By Luigi De Guzman

By Alexia Bangayan

On Wednesday, January 14, Grade 11 students from the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand attended a Career Exploration (CarEx) symposium at Leong Hall, under this year’s theme, “Patuloy sa Paghayo: Itaguyod ang Pangarap at Maglingkod Nang May Puso.”

This event marks the first of four CarEx sessions for this school year and will be hosted for all Grade 11 students by the Office of Guidance and Counseling–Senior High School (OGC-SHS), in partnership with Parent Relations and Programs and the Parents’ Union for School and Home (PReP-PUSH).

CarEx is an annual initiative that supports the Ignatian mission by guiding students toward meaningful career decisions, “guiding students toward making informed, well-discerned, and meaningful career decisions…all for the greater glory of God.”

The symposium was held from 3:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., which aimed to help students explore potential career paths and make informed choices that support holistic growth.

The seminar featured guest speakers from various professional fields who shared their experiences and insights.

The first speaker, Dr. Ann N. Visda, M.D., representing medicine, discussed how her interest in biology and her desire to improve women’s health led her to pursue a career as an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Following her talk, Francis Uy, representing computer science, used the concept of ikigai as a guide for choosing careers by framing his talk around: “What one loves, what one is good at, what provides financial stability, and what the world needs.”

Uy also shared how he developed Philippine-focused digital solutions during the pandemic to address socioeconomic challenges.

Meanwhile, Jonas Gonzales, representing industrial engineering, emphasized the importance of soft skills and their interdisciplinary value in enabling professionals to collaborate and adapt across different fields.

The remaining CarEx sessions are as follows:

• General Academic (GA) strand: Friday, January 16
• Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM) strand: Wednesday, January 21
• Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand: Thursday, February 19