. Until then, I am trying to keep myself active and occupied with some part-time work here and there, along with starting my own sports blog (will most likely blow up Facebook when I get a few articles written) and being an avid meathead / exercise enthusiast at the Greater Waterbury YMCA.

How'd you get here? Before even graduating from WHS I honestly had no idea what I wanted to do or where I wanted to end up in life. At the time, I was a pretty OK swimmer, so I looked into schools with Division II and III swim programs. I think that was the first mistake I made because instead of focusing on a university with good academics, I wanted to be an athlete first.

That didn't go as planned because I stopped swimming my very first semester at Southern Connecticut State University. I ended up disliking that university for all the wrong reasons. I transferred to The University of Connecticut (Storrs campus) for two years, before the weight of constant partying, lack of studying and low class attendance, and a miserable relationship took its toll on me (mentally and emotionally). I then transferred campuses to the Waterbury branch while changing my major (when I should have been a senior). After another year and a half and commuting between the Waterbury and Storrs campuses for classes, I finally earned my Undergraduate Degree in English and started my first "big boy" job as a Visual manager of an Abercrombie & Fitch store in Milford (please keep the disrespectful comments to a minimum).

Even though the schedule and hours of retail are completely insane (especially during the holidays) I did make some good professional connections and made a lot of close friends, many of whom I still stay in close contact with today. After a little more than a year of working with the company, I decided to part ways and return to school so that I could fulfill some missing pre-requisites for grad school programs I had been looking at. After a mostly successful spring semester, I mailed my applications and I am now sitting at my computer typing this article.

What are your goals? I can safely say I have no clue where or what I will end up doing in the future. While my current plans are aiming me in the direction of graduate school, I have had so much anxiety over the "what if" scenarios of whether or not I'll get into this program that I've actually begun taking prescription medicine to counteract this. Even though my biggest fear is trying my best to achieve a specific goal (in this case being admitted to the intended grad program) a part of me doesn't fear the unexpected, but instead embraces the possibility of "what if". Even if I end up not getting accepted into the U.B. program, I'd like to further my sports blog development and maybe even end up pursuing a career in sports media. If that doesn't go as planned I still feel very confident in my writing abilities and could pursue careers elsewhere in the field of writing or editing. Even if THAT fails then I could always return to my previous management position, which I thankfully parted with on good terms. I've most definitely got enough back-up plans to keep myself occupied with for a while.

Advice for WHS Students? I mean I could ramble on for hours with this part but I'll give my best few pieces of advice: 

1. Take care of yourself mentally physically, and emotionally. The triangle of mental, physical, and emotional health is absolutely true. Try to challenge yourself with something new each day, whether it's trying new brain game puzzles, or keeping up with a personal interest blog, or even just pushing yourself with strenuous physical activity; these three cornerstones can definitely keep your mind and body in harmony, keeping you refreshed and ready for any challenges life throws at you. Plus it never hurts to look and feel good about yourself, especially when others around you complain about their own lives. 

2. It's the quality, not the quantity of your friendships. When I was a freshman in high school I was not social at all and extremely introverted. As time passed I did begin to open up and make more new friends, but the one constant I noticed was that the few good friends I had when I began were always by my side. After graduating, I still kept the closest contact with these few friends, while my relationship with many others seemed to fade away at times. Even to this very day many years later, I'm still the best of friends with the same six people I was friends with the first day of freshman year. Even though I keep an open mind when it comes to meeting new people, I know that I'll have these guys on my side until the day I die (or they die, whichever comes first).

3. DO NOT DWELL ON THE PAST. Seriously, this part bugs me the most because even I still do it. Even if you have the time of your life in high school or college, these times will pass. Instead of choosing to waste time dwelling on these moments and complaining about "how you wish you could recreate them" spend time actively trying to push your life in the direction of creating a scenario even better than the ones you previously lived out.

"To put it in comparison with professional sports, imagine if Tom Brady woke up everyday and said "Damn I really wish I beat the Giants in the 2007 Super Bowl, that perfect season sure would have been great!" Instead of trying to lead his team to another Super Bowl Championship, his dwelling on the past would only incite more mental errors and probably end his career on a sour note. So with that in mind, don't try and recreate the past from memory, just do your best each day and work for an even brighter future."

