Tag Archives: Scripps

The Fullbridge Program: Closing Day and Final Thoughts

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Finally, we reach the ultimate day of the Fullbridge Program and my last post on the topic.

In all honesty, the morning started off quite hectic. All of us rushed to pack our luggage, and transport it to a holding area. The situation was very much an “every wo/man for him/herself” kind of situation. I ended up showing up a tad late, since I didn’t have the luxury of a car to transport my items.

After that, I entered the conference room as inconspicuously as possible. Luckily for me, people were still mingling casually around the room. A light breakfast array greeted us in the conference room, with basic staples like orange juice, coffee, ice water, bagels, and fresh fruit.

In the conference room, I joined my colleagues in chatting with our guests. Students were free to sit at any table, regardless of team associations. Our business guests were encouraged to disperse themselves evenly throughout the room, with no more than one per table. Eventually, we took our seats and our coaches made introductions on behalf of The Fullbridge Program. We then went around the room and had everyone– coaches, students, and business representatives alike– deliver 30-second elevator pitches. I would post a photo of mine, but I looked super awkward. Oops.

The last day of The Fullbridge Program featured guests from a range of different businesses and companies. This included Intel, American Widow Project, and ID, to name a few. Because the program’s participants number fewer than 30, we were able to engage company representatives in face-to-face conversations.

I was particularly impressed by several students who thought to print out copies of their resume for the conference. One student actually had his own business cards, having acquired them from a previous job or internship experience. I wondered to myself whether such actions were over-the-top audacious or just insanely brilliant– perhaps a little bit of both. I even ventured to pose this question to one of the business reps at my table, only to receive a rather neutral response. “It depends,” I was told. Apparently it worked, because my fellow Scripps colleague and blogger, Daysha, landed an internship position with entertainment company, ID.

The day’s main event featured the presentation of each group’s business pitch, followed by questions from the audience (business reps) and answers from the orators (students). Overall, I think we all performed well; and I know my team felt good about our work.

Later on, students were given the chance to ask questions of the business reps panel sitting at the front of the room. Some people asked about start-ups v. more established businesses, which made sense since both types of companies were in the room. The rest of the day went by rather quickly, and returned back to a sort of casual mingling.

With work over, we relaxed and had a bit of fun. Awards were passed out, speeches made, and then it was time to depart. Since then, my team and I have kept in contact through a viber group chat. Some have come out to Claremont to visit and my friend Katie (pictured below) recently came to visit me while on her last day of spring break. Overall, these two weeks turned out to be a rather productive and exciting winter break. Thanks for reading!

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a final pic with Team Podemos 🙂

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my friend, Katie, from Oxy, and me

 

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Claremont Colleges represent at the Fullbridge Program

Click here for more photos by Oxy photographer.

Fullbridge Program Day 3: Personal Finance

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Day three of Fullbridge focused much less on group activities and required more attention to individual tasks. The workload was quite dense, and none of us wasted time chatting. On-task and quiet, we immersed ourselves in a world of tutorials, videos, PDF files, and Excel. Most of us listened to music while we worked. I frequently stood up to stretch and give my back a break from sitting too long.

Personal finance stood at the forefront of the day’s work, complete with facts and figures full of jargon. We explored a range of financial settings. These included learning the difference between variable, fixed, and discretionary expenses, as well as the value in renting v. buying a house. While I did not find this information immediately applicable for myself, I knew it would help to know the information later down the road— perhaps after I graduated from Scripps. Even now, some students choose to live in a house with others instead of opting for on-campus housing.

Another topic fell under the category of how to choose a bank based on a three-pronged guide: fees, convenience, and interest paid. Although many of us may already own savings or checking accounts, CDs or mutual funds, we can always benefit from securing additional knowledge. After all, the economy literally changes overnight and new policies appear more often than we might think. Personally, I would have appreciated information about traditional banking v. online banking, given the recent shift to the latter.

By the end of the day, my mind had accumulated a wealth (puns!) of information about personal finance– enough to make me rethink my spending and saving habits. I reflected on the way I had spent my paychecks last fall, and resolved to act more thoughtfully this semester. I set a new budget for myself, and have followed through with it this spring. As of now, I’m happy to say my piggy bank’s been nothing but smiles.

On a tangential note…

My personal accomplishment of the day was working out at the gym for the first time since my arrival at Oxy! Given how difficult it is to find any extra time outside of work, I felt extremely accomplished. I imagined what it would be like to find similar pockets of time for fun or recreation in the future, and am thinking about it still.

When one works an 8 A.M.-5 P.M. work week, one either has to work out early in the morning, or late at night. Eat. Get dressed. Drive to the gym. Work out. Shower. Get dressed again. Sit in traffic. Work. Eat again. Sleep? Throw in a family and kids (which I’d like in my future), and no wonder people in the “real world” can seem so stressed out! The eight-hour workdays at Fullbridge have led me to think more concretely about the kind of lifestyle I hope to adopt in the future.

