Career Orientation Week 2023: Setonians’ Guide to their Next Journey

To increase the development needs and professional awareness of all High School learners in Elizabeth Seton School – South, the Center for Student Well-being (CSWb) officially launched this year’s annual Career Orientation Week with the theme, “The Setonian EaSEL to Painting Career SuccESS,” which occurred between October 2 and October 9, 2023. 

Beginning with the Grades 7 to 9 learners, on October 2, 2023, the program started with webinars held via Zoom with guest speaker Sir Serafin “Junn” Geronimo, who shared goals, assessments, and paths that gave the learners a glimpse of college and careers. 

On the same day, Grade 10 learners came to the school campus to attend the Career Talk by Setonian Alumni Professionals who are exemplary in their chosen fields. The session began with Dr. Steve Marlo M. Cambe, who finished his degree in Doctor of Medicine at St. Luke’s College of Medicine. After his talk was Ms. Anna Agoncillo-Crisostomo, who took Psychology at the East Asia School of Management in Singapore. Next was Engr. Caesar E. Rama III, who specialized in the field of Civil Engineering at the University of Santo Tomas. Following him was Atty. Maria Ahren P. Vergara-Gayados, who studied law at the Arellano University School of Law. The fifth speaker was Ms. Bianca Mae P. Palmero, who took a degree in Social Science Education at the Philippine Normal University – Manila. The final speaker was Ms. Laurice Annelle Cantimbuhan, who gained her degree in BS in Marketing Management at De La Salle University – Manila. 

On October 3, 2023, the Senior High School (SHS) learners paid attention to the Gearing Up: College Testimonials by Setonian Alumni, which started with a talk by John Syril B. Siquijor, to share his experiences in his current university and degree program, BSEd Major in English at De La Salle University – Dasmariñas. After him was Luis Angelo M. Hernandez, who took BS Accountancy at Far Eastern University. He was then followed by Alexandra Nicole B. Peña to share her experiences in the field of Psychology at De La Salle University – Manila. The fourth and final speaker was Criscela Ysabelle A. Racelis, who took a degree in BS/MS in Computer Science at De La Salle University – Manila. 

On October 4, 2023, the Colleges and Universities Symposium began with De La Salle University – Dasmariñas, followed by De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute. The third university to present was San Beda College – Alabang, while De La Salle College of Saint Benilde came next. iAcademy and MAPUA University then engaged the learners in fruitful discussions, respectively. The seventh institution was the University of the East, and the final university to deliver their talk was De La Salle University – Manila. They were all introduced by their respective representatives to provide the SHS learners with a more thorough discussion about their institution.  

On October 5, 2023, all learners attended a mass in the chapel to commemorate the Career Week. Subsequently, the SHS learners attended the Colleges and Universities Fair to broaden the students’ career options and opportunities for their desired future. The colleges and universities present were: (1) Centro Escolar University, (2) University of Asia and the Pacific, (3) St. Scholastica’s College, (4) Southville International School and Colleges, (5) Manila Tytana Colleges, (6) Far Eastern University, (7) National University – Dasmariñas, (8) Enderun Colleges, and (9) Asian Institute of Maritime Studies. 

On October 7, 2023, a career webinar for parents took place through Zoom, entitled “The EaSEL to My Child’s Career SuccESS: Painting Career Path Through Socio-emotional Learning,” to be informed about their role in enhancing their child’s social and emotional learning with regard to their career development and decision-making. 

The Career Week ended on October 9, 2023 with the Grade 12 learners having their mock interview to further enhance their interpersonal skills and  to experience real-life scenarios of college interviews and job applications.

“All in all, this type of activity aims to help learners, most especially those who are going to embark, to have a clear picture of what they want to be,” said Ms. Jocelyn Untal, head of the CSWb, when asked about how the whole program went on Friday, October 6.