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North Shore Country Day welcomed alumni back to campus in January for the school’s first-ever Alumni Career Day, an X-Day program designed to give upper school students an honest look at the many paths life after North Shore can take.

The day began with a whole-group panel featuring alums from a range of industries, including healthcare, engineering, marketing, design, the arts, sports management and the nonprofit sector. Moderated by Grace Flickinger ’12, who works in staffing and recruiting at LaSalle Network, the conversation emphasized curiosity, flexibility and learning through experience over linear career paths. 

Several panelists spoke candidly about unexpected journeys — changing majors, pivoting industries or discovering careers they didn’t even know existed as NSCD students. A recurring theme throughout the morning was the value of staying open to new opportunities and paying attention to what genuinely sparks interest.

Todd Searle ’05, an entrepreneur who founded the creative agency Idea 33 Media, encouraged students to rethink the idea of passion altogether. “We talk a lot about passion and I think ‘follow your passion’ is terrible advice. I'd tell you to follow your curiosity,” Todd told students. “Be endlessly curious about where you spend your time, what you spend your time on, what you like to do, and keep being curious about it.”

Software engineer Rachel Cahan ’04 echoed this sentiment, urging students not to feel pressure to have everything figured out. “Don’t stress out too much about exactly what that future job is,” Rachel said. “If you stay true and focused on what you love to do, you’ll find it.”

Other alums encouraged students to embrace uncertainty and take risks along the way. “Don’t be afraid of failure. Who cares?” said Gjyze Milla Hoxhaj ’06, vice president of compliance at Midwest Express Clinic. “At the end of the day, that’s the best thing you can do because you’re only going to learn and grow from that.”

That advice resonated with many students in the audience, including senior Cole Berlin ’26. “For me personally, it was great to hear because a big factor in my college search was to find schools that would give me the opportunity to be as intellectually curious as possible,” he said. “I take pride in my curiosity, so it was nice to hear that curiosity is what led so many of them to their careers.”

Panelists also addressed practical topics such as interviewing, professionalism and preparing for careers even when students are unsure of their long-term plans. Multiple speakers emphasized that interviews are a two-way process and encouraged students to ask thoughtful questions, be authentic and use early opportunities to build confidence.

“Just be yourself,” Todd advised during the discussion. “If somebody hires a version of you that you are not, it’s going to be really hard to keep up that facade full time.”

That emphasis on curiosity also surfaced in advice about hiring and workplace culture. “Curiosity outweighs talent 99% of the time,” said Nico Gibson ’06, the head of brand and creative for a national flower company, with a background in visual design and consulting. “I would much rather hire somebody who is insatiably curious and has a hunger, a self-starting passion, than somebody who is the greatest talent of all time. Because I truly believe that some of the skills can be taught, but that hunger cannot be taught.”

Xochitl Carmona ’09, founder of the apparel brand Werk Mija, also encouraged students to see interviews as opportunities to learn. “You are also interviewing them,” Xochitl said, emphasizing the importance of researching organizations, asking questions and finding the right fit.

Following the panel discussion, students transitioned into smaller breakout sessions with alums based on their ranked interests, allowing for more personal conversations and targeted questions. Each student participated in two small-group sessions, giving them exposure to different career paths and perspectives.

For Cole, who selected business as his primary area of interest, the smaller conversations reinforced an important takeaway. “Just be yourself,” he said. “Both in interviews and in a work setting.”

Rather than offering a definitive roadmap, the conversations encouraged Cole to explore a range of interests. “Being intellectually curious and taking a variety of classes will lead me to find my true passion,” he said. “Right now I am interested in business, politics or law, but I don’t know how I’ll feel in two or three years.”

The program concluded with a special reception for seniors, providing additional time for informal conversations and networking. For many students, the extended opportunity to connect underscored the strength of the North Shore alumni network and the school’s commitment to its motto, “Live and Serve.”

“Today gave me a look into everything from how career paths can be formed to how to be a great interviewee,” Cole said. “I am very grateful to hear from all the alumni on their experience in the professional world. It’s cool to think that in a few months, I’ll be a part of that alumni community.”
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A special thank you to Rachel Cahan ’04, Xochitl Carmona ’09, Phoebe Casey ’20, Allie Charnas ’20, Jennifer Edidin ’94, Grace Flickinger ’12, Nico Gibson ’06, Gjyze Milla Hoxhaj ’06, Jonah Levi-Paesky ’13, Lirije “Lily” Milla-Ceja ’10, Mark Laval Sanders III ’19, Todd Searle ’05 and Alex Vertrees ’07 for returning to campus and sharing their time, insight and experiences with our students.