At Trinity-Pawling, we’re grateful to all alumni who share their time and expertise with the School community. On April 27, over Spring Family Weekend, we welcomed AJ McHugh ’95 and Rob Duryea ’96 to the stage in Gardiner Theater for an engaging alumni panel discussion with Headmaster Bill Taylor.
McHugh and Duryea both work in the world of technology. McHugh, a former CBS News journalist, currently works in Client Engagement and Success for Dataminr, a global real-time information discovery company. Duryea, formerly in the data security industry in Washington D.C., now teaches technology in the New York City public school system. The two alumni spoke about their experiences with the evolution of technology, the meaning of having a growth mindset, and the importance of putting in the effort — in all aspects of the word — to be a successful, lifelong learner.
“It’s simple: growth and learning begin when your excuses stop,” stated Duryea. “You have to work past the point when you want to quit. If you don’t work through it, you won’t be able to look back and be proud.”
McHugh recalled the Effort System from his time as a student at Trinity-Pawling and how it helped to shape his work ethic. “The simple effort of showing up on time, doing the work, and out-hustling the competition is so important,” he shared. “Learning is constant. To find success, you have to take the time and energy to learn as much as you can.”
Thank you, AJ and Rob, for sharing your experiences and expertise with the Trinity-Pawling community! We loved having you back on campus.
Enjoy the full panel discussion here.