For months prior to attending the tenth annual Sophomore Career Connections (SCC), I had heard overwhelmingly positive chatter about the event. Echoes of upperclassmen friends riffing off advice and spouting off stories of success informed my high expectations for the event: “I got an internship!” “I still grab coffee with a mentor from the data science panel!” Needless to say, I felt a mixture of both excitement and nervousness when picking out my business casual best the night before SCC. Moreover, as someone who was (and still is) in the midst of internship interviews and applications, I had put a lot of pressure on myself to make positive first impressions on the mentors.
The event was informative, and the mentors’ passion for their careers was inspiring. However, but coming out of SCC, I felt somewhat amiss. The networking sessions were not entirely a breeze, and I did not come out of the event with dozens of new contacts who I could casually ask for career advice at any given point in time. This is not to say that SCC is not worthwhile—it completely is, and I recommend it to any current first-year reading this article—I simply think that there are misconceptions about the event, which is why I have curated some advice for anyone considering attending the event next year.
Do not be afraid to be independent.
I know that going to Gordon Commons (or, more affectionately, the Deece) alone can be intimidating, but flying solo during SCC can have some serious benefits. The unstructured networking meals are one of the easiest ways to have a meaningful, one-on-one conversation with the busy mentors. Personally, most of my friends have vastly different majors and career interests than me. While it might seem intimidating, I got the most out of the conversations I sought out independently. If you embrace independence, you can make sure you end up speaking with a literary agent as an English major, for example, instead of a cybersecurity expert.
Allow yourself to be surprised.
That being said… if you do end up dining with a cybersecurity expert as an English major, it might be a blessing in disguise. A trait that was beautifully emphasized in the keynote speech by Ilyse Hogue ’91 was curiosity. One of the best things you can do at a career conference is allow yourself to be surprised by the career paths you find interesting. A common theme with many of the mentors’ professional journeys was the fact that their major did not always match up with their most recent job. Keeping this in mind, you might find yourself being drawn to a field that you never would have imagined might interest you. Lean into your sense of curiosity and welcome these new interests, even if that might seem scary.
Do not expect to click with every mentor you talk to.
Make no mistake, every single mentor is kind, knowledgeable and more than willing to offer valuable advice. But networking can be complex and daunting. Some conversations flow naturally, while others lull and have awkward silences. These hiccups, however, are not a reflection of your social abilities or those of the mentor you are speaking to. While the occasional less-successful conversation can seem demoralizing during a weekend that deeply emphasizes making valuable connections, it is important to keep in mind that, at the end of the day, not every conversation will go seamlessly.
Make time for yourself.
While I found myself inspired and motivated at many moments over the weekend, I also found myself exhausted at the end of each day—both physically and mentally. Believe it or not, constantly talking and having advice thrown at you at almost every moment is tiring. I felt a breadth of emotions: confusion over what I wanted my future to look like, questions about whether I could succeed in certain industries, and uncertainty about whether I was “marketing” my strengths and interests correctly. I was inside my own head for a lot of the weekend when I should have been focusing on what a privilege it was to meet such successful and inspiring individuals. Although it sounds cheesy, self-care is key during a weekend filled with career confusion and ample moments to ponder over an uncertain future.
Do not expect to know everything about your future career after one weekend.
Can SCC provide immense opportunities and meaningful time with knowledgeable professionals? Absolutely. Will you know exactly what you want to do after one weekend? Definitely not. And that is more than okay. Many people I know left SCC more confused than when they entered the weekend which, in many ways, is exactly what the event was for. SCC is a time for exploration and—there is that word again—curiosity. It is better to know that you do not want to do something than to blindly pursue a career that might make you miserable. If you still feel confused after the weekend (which, spoiler, you probably will), do not shy away from asking to set up a one-on-one phone call with a mentor or head down to the Center for Career Education. After all, at this point, none of us can truly predict what our future careers will be.