Tag Archives: alumni

Hitting My Stride

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Over winter break, I took some time to reflect upon my first semester at Scripps. I had many accomplishments to be proud of such as getting a job on campus at the Office of Parent Engagement, being placed on the Dean’s List, joining the Scripps Economic Society, and meeting amazing and loving friends. Yet despite these accomplishments, I had a nagging feeling that I had stayed within my comfort zone, and did not push myself to my fullest potential.

Going into the second semester, I was on a mission to truly fulfill my potential. In my first week back on campus, I spent hours on Handshake looking at summer internships, applied to be a CP&R blogger, and applied and interviewed for the position of Development Manager at The Student Life (TSL). I was delighted to be chosen both to be a CP&R blogger and Development Manager for TSL. I was ecstatic that I would have more on my plate this semester but also concerned whether I could truly do it all.

With six weeks of the semester now complete, I am realizing that I am capable of more than I thought I was in my first semester, and that I can thrive beyond my initial comfort zone. This semester, I am busier than I have ever been, yet am truly passionate about the classes, jobs, and extracurricular activities that fill my hours and my days. Blogging for CP&R has given me a great outlet for self-reflection, fueled my interest in my future potential career, and connected me with CP&R staff. Working for TSL has enabled me to forge partnerships across the 5C’s with admissions offices, parent relations offices, professors, deans, and alumni. Searching for a summer internship has allowed me to connect with 5C alumni and CP&R staff in order to find, interview with, and receive an offer from the best possible internship for me.

Looking back at my first semester at Scripps, I realize that while I pushed myself in some ways, I was careful to stay in my comfort zone. I did not challenge myself to make connections beyond my everyday interactions, or take advantage of all that the 5C community has to offer. This semester, I feel like I have hit my stride. I am proud of my accomplishments. Most importantly, I feel truly immersed in the 5C community. Every role that I have taken has given me the opportunity to develop relationships with 5C alumni, faculty, staff, and students.  With each new relationship, I feel more and more a part of this amazing community. I realize that the more I contribute to the community, the more I get out of it, and the more I feel truly a part of it. Based on my experience this year, my one piece of advice for new college students is to take risks, try out, apply, engage, and connect. The more you do, the more you will feel that you truly belong.

What is one piece of advice you would give to incoming first-years?

Disobeying All Rules of Cyber Safety

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Networking as an inexperienced first-year is not too different from Catfishing someone: I’m trying to get a stranger over the internet to fall madly in love with me, and offer me a plethora of opportunities, while at the same time trying to emphasize my “better features” through a false identity. Admittedly, I don’t use a false identity, or a photoshopped picture. Still, the digital age has made it so that every interaction we have with another human being is a carefully crafted expression of our best features- you have time to think of a witty joke, or the right line, before the other person actually receives it. Lady Gaga stated in an interview recently that this makes it so we are “unconsciously communicate lies,” and arguably, this is true. Yet, it’s what makes networking truly an art form.
Growing up, I never thought that I would be actually encouraged to talk to strangers on the internet- it seemed to go against all the principals of cyber-safety that I was taught in my elementary school computer classes. However, it turns out that talking to strangers on the Internet is one of the most pivotal ways one can enter his or herself into the mysterious professional world that I’ve talked about so many times before. There are so many services available for Scripps students to make connections, including LinkedIn, and Life Connections. I’ve found Life Connections to be the more reliable of the two- due to my lack of experience, I feel that by adding someone with my bare LinkedIn profile, I can come off like that creepy middle-aged guy who adds people on Facebook with no mutual friends. Life Connections, on the other hand, is full of Scripps alumni who have willingly asked to receive awkward networking emails from students. I also feel that Life Connections is easier to navigate, as you can search for Scripps alumni who live directly in your area, or any area.
The CP&R Career Services Guide provides a great template for sending out emails to Scripps alumni who work in the industry that you may be interested in- in my case, the non-profit industry, in New York City. A lot of it seems like common sense, which I like- it’s important to remember that these are just people you’re talking to, and coming at them kicking and screaming with your qualifications and demands for job offers is extremely uncomfortable. The Career Services Guide emphasizes focusing on the person you’re talking to; your own natural qualifications will come out throughout the interaction.
CP&R also offers several in-person networking opportunities, which can be found via the “Career Courier” that they send out every week. I’m not entirely sure that I’m ready for in-person networking; I’m intimidated enough behind the screen. However, just sending out a few networking emails today has already boosted my confidence. Even if I don’t get a response, I at least got to spend time looking at all the cool things that Scripps women have accomplished. Coming from a small town in New Jersey, where almost no one has ever heard of Scripps, I received a small inkling of hope when looking at them; even if I can’t get an internship this summer, things really will be okay.