Meet Jennifer Cummings (Lee), OCSD Alumna, Class of 2007!

Jennifer fondly recalls spending lunch periods outdoors at Oneida CSD, relaxing and catching up with friends at the gazebo—memories that still stand out years later.

Following graduation, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Cazenovia College. During her junior year, Jennifer took part in the Disney Internship Program in Florida, where she worked at Once Upon a Toy while continuing her studies through coursework completed in her free time.

Although she strongly considered relocating to Florida to pursue a full-time opportunity with Disney, Jennifer ultimately chose to remain in the local community. In 2011, the same year she graduated from college, she began her professional career with National Grid.

Since then, she has advanced through a variety of roles, including call center operations, accounts processing, and field support. Today, Jennifer works with managed customers, coordinating and addressing requests related to gas services.

To future graduates, Jennifer offers this advice: "As my most memorable college professor said, 'Don't marry your idea'. It is great to have goals and be driven, but brainstorm your career. You might marry the idea of doing a certain profession, get into it, and realize you don't like it. Take time in high school to try different things out and see what interests you. Learn about where those jobs would be located, if the demand is high, and if it is competitive. I attended BOCES for graphic design and got married to that idea. I liked doing print design and logos, but not many other things. I realized the profession was mainly centered in big cities and is very competitive. I'm not a city girl, so I quickly realized after graduation that it wasn't the best choice for me!"

We’re proud to highlight Jennifer’s journey and continued success beyond Oneida.