I guess a fourth piece of advice I'm still coming to realize now, is that you shouldn't feel pressured to live your life at a certain pace. Too many people are feeling pressured to grow up quickly and find a textbook definition of "success". Nothing happens overnight and even though waiting for what you want sucks, it's pretty much inevitable. Try not to rush into anything (unless you've done your research on it) because change in your life can be very drastic. Just because all your friends are moving out of state for school or work, or getting married at a young age, doesn't mean you should hurry up and do the same thing. I mean if all these people jumped off a bridge and broke their legs, would you want to break your leg too, just because everyone you know has?

What are the ingredients for a perfect day? Waking up early, eating three square healthy meals (with some snacks in between), checking the news for anything new and exciting, getting in some good exercise (whether it's lifting weights, swimming, biking, or even playing organized sports) and then winding down at night with a movie, or some reading.

Baltimore Bound: Rebekah Wood

Rebekah Wood, Class of 2009, Baltimore, MD

What are you up to? Currently, I am enjoying my summer off while nannying 2 kids -  ages 7 and 10! How do I have my summer off? Well, between August and June, I am a 4th grade Math teacher in Baltimore City and recently finished my 3rd year teaching. Teaching is a demanding job that I enjoy and take very seriously. During the school year, you can find me lesson-planning for hours on any given Sunday. 

I live in Canton, Baltimore with two roommates and I am lucky enough to have my sister a couple blocks away! Who knew she'd become a teacher too and move to Baltimore! I am involved in the Baltimore Sport and Social Club (BSSC) club during the year playing volleyball, football, and softball. Most recently, I started working for the BSSC as a staff leader for softball. The BSSC has been a great way to socialize with friends and meet new people while doing something fun! There's also a first-ever boy in the picture. :-O We've been dating for a little over a year and he is from Maryland originally. That has been a whole new learning experience. Besides that most weekends I am either hanging out with friends, exploring Baltimore, spending time with Justin, or doing adult stuff (bleh.)

"I was not the best high school student. I skipped class often, had a few Saturday detentions, and was your average B/C student."

How'd you get here? I paved my way through high school by having a great personality, tons of friends, involvement in school things, and being the little sister to a straight-A student. I always knew I could do better. 

During my senior year, our school motto was "Achieve Your Potential"  (thank you Mr. Geary and Mr. Balanda). I guess it kinda-sorta sunk in, because I started doing just that. I became really motivated to go to college and move away from Watertown. Mrs. Veatch, my guidance counselor, recommended I check out Towson University in Maryland because she thought it would be a good fit for me and, boy, was she right! I visited Towson 3 times before I went. I couldn't get enough of it! It was so new and exciting!

After graduating high school at the ripe age of 18, my dad and I road-tripped down to Towson (for the second time) to move in. The only people I knew there were those random people you meet on Facebook. I totally lost my "Watertown security blanket", ya know? The one where anywhere you go, you'll see someone you know or someone to help you out? That was gone, but I didn't let it hinder me and I totally embraced my new surroundings. 

During my 4 years at Towson, I kept myself very busy with school, work, friends, and of course partying. School was HARD ... at first! Out of the 5 courses I took my first semester, I only made it out by passing 3 of them. This made for a lot of catch up work in my years to come, which motivated me to stay focused and on top of my school work because I didn't have the time or money to be a 5th year senior. I always had a job, whether is was working at the desk in one of the dorms or babysitting on the weekends for my personal spending fund. I was not privileged with an allowance from my parents and if I was going to make work at Towson, I had to make money. 

By my junior year, I continued to work, joined a sorority, and moved off campus. It was then that I realized I wanted to make Maryland home. In order to do that, I'd have to get a teaching job after college. Over the next two years, I had 4 different teaching internships. Because I already knew what I wanted, I treated each one as if it was a job interview for a future position. To my surprise - it worked - and I was SHOCKED! Here I was, the former B/C high school student ... never first for anything and I NAILED a job first in my cohort of teachers eventually becoming an example for them! Not only that, but I was hired in March before I even graduated in May! I was set. It was then that I knew my hard work paid off by reaching my end goal of a job in Maryland and I realized that I CAN achieve my potential! 

I can't believe that was 8 years ago, and I have just finished up my 3rd year teaching. I have established a GREAT support system in Maryland and am looking forward to was the future holds! :)

What are your goals? It was difficult to remember to set new goals after graduating. I had a "I MADE IT" feeling and had to motivate myself again. Now that I have, I have made many goals and am always trying to better myself. 

