CHHS CHOOSE Presentations Launch Seniors Towards Their Futures

From the Croton-Harmon station, Layla Tome boards a Metro-North train bound for Grand Central, disembarking at the Yankees - East 153rd Street stop. She walks through Joyce Kilmer Park to the EAC Network Building on Grand Concourse in the Bronx. There, she works alongside forensic case managers in the Bronx CRAN & Bronx TASC Mental Health Court Program division.

Layla describes the job as being a fierce advocate for clients with mental illness who have been arrested or incarcerated. From drafting case studies and treatment plans to assisting clients in court, the team’s mission is to divert eligible offenders out of the criminal justice system—supporting their recovery while reducing recidivism. This isn’t just another internship for Layla; this is her CHOOSE senior project. “I have been interested in the topic of biases in the criminal justice system, especially as it relates to mental illness, since middle school. I saw and heard some difficult things, and I learned that sometimes you have to detach in order to best support clients,” said Layla. “It gave me a real sense of what this career would be like. It was an experience I’ll carry with me.“

The acronym stands for Croton-Harmon Options and Opportunities for a Senior Experience- a student-driven independent study available to seniors. The program, created in 1993, commences in the spring and culminates in a final presentation during the month of June. The program, while optional, is coordinated by CHHS teachers Susan Ardolino, Kurt Lindner, and Stephen Palenscar. “Despite it being an optional opportunity for seniors, we have a vast majority of the senior class participate,” said Ms. Ardolino. “It is a comprehensive experience that involves research, documenting, reflection through journaling, and weekly check-ins with mentors throughout the process.”

The presentations, a key component to the project, are attended by peers, teachers, and administrators— some who also serve as mentors and evaluators. Rotating through classrooms on the main floor, students presented on a wide range of topics including education, engineering, environmental and natural sciences, business, speech pathology, journalism, and public relations. 

During her internship at the American Museum of Natural History’s Goodheart Lab, Sonia Mukherjee studied biodiversity and evolution of marine invertebrates. Primarily focusing on the molecular phylogeny of nudibranchs, a group of shell-less gastropods, she had hands-on experience in the lab collecting tissue samples and performing extractions to create DNA barcoding. 

Naomi Kesteloo worked as a journalist, creating news content for DroneXL, a website covering the drone industry. She became more efficient at writing multiple articles and discovered that both working from home and being in an office have pros and cons—something she’ll consider when choosing a career.

Aspiring entrepreneur, Isabelle McLoughlin, interned at Salt + Ruttner Communications in Manhattan, where she created trend reports, compiled media and market research, and analyzed clients’ social media campaigns. “I really enjoyed participating in brainstorming sessions and sharing creative ideas,” she said. “The founders showed me what it really takes to succeed—being bold, creating a product that solves a real problem, making connections, building a strong team, and most of all, being kind to everyone.”

“The level of preparation and detail that went into the students’ presentations was remarkable,” said Superintendent Stephen Walker. “It was a showcase of what the CHOOSE experience can be—a rare opportunity to not just imagine their futures, but to live them.”