This summer, Viewpoint School’s CareerPoint Program reached new heights, with more students than ever gaining real-world experience through internships and professional shadow days across diverse industries. Designed to help rising seniors explore career interests—from medicine and technology to law, business, and the arts—CareerPoint prepares students with the career-readiness skills they’ll need for college and beyond.

“In summer 2024, we connected 10 rising seniors with CareerPoint hosts. This past summer, that number nearly tripled to 27 students,” said Chief Innovation Officer Anneke Emerson. “We hope to expand even further next year."

Hands-On Internships in Action

Now-senior Avi Shah ’26 interned with startup executive and CEO Mr. Judelson at First Principles and Common Sense, gaining firsthand experience in entrepreneurship and innovation.

“I learned a lot about startup culture, business etiquette, and other valuable lessons,” Shah said. “At First Principles, I helped create presentations and notes for classes that taught 140 product managers at a large healthcare company about AI foundations. I also worked on a design sprint team that tackled a new challenge each week. It was fun to see how these teams improve designs, efficiency, and user experience.”

Learning from Professionals in the Medical Field

Astrid Folkestad Smithson ’26 spent over a week shadowing at Kaiser Hospital, gaining firsthand insight into the teamwork and care that go into working in the medical field.

“I saw several kidney and liver biopsies, watched nerve blocks being placed in patients, and learned how vascular structures are analyzed,” she said. “It was fascinating to see how doctors collaborated to determine the best course of action for each patient.”

Exploring Engineering and Space Science

Derek Kessler ’26 explored a very different path through his experience at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

“I had the privilege of shadowing Mr. Dyer at JPL to learn what it’s like to work as an engineer,” Kessler said. “We toured several buildings, saw demonstrations of engineering principles in action, and viewed models of past technology sent into space. I especially enjoyed learning how engineers design mechanisms that can withstand the extreme conditions of space.”

Building Career Connections Across the Community

The experiences of students like Avi, Astrid, and Derek highlight how CareerPoint connects classroom learning with real-world discovery. As the program continues to grow, CareerPoint seeks more community partners and mentors to host students.

“If a community member is considering getting involved, I encourage them to learn more about the program and see the difference it can make,” Emerson said.

For Nathan Danese ’25, this past summer marked a major milestone in his musical journey. Through Viewpoint’s Summer Experience Program, now known as CareerPoint, Danese interned at Los Olivos Recording Studios, where he had the opportunity to record one of his original songs, “Fallout,” and release it on several streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

“My interest in actually partaking in music started during my sophomore year when I was cast in ‘Grease,’” Danese shared. “It was sort of a spur-of-the-moment decision. I didn’t know I could do it, and I didn’t know that I would have so much fun doing it.”

Encouraged by friends and experiences at Viewpoint, Danese began performing his original songs at events like Coffee House and the Board of Trustees’ annual dinner. CareerPoint, Viewpoint’s summer program that helps rising Seniors discover professional passions and career pathways, allowed him to take his music to a new level.

“When I got into the studio, I knew we had to experiment,” Danese said. “We added drums, guitar, and backup vocals, and suddenly it was a completely new song. It went from a ballad to a pop song.”

"We went through the full process, from developing his song to a professional release,” said Beto Hale, owner of Los Olivos Recording Studios. “He was incredibly motivated, always asking questions and bringing in ideas. It was inspiring to see his enthusiasm and commitment.”

Over a series of three recording sessions, Danese worked with Hale and his team to transform “Fallout,” experimenting with new layers and refining the sound until it was ready for release.  

“I brought in Julian Dans ’25 to play piano, bass, and record backup vocals. He also helped with arranging parts of the song,” Danese said. “Alexa Jeong ’25 even created the cover art. It was amazing to see all these different pieces come together, and it felt like something we could all be proud of.”

With 88 monthly listeners on Spotify, “Fallout" is a testament to Danese's dedication and collaborative spirit. Looking ahead, he hopes to stay involved in the music industry behind the scenes, exploring roles in songwriting and marketing, while continuing to pursue his passion for film.

“It’s rewarding to see the final product out there, but I’m most excited by the creative and collaborative process,” Danese shared.

“This program gives students a taste of what the real world is like,” Hale shared. “They learn that you have to work really hard to reach even the most basic level of competency. There are no shortcuts, but if you love what you’re doing, it doesn’t feel like work.”

Congratulations to Nathan Danese ’25 for reaching this significant milestone in his musical journey! We look forward to seeing where his creativity and dedication take him next. 

If you are able to host a Viewpoint senior this summer, please contact CareerPoint Program Manager Anneke Emerson at Anneke.emerson@viewpoint.org.