College to Career: The Postsecondary Team’s Big Impact

Shavonne Schofield knows the impact of the PIC postsecondary team firsthand. Her journey has brought her from interning through the PIC during high school to receiving her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bridgewater State University (BSU) and landing a job at Mass General Hospital. She hasn’t been on this journey alone—the postsecondary team has been in her corner the whole time. 

Based on the campus of Bunker Hill Community College, the postsecondary team is small but mighty. Led by Annabelle Cataloni, Assistant Director of Postsecondary Education, the team of three helps Bunker Hill students during their times of transition. From high school to college, college to a career, or transferring to a four-year university, the postsecondary team gives students individualized advice tailored to their specific needs. Financial aid, course registration, scholarships, resume writing, and job searches are just a few of the topics that a student might discuss with the postsecondary team.

Schofield first learned about the Boston PIC as a student at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School. She connected with Cataloni, then a Career Specialist, who provided support and guidance for her next steps. “I met Shavonne when she was in high school,” says Cataloni. “She was always driven and motivated but needed some guidance to help make her ambitions reality.”  

In addition to promoting career preparation skills like resume writing and interviewing, Cataloni also guided Schofield throughout the internship process. With her help, Schofield landed internships in the food service departments of Brigham and Women’s and Beth Israel hospitals. Years later, Schofield credits her internships as formative experiences. “They definitely helped me out during high school and even afterwards when I was seeking work,” she says.

Schofield and Cataloni stayed in touch as they both transitioned from Madison Park to Bunker Hill Community College. Schofield enrolled as a student and earned her associate’s degree, while Cataloni joined the postsecondary team as a Postsecondary Coach.

When Schofield transferred to Bridgewater State University, she relied on the postsecondary team for support during a challenging time. “I was transitioning from living in Boston and trying to live on campus,” Schofield shares. “Because I was paying rent, I knew I couldn’t work full-time and go to school, especially with Bridgewater being so far away and being without a car.” The postsecondary team continued to support Schofield during this time, assisting with the transferring of credits that allowed her to graduate on time with her peers.  

After her BSU graduation, Schofield knew who to ask for help during her job search. Cataloni—now the Assistant Director of Postsecondary Education—introduced Schofield to Zeida Santos, the Postsecondary Career Coach, who specializes in helping young adults transition from college to career. Schofield credits Santos with her successful job search, saying, “She helped me to do some mock interviewing to prepare and I think that definitely helped me feel more confident and secure.” In a full-circle moment, Schofield is now working again in the hospitals, this time for police and security at Mass General Hospital. She aspires to further rise in the criminal justice field and aims to become a probation officer. 

Schofield is just one of the many students that the postsecondary team helps. With funding from Salesforce and other private funders, they worked with nearly 300 students in the past year. In addition to Schofield, Santos helped more than 15 students get jobs. “Helping students find jobs is a long process in which students and coaches work together in order to find entry level jobs or the job they dreamed about while completing their degree,” says Santos. “Shavonne put all her energy and effort towards this goal, and she succeeded.”  

Cataloni prioritizes keeping in touch with students and alumni, building a wider network of support. Schofield noted that it was Cataloni’s emails and newsletters that provided a positive reminder of her success. “Every time I see her name in my emails it just makes me remember the whole journey through high school to a career, and how supportive she was,” says Schofield. “I love to reach out to her and give her an update on how I’m doing in life, and she’ s still there letting me know that she’s available as a resource.”  

For Cataloni, Schofield’s success goes to show how big an impact such a small team can have. “Shavonne’s story is so inspirational,” she says. “She came to us as a high school student looking for an internship and now, she has a degree and works in a great job. It makes us so proud to see her accomplishments, and it’s a privilege to have provided support along her journey.”  

Thank you to our funders for making stories like Shavonne’s possible: Salesforce, the Charles Hayden Foundation, the Aspen Forum for Community Solutions, the Lloyd G Balfour Foundation, and the Cummings Foundation.  

  

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