Elaine Loft, Staff Writer
The Derryfield Student Council brought 43 specialists to the school on February 21 for the first ever Career Fair. The entire student body of the Upper School spent over an hour networking with professionals in fields including: medicine, finance, law, STEM, social work, architecture, real estate and farming. Participants ranged from Derryfield parents and alumni, to representatives from Manchester-area businesses.
According to Dr. Reina Stimpson, head of the Upper School, “This type of networking practice can help build confidence in our students, and not only gives them insights into different careers, but can also spark interest in other career options.”
In preparation for the event, students role-played, learning how to both initiate conversations and join conversations. They were encouraged to circulate the room, with the goal of speaking to at least five different presenters, including several in fields they had never considered as a career option.
Avi Ullal ‘25, co-organizer of the event, said,
“The Career Fair far exceeded our expectations. The energy that the students and professionals brought to Derryfield was inspiring. We had put so much effort into the event, and were excited to see it come to fruition.”
When asked about how the professionals gauged the success of the day, Ullal noted, “We sent out a feedback survey, and received a lot of positive comments. In particular, many remarked that for an inaugural effort, the Career Fair was very well organized.”
Ullal concluded, “My hope is that this becomes an annual event for Derryfield, because it presents an excellent opportunity for students to both learn about a wide range of career options, and to consider the next steps in their education.”
