Summer Ignite: Future Success Symposium Prepares Students for Professional and Academic Opportunities
The arctic blast may be upon us in New York City, but the Student Leadership Network office was sizzling with ideas and innovation to make the most of upcoming summer opportunities! The College Persistence team hosted its sixth annual Future Success Symposium for high school seniors and college students earlier this month. The theme, Summer Ignite, focused on the importance of meaningful summer opportunities such as internships, academic research, study abroad, and fellowships.
Academic and Professional Opportunities
Balancing informational and experiential sessions, the event kicked off with a community “Human Bingo” activity board for students to get to know one another, followed by “experience stations” staffed by summer program partners. The symposium included representatives from:
- Braven – career readiness support with Lauren Rosen, Program Manager
- Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) – career readiness support with Donna Graham, Director of Corporate Partnerships, and Bedilia Ramirez, Manager of Undergraduate Recruitment
- Year Up – career training programs with Stanley Taylor, Senior Director
- Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) – academic advising with Melanie Bonilla, Senior Academic Advisor
- City University of New York (CUNY) – study abroad with Sandra Cortez, BMCC Experiential Learning and Study Abroad Manager
- Student Leadership Network – career exploration with Kristen Gordon, Senior Manager of Girls’+ Education
Alumni then discussed their study abroad and work experiences in a lively panel discussion. “We wanted the seniors and alumni to understand that summer is more than just a break,” shared Nicole Meyer, Manager of College Persistence. “It’s an opportunity to prepare for what’s next and to connect with peers and professionals who can help them get to the next level in their career.” The event also included free professional headshots for students and alumni to use for their academic and career pursuits. The symposium encouraged students to explore different opportunities that may exist on their own college campuses and look for others through external program partners.
Advice from Alumni
The alumni panel was one of the most insightful moments of the evening. Alums spoke about their experiences as a Gates Cambridge Fellow, an NIH Scholar at Columbia University, and their wonderful study abroad experiences in London and Florence. Sharing about her study abroad experience, alumna Briana M. shared, “Working with kids from a different cultural background and with a language barrier was challenging. But volunteering at the local school inspired me to change my major from psychology to education, because that experience was very fulfilling for me.” Several students asked about the feelings of imposter syndrome and fitting in among different environments. “One key point from the panel was impressing upon the college students that they belong in every room and not letting imposter syndrome stop them from attaining their dreams,” shared Pamela Jones, Director of College Persistence. Special thanks to our alums Janna C., Kayla D., Rhonda G., and Briana M. for joining us and sharing their experiences on the panel!
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