• Better myself physically and mentally. There is always room for improvements in yourself to make a better you.

• Finding a new school / position. This year was tough. I was surplus (budget cut at my school, so I had to find a new job and transfer) in October. It was the toughest thing ever to start the school year again in November. I persevered and will teach for one more year at my current school until looking for another school that is a better fit.

• Continuing my education. I am currently working on my Masters in Instructional Technology at Towson. I have a love for technology and use it constantly in the classroom. I am always finding new ways to engage and motivate my students through technology.

• Thinking WAY into the future ... I would like to take my Masters and teach new teachers how to use technology effectively in the classroom at a college level.

Advice for WHS Students? 

• Achieve your potential and don't let anyone/anything hold you back! My family wanted me to go to a state school and become a teacher in CT. I am where I am today because I told them "no".

• Ask questions, plan ahead and assume nothing. Have a tentative five-year plan but be ready for possible adjustments. You never know what can happen.

• People don't get lucky in life. They work hard to get what they want. Hard work does pay off.

• Lastly, Watertown will be there forever. It'll become a great place to visit and catch up with old friends. Expand your horizons, there might be another life out there for you!

What are the ingredients for a perfect day? The sun, good music, good beer, and good company for lots of laughter :)

Roots Matter: Meghan Fogarty

Meghan Fogarty, Class of 2009, Watertown, CT

What are you up to? I'm currently working at Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield as an Escalations Specialist in Customer Service. I love my job because I love helping people. Currently, I assist on-shore and off-shore vendor representatives. I teach them how to work their calls and correctly assist members with daily inquiries. This job is not something I would have ever been able to predict would fall onto my lap, but I'm so glad it has. Anthem has become a second home for me, I love the people I work with and enjoy getting to help people!

How'd you get here? I got here because I networked. I graduated from Iona College in 2013 with a degree in psychology. I was working at a family daycare (which I loved... really) but it kind-of ran it's course. Once college loans started coming in I knew I had to move onto bigger and better opportunities. It's so easy to stay in a job that's comfortable, but it's important to push yourself and continue to do so in any career path you choose. I asked around for any kind of job openings that family and friends might be able to refer me to. My uncle told me Anthem was hiring and, to be honest, at first I turned my nose up at him. A customer service job didn't seem like a job that I ever wanted to partake in. I'm so glad I did because, as I've found out, Anthem is a company of ladders to not only higher positions but to many versatile careers. It's dedication that will move me up in the company and I can't wait to see what's in store for me.

What are your goals? My ultimate goal, career-wise, is to become a Provider Contractor Specialist. I want to make connections and draw up contracts with providers and hospitals who choose Anthem. Moving from the bottom of the company to the top tier is something that can be obtained with the knowledge of every moving part in Anthem. I have worked in the Customer Service department for two years and now I am currently interviewing for an open position within Anthem, which will only get me closer to that goal. 

*Update: I got the job! :)

Advice for WHS Students? My biggest piece of advice: Never turn away from your true friends. Life after college can bring you right back home or far away from home. Either direction, always keep your true friends from high school - no matter where you or they go. I'm living in Watertown, working in Wallingford, and I still have a close-knit group of friends and family who have known me from the beginning. It's biggest sigh of relief at the end of the day, knowing they are there for me. To have people around you that are routing for you to succeed, and have never stopped, is empowering. We all need a community. So keep your friends from high school close; that is the best piece of advice I can give. I can't thank them enough for getting me where I am today, for making me who I am today.

How hungry are you right now? About to have a yogurt and a banana!

Behind the scenes: Rick Mastroianni

Rick Mastroianni, Class of 2009, New York City, NY

Where do you live? In October, my fiancée and I left everything behind in Chicago to start a new life in New York City. It's great to be back on the East Coast, but life has never been so busy.

