SuffieldConnect: Dec. 9

December 10, 2020

Suffield’s College Counseling and Development Offices hosted a college-to-career virtual discussion on December 9. The program invites Suffield alums to speak with juniors in Suffield’s Leadership Program about their careers, college major choices, and experiences at Suffield. The goal of the events is to expose current students to life beyond Suffield and provide guidance from alumni professionals working in specific fields.

Jazzy Salehi ’12 is originally from Massachusetts and holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Mount Holyoke College. After spending many years working for Suffield’s Summer Academy, she was appointed in 2017 as a member of the school’s languages department. Jazzy is now Suffield’s Assistant Director of Admissions and Director of Summer Academy Admissions. She spoke about her experiences in education, following her professional passions, and being mindful of maintaining a healthy work/life balance.

“Overall, I had great educational experiences both at Suffield and Mount Holyoke,” she opened. “During my own college counseling process I was not planning to attend a small liberal arts school—let alone an all-women’s school—but I am very glad I did.” Starting off as a neuroscience major, Jazzy explained her passions led her instead to the study of languages with a focus on Italian and Spanish. She concluded, “One thing I learned is that if you are not passionate about something then it is not worth pursuing. My advice is to enjoy the journey and do not fear change along the way. Most importantly always be kind to others but also remember to be kind to yourself during this process.”

Juniors preparing for the college application process are heavily supported by their college counselors and alumni mentors. While selecting a college is an extremely important decision in their adolescent lives, the mentoring sessions provide insight into many unanswered questions. It is made very clear that communication is a key to success and there is more than one way to accomplish a rewarding future.