Recently, Shanghai High School International Division Puxi Campus Grade 4 held a unique Career Day event, inviting 10 parents from various industries. They shared their extensive work experiences and engaging work stories, explaining in detail the daily tasks and essential qualities required in different industries. Through such exchanges, students gained insights into the diversity and challenges of professional life, inspiring them to think about and plan their future career paths.

In class 4(1), Celine's father, a corporate planning director, delivered a lecture titled "The Importance of Strategic Planning and Planning." He used vivid examples to demonstrate to the children that setting clear goals and specific plans is key to realizing dreams. With the rise of AI, logical thinking, responsibility, and numerical sensitivity will become indispensable skills for the future. He encouraged the children to bravely embrace challenges and write their future with wisdom and action.

From class 4(2), Julian’s mother, a general manager of asset management, used the metaphor of "Sowing and Cultivation" to vividly explain the relationship between investment and management: investment is like sowing, requiring patience to wait for the fruits to mature; management is like cultivation, meaning a team must be carefully nurtured to grow and thrive. She told the children that, whether in investment management or in life and study, patience, foresight, and a sense of responsibility are core elements of success.

Class 4(3) Bella's father, a strategic consultant, gave a lecture entitled "Beyond Intelligence: Will AI Expand or Narrow Our Creative Horizons?" He reminded the children that using tools does not equate to truly mastering them. Over-reliance on AI while neglecting one's expertise could lead to difficulties. He encouraged the children to become masters of AI rather than followers, using creativity to harness technology and inject greater possibilities into the future.

Class 4(4) Liliana's father, a CEO, took the children on a cultural journey to Argentina. With the theme of "Friendship between Latin America and China," he used data and images to showcase the geographical resources and cultural charm of Argentina, leading the children to explore the country and better understand the importance of cultural exchange and collaboration.

From class 4(5), William’s mother, who works in the beauty industry, began with the history of cosmetics to discuss the diversity and inclusivity of beauty, encouraging the children to respect diverse cultures and pursue beauty both inside and out. She told the children that true beauty lies not just in appearance but in equality among people and harmony with nature.

Class 4(6) Kelli’s mother, an editor-in-chief for an international news outlet, gave a presentation title "News: A Key to Understanding the World." She guided the children to view the world with an open and inclusive mindset through analyzing the logic behind news stories. She emphasized that different perspectives bring different understandings, and that cultivating empathy and curiosity is the starting point for understanding the world.

From class 4(7), Noah’s father, who works in life sciences investment, used specific examples to explain how scientists, investors, and innovative ideas collaborate to drive medical advancements, encouraging the children to contribute to global health with their wisdom and passion.

In class 4(8), Ella’s father, a university lecturer, transformed originally abstract decision-making theories into vivid, interesting, and easy-to-understand content through case analysis. He also imparted the wisdom and methods of decision-making to help students make wiser choices in various aspects of life.

Class 4(9) Judit's father, a quantitative finance researcher, showcased the charm of quantitative finance to the children through fun games and examples. In an interactive game, he carefully designed multiple simulated life scenarios, allowing classmates to participate in groups and experience the differences in outcomes resulting from different decisions. He encouraged them to use mathematical thinking to explore the hidden mysteries behind numbers.

Finally, class 4(10) Angelica's father in class 4(10), a director of integrated circuit design, provided a detailed introduction to the applications of integrated circuits and chips in daily life, including computers, mobile phones, headphones, and cars. He also shared experiences on how to become an excellent integrated circuit design engineer and encouraged students to excel in math and science, engage in practical experiments, and maintain a sense of curiosity.

During this Career Day event, G4 students listened attentively to each parent's sharing, demonstrating a strong interest in trending fields such as artificial intelligence, integrated circuits, and life sciences. They not only learned about the meanings of different professions but also felt the passion and responsibility requisite for each career; indeed, there was much to glean from their interaction with such a varied group of professionals. This event was like a feast of career enlightenment, planting the seeds of dreams for the children's career planning. It is believed that, in the future, they will become the next shining stars in various industries, writing their own brilliant chapters on their chosen career paths.

Written by Cathy Cao

Proofread by Chad Higgenbottom

Pictures by Minxuan Cao