Students embarked on a journey of professional discovery on Thursday, May 21st, at the Science and Medicine Middle School 366, located at 965 East 107th Street, as local experts and industry leaders gathered for the school’s annual Career Day. The event transformed classrooms into interactive forums, connecting students with working professionals from healthcare, public service, education, libraries, entrepreneurship and the skilled trades.
The long-standing tradition was coordinated by school counselor Evens Barreau, who has served the Science and Medicine Middle School community since 2015 following his previous role as a District 75 paraprofessional in East New York. Barreau noted that Career Day has become an essential pillar of the school’s curriculum by introducing students to industries they might not otherwise encounter.
“When I first came here in 2015, Career Day was new to me,” Barreau said, noting that he took over as lead coordinator after his former co-counselor, Ms. Campbell, retired. “I want to expose the kids to the wide world of careers that exist. A lot of students don’t know about many of the opportunities available to them. Whether you’re a baker, a police officer, a teacher, a school counselor or something else entirely, there’s always something they can learn.”
According to Barreau, pulling off the schoolwide event requires two to three months of meticulous planning and community volunteering. This year’s lineup featured a diverse roster, including a young female entrepreneur and baker whose story deeply resonated with the student body. “The students see someone close to their age and realize what’s possible for them,” Barreau added.
Among the guest speakers was Alex, a local librarian holding a master’s degree in Library and Information Science. Alex used her session to dispel myths about modern libraries, explaining that they function as modern community hubs for research, education and public events. “We hold community events, and we’re here for the community,” Alex said, while emphasizing the foundational power of literacy. “Reading is so powerful. It’s something you’ll need no matter what you do in life. It takes you places you may never get a chance to visit and can take your mind places you never imagined.”
Alex also emphasized the vital role of representation within educational spaces. “I think representation is very important in any community, but especially in the African-American community,” she stated. “Seeing someone who looks like you doing a job can help you realize that you can do it too.”
The healthcare sector was prominently represented by Jason Savage from Wyckoff Heights Medical Center’s Positive Health Management program. Savage educated students on public health infrastructure, community outreach and critical wellness resources. His presentations focused on navigating services related to sexual health, HIV prevention, substance-use support, mental health and violence intervention.
“Our focus is on people in the community,” Savage explained. “We go out into the community, meet people where they are and help them access the resources they need.”
Savage highlighted that youth aged 13 and older can independently access rapid HIV testing and age-appropriate sexual health education. “Young people are curious, and they’re surrounded by friends and peers,” Savage said. “We want to make sure they have accurate information and understand healthy choices and safe practices.”
Additionally, Savage outlined Wyckoff’s specialized violence intervention programs designed to help teenagers identify and safely respond to domestic, relationship, school or community violence. “We focus on all forms of violence,” Savage said. “We want young people to understand what healthy relationships look like and where they can go for help. By working with both young people and parents, we’re helping create a better path forward.”
Throughout the day, students rotated through timed presentations, engaging directly with speakers to learn about the specific educational tracks, skills and daily responsibilities tied to each profession. School administrators concluded the event by emphasizing that early exposure creates long-term opportunity, leaving the next generation of Canarsie students inspired to dream bigger and build the foundations for their own future success.
