SHS juniors spend a day in the life of a vet, detective and firefighter

  Last Thursday some of the 32 Saugus High School juniors who shadowed professionals in their hopeful field during the Saugus Business Education Collaborative Shadow Day spoke about why they chose that line of work.

  Junior Sophia Jabir, 17, who is torn between becoming a veterinarian or an FBI agent, shadowed Saugus Animal Hospital Technician Assistant Amanda MacAvoy, of two years, last Thursday morning. “I always liked dogs, but I feel a deeper connection with my new dog, Cooper,” Jabir said, who plans to study biology and criminal justice, hopefully at Boston University.

  MacAvoy was treating Noodles, 13, a shih tzu mix, and said she followed her childhood dreams at the hospital, because they have a fear-free policy where they carefully work with anxious pets through doses of sedatives trazodone and gabapentin. “I originally worked in education, but I like how they take their time here with all animals,” MacAvoy said.

  At the Saugus Police/Fire complex, students who plan to enter that field shared why.

  Junior Saif Haddad, who plans to become a state trooper, shadowed the Saugus Police Department. “I liked going inside the cop car,” Haddad said. “I learned the basics about law enforcement today.”

  Saugus Police Detective Carmine Ciccolini told Haddad and other juniors about the difficulty in processing crime scenes and interviewing victims. “We taught them how the statements of one can influence another, pertaining to investigative issues.”

  Junior Kyhel DeJesus, who shadowed Saugus High School Shadow Day ’04 alum/Ladder 1 Firefighter/EMT Anthony Arone, enjoyed the hands-on feature, such as wearing firefighter uniforms, and how much equipment sits on the back on fire engines.

  Arone shadowed Saugus Fire Captain William Cross in 2004 when he was a senior at Saugus High School. “It was nice to share stuff that he taught me with current students,” Arone said.

  Arone and other firefighters asked students to operate fire hoses in full gear, crawl and search for victims and use the Jaws of Life to free victims.

  Peter Rossetti, president of the Saugus Business Education Collaborative, said businesses need the education community and vice versa. “People learn differently, and today gives people an opportunity to see what’s out there professionally,” Rossetti said.

  Superintendent of Schools Erin McMahon said the district’s goal is to prepare students for the future. “Today demonstrates how the community can really come together,” McMahon said.

  Saugus High School Guidance Counselor Katie Pinette thanked students for entrusting them to be placed with employers. “We hoped that it was a meaningful experience,” Pinette said. “It means a lot to have it back after taking a few years off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”