What are you up to? We decided to move to New York City with no job or even apartment, just big dreams, a little money, and a lot of love. Admittedly, we got lucky. Within our first month, I landed a professional career as a studio manager of the top acting studio in the country. A short time later, my fiancée got an awesome position overseeing sales for a company that offers conferencing solutions for clients like the United Nations and Bank of America. We stay busy, to say the least. I'm very proud of what I do, but I've never worked so hard in my life. When you advance professionally, the responsibilities add up quickly. Right now, I'm in charge of the entire admissions department at the studio (which is a lot of work), but in addition to that, I oversee all day to day activities including the company's accounting, classes, and even group workshops. Essentially, we develop beginner actors for work on major networks like Disney, Fox, Nickelodeon, and even Netflix. Sometimes I work six days a week, ten to twelve hour days - but it's worth it to see these people get picked up by major agencies and management companies throughout the city.

Work is work, though - and just one part of life. I'm thrilled to say that In February, I proposed to the love of my life in the middle of Grand Central Station. It was an amazing experience! We were surrounded by hundreds of random people, cheering for and congratulating us. The wedding is at the end of August. We're getting married in Central Park and our reception is across the East River overlooking the Manhattan skyline. It's truly a dream come true. Oh and I can't forget - we have two beautiful dogs and the coolest cat in the world. We're taking our love and our family to the next level and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him!

How'd you get here? Immediately after high school, I moved to Chicago to attend film school at Columbia College.

"I had no idea what to expect and seriously took a huge risk by moving half way across the country with zero life experience. I was eighteen years old and had just come out to my parents a few months prior. Life was a whirlwind of change; I was so hungry for something new and really went out there on a whim. Fortunately, it paid off."

A few months in I met my future husband on a dating website and we hit it off almost immediately. We moved in together rather quickly because I couldn't stand living on campus and he knew it. Yuck - the thought of living so boxed in with so many rules still gives me the chills! Anyway, to pay the rent and make ends meet I held several jobs throughout college - all full time. Essentially, forty hours a week working, twenty five hours in class - plus homework, scripts, essays, and term papers...I still don't know how, but I made it work. College was good, but definitely not amazing. I feel like I learned more about making deadlines, cramming for exams, and manipulating my grades than I did about the actual film industry. I always envied the fact that many of the people I went to school with only had classes to worry about - they'd spend all of their additional time on set filming, writing, or just being creative instead of needing to make money. But, life is about getting done what you need to. Long story short, I graduated college while I was working at a massive high end salon in Lincoln Park. I became the Assistant Manager there, but life became so routine for both of us. We decided to quit our jobs, drop everything and move to New York... Crazy!

What are your goals? We have a five year plan that's pretty in depth - but one of the biggest goal for us is to have kids. There's a bit that needs to happen before that's a reality for us, but I'm so excited to build a family.

Advice for WHS Students? Growing up as a gay boy at WHS was terrifying. Even in the last ten years, society has changed tremendously - but I know there are definitely kids and teens out there going through what I (and many others) did. It's true that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, but that's easier said and understood now than it would have been then. Even early on in grade school, I knew I was different. I grew up thinking if I said or did one "wrong" thing, I'd be outed, humiliated, and shamed. I suffered terrible anxiety because I was born different than a lot of the other kids I knew. When it came to these feelings, high school was the worst! I know how hard it is and if you're like me and reading this, I just want to you to know you're not alone. There's so much to life after high school and college...it will all come together if you let it. Gay or straight - life in general is confusing. I still have to constantly remind myself to just let it all happen. I struggle with this every day, but I'm slowly learning to go with the flow, control the controllable, and appreciate everything.

What is something that bugged you today? Slow walkers make my morning commute extremely annoying.

An Earthly Townie: Jennifer Shields

Jennifer Shields, Class of 2009, Watertown CT

What are you up to? I graduated from UConn in 2013 and 2014, first with my Bachelor's in animal science and second with my Masters in curriculum and instruction. I student taught in animal science at Southington High School and was hired to continue there. I also work on a farm in town and have recently started my own soap-making business (the Bubbly Duck Soap Co) which is taking off faster than I can keep up with.

How'd you get here? WHS and Watertown was a great base for me. I learned organizational and leadership skills through outside activities, and I started to learn how to manage my time and maintain high grades while keeping up with extra curricular activities. I still talk to many of my teachers to this day, and they have been a huge help and support through my journey.

What are your goals? Expand my soap-making business, go back to school for my administrative degree, and continue doing competitive horseback riding.

Advice for WHS students?: Stay true to who you are. Don't procrastinate. Find a way to do what you want. Always act professionally, you never know who you will meet or what opportunities are there for you.

What is your fav. thing to do on Friday night? Go on a horseback trail ride or play polo.