What priorities do you currently stress in your life? How often do you take the time to sit down and re-evaluate these priorities? Does a budget make its way into the picture? I hope your piggy bank finds a reason to smile. 🙂

My Scripps Story

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“I really don’t think I’ll be going to a women’s college,” I sighed, sitting in front of my open computer. “But, you should apply to at least ONE women’s college. You eliminate at least half of your competition that way,” my mother argued. We talked about this possibility for quite a while until I finally decided to apply to Scripps College, because 1) their supplementary application materials were minimal, 2) because it was one of only three or four schools I wanted to apply to in my home state of California, and 3) I HAD to apply to at least one women’s college. Little did I know the wonders and whimsy I would experience upon arriving.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. I had known the kind of college I wanted to attend since probably the middle of my high school career. Being the introvert that I am, I really appreciated a small, integrated school environment with a strong foundation in the liberal arts eduction. I applied to an many of these schools as possible, increasing my odds and potential yield (as any good college-obsessed high school senior will advise you). So when I didn’t get into many of the schools I was originally excited and enthusiastic about, I was obviously disheartened.

One of the few schools who responded well to my application was, wouldn’t you know it, Scripps College. I even remember getting a hand-written note from Dean Marcus-Newhall on my acceptance letter specifically mentioning my supplemental essay. I was pleased and interested, but still not convinced that a women’s college could win me over. It wasn’t that I had any particular prejudice against all-girls’ schools as a whole. I think I felt as if I somehow didn’t appreciate the women’s college experience as much as others. By attending a women’s college, I felt like I had to somehow embody a “women’s college” girl, which I both didn’t feel comfortable doing and felt like others could do better.

Nonetheless, I was accepted there, so, because of its close proximity, we decided to visit Scripps for its Admitted Students Weekend. As we approached the college, I sighed. I had spent the last two weeks traveling to two of the other colleges that had accepted me. I was incredibly excited about both of the institutions, but had been sadly disheartened about what I had found. I didn’t feel connected to either of the colleges and neither seemed like a place I could see myself going. Both my mom and I agreed about the two previous schools and were not exactly enthusiastic about visiting another, potentially disappointing college. Needless to say, the mood was lack luster.

The first thing I remember seeing on Scripps campus was the huge tower of green and white balloons meant to flag down prospective students and families. I was immediately taken aback by the welcoming atmosphere and smiling faces of the admission staff. It felt almost surreal as I was whisked away into Balch Auditorium with dozens of other women whispering in excitement. I don’t think my affect really changed until I met my temporary host, Maddie, who I see all the time around school today! She was really the first one who opened my eyes to the wonders of Scripps. She took me, nested within a bigger group of prospective students, to the Margaret Folwer garden. She picked some oranges for us as we walked up the quad. She brought us to her residence hall and introduced us to at least five or six of her friends who just happened to be walking by. And this is when I got the first inklings of why I truly love attending Scripps. Every person I met, be them current or prospective students, truly felt like a friend. I found myself itching for more, to be able to talk with everyone for even just a minute longer. The way I describe it today is that everyone at Scripps is a version of me, someone with whom I can relate. And while none of them seemed to be the head-to-toe “Scripps woman” I’d envisioned, everyone seemed to posses certain qualities of respectable, kind, gentle, and caring young women. It was only when pulled together that they embodied the true Scripps community.

I remember speaking to two of my new awesome friends (shout out to Emily and Moriah!) after the weekend was drawing to a close. One of them boasted that she had turned in her acceptance forms as soon as she’d arrived on Sunday. The other claimed that she was off to the Office of Admission right then to turn in her papers. Today, I constantly express the same enthusiasm that we all felt after experiencing Scripps for the first time. I try everyday to expose others to this fantastic community, only attainable through the contributions of everyone.

Winter Break at the Fullbridge (Business) Program

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Hello everyone. How are you doing?

My name is Jessica and I’m currently a sophomore, English major at Scripps. I am passionately in love with art, and this year, I’ve made it part of my New Year’s resolutions to teach myself how to paint! In my free time at the 5Cs, I love swing dancing with my friends on Friday nights. I’m also president of the Claremont Soul-idarity Club, where we talk about health, wellness, and spirituality.

I’m a new blogger at CP&R this year. This semester, I’ll be writing about my experience with the Fullbridge Program (FP) over winter break.

So what exactly is the Fullbridge Program?

Fullbridge is a hands-on program aimed at getting liberal arts students a foot in the door when it comes to the business world. This is the first time Scripps and Occidental College (Oxy) have worked together to host FP.

To give you a better idea of what exactly it was I did at Fullbridge, I’ve decided to make each weekly posting a detailed (and hopefully, interesting) itinerary of what I did each day. I’ll be sure to include pics and fun stories.

That being said, today will be a little less exciting. I’m going to talk about the FP application and preparation process, which I hope will apply to other applications and opportunities you encounter along the way.

