Eight recent Poughkeepsie High School graduates returned to the school last month to speak with current students about what to expect from college and life in general post-graduation.
Designed as a more personal and interactive event, the students rotated around Poughkeepsie High School’s cafeteria to eight different tables, with a different alum at each. The students had about 10 minutes to spend at each table. While the graduates had individual themes to guide the conversation, the discussions were driven by student questions, which made the interactions more real and very relevant.
Participating alumni included Nevaeh Barrington (University at Albany), Salome Vergara (SUNY Geneseo), Marell Lewis (Arizona State University), Olivia Arnfield (University at Albany), Sonia Gutierrez Mendoza (Marist University), Evelyn Luis-Rojas (Mount Saint Mary College), Savior Hargrove (Villa Maria College) and Bradley Sweda (University at Albany).
In all, 44 current Pioneers attended the March 19 event, mostly seniors but with a small group of high-achieving juniors.
“What stood out most was how honest the conversations were,” event coordinator Kelly Semexant, the school’s college readiness and workforce education counselor, said. “Alumni consistently shared that the biggest challenge wasn’t the academic work, but adjusting to the independence and responsibility that comes with college. They talked about managing time, setting boundaries, balancing social life and actually using the resources available to them, like tutoring centers.”
Three of the alumni are part of EOP/HEOP programs, which provide financial and academic support for students with financial need. They spoke about how impactful those programs have been, especially as first-generation college students, both in reducing costs and helping them stay on track.
Semexant said the feedback she received revealed the deep impact made on students.
“One senior shared that it was ‘really inspiring’ and appreciated hearing different perspectives from students with similar backgrounds,” she said. “A major takeaway across the board was scholarships, with alumni openly saying they wish they had applied to more. Students also connected to conversations about balancing jobs, academics and roommate situations, which made the college experience feel much more real and relatable.”
Now in its fifth year, the alumni panel has become an annual event at the school and an important part of the district’s focus on college and career exposure, which aims to ensure all students graduate with a clear postsecondary plan. In addition to the interaction with students, the returning alumni each year meet with building and district leadership to discuss how the district prepared them for college and areas in which Poughkeepsie can continue to grow.
“Students were engaged the entire time, asking thoughtful questions and making strong connections with the alumni,” Semexant said. “The alumni were excited to come back and give back to the high school, and staff shared how valuable it was for students to hear these real-life perspectives.”