Coming to a university filled with so many different opportunities, it is often difficult to figure out where to begin, or more specifically, when to start putting yourself out there at all. As a junior there are quite a few things I wish I had done differently. However, coming to a place like UNC where there are so many opportunities is not one. Upon starting my sophomore year many people began focusing on their major and what classes they needed to take to fulfill their requirements. More importantly, people began to decide what routes to take once they graduated from college. The thought of graduating actually scared me a bit so I realized the only thing that would calm me down was to jump on the bandwagon myself and figure out my career calling.
As a psychology major I am often asked, “what are you going to do with that degree?” Honestly it wasn’t until I signed up for the course Education 131: Career Exploration that I truly found an answer. This course, offered to freshman and sophomores, provides students with an insight to navigating the University Career Services website, resume building, career event information, and so much more. Unfortunately, I had never heard of this university resource before taking this course. However, this website has now become one of my top sites on my laptop. Not only did Education 131 prompt me to use Careerolina, but it also taught me that stepping out of my comfort zone was completely okay. I attended quite a few panels and meet-ups where I introduced myself to many employers of companies that I never would have imagined speaking with. This has not only allowed me to make many social connections, but I have also developed many useful networking skills. Another key component to my success in this course was the encouragement by my professor to create a resume. Before entering college I did not have such a “professional” resume, but by working with my professor and a specialized career counselor, I soon developed a resume I have now used to apply to many internships. Education 131 was a major stepping-stone for my career exploration. It’s so hard to believe that I was a second-semester sophomore before I begin utilizing university resources that were literally at the tips of my fingers. As a junior, I would definitely say that enrolling in this course has been one of the most rewarding things I have done at UNC so far.
Caitlin McCormick
First Year Friday Post
Junior Career Peer
For October 16, 2015