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06/21/2017 04:00 AMWhether it’s at her job as a school psychiatrist, or her new role as co-chair for North Haven High School (NHHS) Project Graduation, Wendy Marinelli wants kids to see that they have one life, and should live it to the fullest.
“I really love kids,” Wendy says, “I love working with kids, always have.”
When Wendy was going to college, she originally thought she was going to be a biologist in a lab, but her advisor told her that with a few more classes, she could get certified as a teacher.
She didn’t think teaching would wind up being her career until she began as a student teacher under her former anatomy and physiology teacher at NHHS.
“The day I walked in, and the first day that I taught, I said, ‘This is where I need to be,’” Wendy says.
Wendy is currently a school psychologist at Lyman Hall High School in Wallingford. She has been in the district for 30 years, and has taught at all different levels from elementary to high school.
Knowing that she wanted to work with kids and be in the school system, Wendy says she knew she wasn’t going to last as a teacher in a classroom for 35 years. Having a science and analytical mind, she thought that being a school psychologist would be a great fit for her.
“Figuring out why kids are struggling in school, whether it’s academically or behaviorally or emotionally, and figuring out what their needs are and why they’re struggling—that’s why I decided to become a school psychologist,” Wendy says.
Wendy says that it can be a tough job, but she gets up every day wanting to go to work. She says when she can make kids feel good about themselves, it feels like she’s done her job, and says it’s rewarding to help kids get through their darkest days.
“When you have a kid show up at your office door saying that they want to hurt themselves, and you can help them and you can prevent that from happening, that is probably the most rewarding experience,” Wendy says.
Another way Wendy is helping kids is with her new role as NHHS Project Graduation co-chair. Wendy has two daughters aged 20 and 21 who have gone off to college, and, without any more of her daughters’ sports events or concerts to attend, she knew she would need something to fill her time.
She had attended Project Graduation as a volunteer when her girls were approaching their senior years.
“I loved the program,” Wendy says, “I like what it stands for.”
Wendy says she jumped at the opportunity when it came up. When she found out her friend Ron Bathrick, who is the other co-chair for the event, was getting involved, she suggested the two of them work together, as she says it’s something one person can’t do alone.
She says working on Project Graduation has been a “great experience,” especially since she always wanted to be a volunteer for something in the community.
“This was perfect; it’s working with high school kids and for high school kids,” Wendy says. “The opportunity, the way it presented itself; it was just a perfect opportunity to take on.”
Starting with fundraising toward the end of last summer and into the fall, Wendy says it was a lot of work, but she and Bathrick took things one step at a time. She says she and Bathrick have a good dynamic, with her strong suit being organizing and list making, and his forté being making connections with the community and getting funds for the event.
Wendy says there has been great support from the community when she was organizing the event, including administrators from the school system, local business, parents, and the PTA.
She also wanted to thank a group of girls who stepped up as the senior representatives for Project Graduation, and helped with the fundraising process. Wendy recalled one fundraiser at Stop & Shop, where she and Bathrick asked the girls run the table that was set up to sell baked goods and other things.
“It was just such a nice way to really just talk with the girls, get to know them; they’re just a great bunch of kids, they’re so personable,” Wendy says. “They are the face of Project Graduation. I’m not the face, Ron is not the face; it’s these girls that have stepped up.”
With the event happening on June 21 at The Only Game in Town, Wendy says they have “such a party” planned for the graduates, including the house DJ from Toad’s Place, a hypnotist, and a magician. She’s excited to see how it all comes together.
Wendy thinks that volunteers will absolutely have a good time as well.
“They want to ride a go-kart, eh, maybe we’ll let them,” Wendy says with a laugh.