Application

The  Fullbridge application included a few essay questions, but a resume was not required. I spent several (two to four) hours writing responses to the essay questions. I would recommend writing a draft and going back to edit it with fresh eyes after a couple of days. Working in stages can seem less daunting than tackling it in one sitting.

Skype Interview

The interview was actually my first-ever Skype interview, so I followed some basic tips from Google. Here’s my version:

a) Lighting: I positioned a table lamp next to my laptop, as well as an additional floor lamp next to my seat. Make sure the interviewer can see your face! If your face is hidden in the shadows, it might as well be a phone interview (which often happens!)

b) Phone: Is this a bad thing? Yes and no. While you may not lose points, employers who specifically request a Skype interview want a face-to-face interaction. Your interviewer will be much more impressed if you can pull off a trouble-free Skype session!

c) Internet: Don’t depend on Wi-Fi. Use an Ethernet cord. If you don’t have one, borrow one several days before the interview.

d) Sound: If possible, use earphones or headphones instead of relying on the computer’s mic.  Over-the-head (those big ones) headphones work best.

e) Location: If possible, it’s recommended you set up in a quiet room (your dorm, perhaps) without interruptions or distractions. Ask your roommates—pretty please—to turn down the music for 30 minutes. Most people are pretty chill and understanding about this kind of thing.

f) Posture and Position: I’m only 5’1’’ so I propped myself up on a pillow and a folded-up blanket to ensure I was level with my computer sitting on the desk. Do not interview with the laptop in your lap! If you do this, it will make it look like you’re looming over your interviewer the whole time. Awkward. Don’t do it.

g) Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3: Ask a friend/significant other to Skype with you a few minutes before the interview. Check on lighting, sound, etc. Kindly ask your friend ahead of time in case he/she/they/etc. doesn’t usually wake up that early.

Have any questions? I’d love to answer them in my next post.

Tune in next time to hear about my first day at Oxy and the Fullbridge Program. In the meantime, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. (Please send me a message if I don’t already know your name and school. Thanks.)

 

Call me, maybe? Phonathon at Scripps

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When I first began working at Phonathon over two years ago, I was simply in the market for an on-campus job and knew close to nothing about the Scripps Fund. I had heard from friends that the Phonathon environment was super fun and upbeat—and that the paid bonuses were great (which is all very true!). Now, many semesters later, I am incredibly grateful I stumbled across this position, not only because of my positive experiences and all the wonderful people I’ve met, but because I will be leaving with a wealth of transferable skills I hadn’t even realized I was honing on the job.

My primary role as a Phonathon caller is to solicit financial gifts for the college. Like most new callers, I was initially hesitant and uncomfortable when it came to directly asking for large sums of money. However, as I came to understand the importance of the Scripps Fund in maintaining the community and supporting critical areas such as scholarships, I grew personally invested in my role, and the unease of asking for money began to wear away. Now, when presented with a cause I truly believe in, I am not only able to ask for money, but also clearly convey my enthusiasm and passion for the cause and articulate why the cause in particular is worth others’ support. While I hope that chasing and thanking donors is not crux of my career in public health, I recognize that my work will inevitably intersect with the non-profit world—an important part of which is garnering financial support. And if I end up on the research side of things, most projects are funded by outside foundations and involve an intense grant writing process in which you must present and defend a strong, compelling case for your research. Either way, being comfortable and confident when approaching issues of money, funding, and donations is a huge strength, especially in the direction I am headed.

Without realizing it, my hours spent at Phonathon building conversation with alumni, parents, and friends have strengthened my communication/ networking abilities immensely. At Phonathon, we call it ‘building rapport,’ which essentially means connecting with the other person in order to stimulate engaging, energetic conversation. This has by far been the most rewarding aspect of being a caller—I have had countless inspiring and interesting conversations, many of which have highlighted the impact of a Scripps education. So many alumni and parents feel a strong tie to Scripps and are eager to share how their experiences with the college have shaped and influenced their career, interests, and life in general. I have had the opportunity to speak with individuals working in public health, medicine, social justice, etc., and their personal stories have provided great insight into the journey and field itself. I am constantly grilling alumni about how they ended up in their respective careers and the challenges they faced in navigating that path. It is encouraging to hear that careers are often entirely unrelated to majors—many alumni assert that it is the critical awareness and intellectual curiosity they developed at Scripps that prepared them for future success and achievement. ‘Rapport building’ has proven to be extremely valuable and will continue to enrich my networking experiences as I move forward.

Hope everyone had a wonderful long weekend (it seems like so long ago now…) filled with love, and family, and friends (and maybe some productivity?). As the semester whirlwinds to an end, I have found that the to-do lists are taking over my life—my laptop, bulletin board, and desk are a rainbow of sticky notes. Stay afloat, friends! Anyone else have stories they would like to share about jobs they’ve had at Scripps?