High school career talks bring different perspective

‘Brown-Bag Program’ sponsored by West Windsor-Plainsboro district’s African American Parent Support Group.

By: Jill Matthews
   With their lunches in tow, a small group of students from both West Windsor-Plainsboro district high schools got an intimate lesson last week on how to become, and what it’s like to be, a lawyer.
   The "Brown-Bag Program," which invites students to eat their lunches while talking to professionals from a variety of backgrounds about career options, kicked off last week. The African American Parent Support Group, a district-wide organization, and the school district sponsor the program.
   "If I can spark the interest in one kid, whether it’s law or engineering, whatever, if it’s just one person that has an opportunity to speak with someone they wouldn’t normally, then it’s worth it," said Diane Ciccone, a representative of the parent support group, who spoke to students about a career in law this week. "It is really worth it."
   Last year, the African American Parent Support Group held the brown-bag program at High School South only. The program was expanded this year to include High School North as well.
   "I’m a firm believer in giving back," Ms. Ciccone said as she explained why the program was started. "I thought it was an opportunity for parents or anybody to come into the schools and talk about what they do. "
   The program is not limited to black students, Ms. Ciccone said, but is open to all students in the high school. Opening the program to all students is particularly important both to share career options with students and to let all students know that black Americans hold jobs in a variety of careers, she said.
   While most of the invited speakers are black and from either Plainsboro or West Windsor, that is a not a hard-and-fast rule. In February, Superintendent Robert Loretan, along with a few district teachers, will talk about education, and for the remainder of the school year students will be introduced to a retired FBI agent, the head of human resources for an area company and an area doctor. A different speaker is scheduled once a month for the next few months.
   "I just think it’s an important connection to kids," Dr. Loretan said of the program, "and if you can talk about something from your perspective to kids who would appreciate exchanging ideas, I think is an extremely positive experience."
   Last Wednesday, in a discussion with students at High School North, Ms. Ciccone was casually asked a wide range of questions by students about a career in law, ranging from how to get into law school to types of law specialties to how difficult it is to raise a family as a lawyer. Ms. Ciccone also spoke to a group of students at High School South on Jan. 10.
   The African American Support Group began in the 1970s to address challenges of being black in a predominantly white district. Now, the organization tries to make sure diversity is acknowledged in the district.