High School Pathfinder: For the Future You

How do you go from playing Division I college sports to becoming a Vice President on Wall Street?

In this episode of High School Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana sits down with Kaitlyn Shanahan, a Vice President on the Delta One Structured Products Desk at Morgan Stanley and former Hofstra University D1 lacrosse player. After getting the opportunity to shadow Kaitlyn firsthand, Ayana dives into how Kaitlyn built her path into finance, how competing at a high level in college sports prepared her for corporate life, and what working in high-level finance actually looks like on a daily basis.

Kaitlyn breaks down complex Wall Street concepts into plain English and offers super practical, grounded advice for any high schooler looking to explore trading, banking, or corporate careers before college.

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What happens when you skip the traditional college route at 18, join the U.S. Navy, and end up working in cyber intelligence before competing on national television?

In this episode, I sit down with Umeko Peterson, who is a former U.S. Navy Operational and Cyber Intelligence Analyst and contestant on Million Dollar Secret. Umeko opens up about making a major decision at 18 while her peers headed off to college, what working in high-stakes military intelligence actually looks like, and how her strategic background helped her navigate the reality TV world.

She also shares the reality of stepping away from a seven-year military career to become a civilian college student, giving invaluable advice for any high schooler who feels terrified of making the "wrong" choice for their future.

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In this episode of High-School Pathfinder: For the Future You, I talk with Dr. Albert Bramante, a veteran entertainment talent agent, entrepreneur, and psychology professor, about navigating a completely unique and non-linear career path. With over two decades of experience securing major roles for actors across TV, film, and Broadway, Dr. Albert blends his insider knowledge of show business with his background in psychology to help people unlock their full potential.

We dive into the daily reality of being a talent agent, the turning point that took him from psychology books into the fast-paced world of entertainment, and the biggest business and entrepreneurial lessons he learned along the way. If you’re a high schooler feeling immense pressure to have your entire life figured out right now, this episode is for you!

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Are you terrified of picking a career path just for the money, only to end up stuck in a job that completely drains you? In this episode of High-School Pathfinder: For the Future You, I sit down with Mike Wysocki, who is a speaker, veteran of the tech sales industry, and the award-winning author of Careers By the People.

After spending 30 years chasing a paycheck in a role he found "dull and boring," Mike set out on a mission to find out if anyone actually enjoys their work. He interviewed over 100 professionals across dozens of industries—from CEOs to farmers—to uncover the real secret to career satisfaction. Whether you have your entire life planned out or have absolutely no clue what you want to do after graduation, Mike’s real-world insights will completely change how you look at your future.

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What are families actually getting wrong about the college admissions process? In this episode of High School Pathfinder: For the Future You, I talk with Reena Bhasin, a veteran high school teacher with over 20 years of classroom experience.

As both an AP teacher and a parent who has been through the college journey firsthand, Reena shares the honest truth about what it takes to stand out. We dive into how to build genuine relationships with your teachers for strong recommendation letters, the specific daily habits that help students thrive under pressure, and what it’s really like to pursue a career in education today!

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It’s easy to feel like you’re supposed to have everything figured out in high school, but most people don’t.

In this episode, I talk to Rohan Bhasin, who was in that exact position not too long ago and is now on the pre-med path after graduating from Cornell. We get into what that journey actually looked like for him...from choosing Biology & Society to getting involved in research and balancing everything without burning out.

We also talk about what working in a lab is really like, how to get started early, and what actually matters when you’re trying to figure out if medicine is right for you!

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Most students think of tech careers as working at big companies, but there’s an entire side of the field focused on solving real-world problems within government systems.

In this episode, I talk with Matthew Fein, a data scientist at Booz Allen, to break down what it actually means to work on federal projects. From using AI and data modeling to improve systems for agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs, to balancing technical work with clear communication, Matthew shares what his day-to-day looks like and how he found his way into this space.

He also offers advice for students interested in data science or tech-focused careers but aren’t sure where to start!

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Most people think of doctors and nurses when they imagine working in healthcare, but there are many important roles behind the scenes that help the system run.

In this episode of Highschool Pathfinder: For the Future You, Ayana sits down with Rachael Anzalone, an Insurance Coordinator at Jain Orthodontics, to talk about a career that many students may not even know exists. Rachael explains what her job actually looks like day-to-day, the skills needed to succeed in healthcare administration, and what she has learned from working closely with patients. She also shares advice for students who are interested in healthcare but may not want to pursue the path of becoming a doctor!

If you're curious about the many different ways you can make an impact in healthcare, this episode is for you! 

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