By Lauren Kazemekas '24“Without dreams and goals there is no living, only merely existing, and that is not why we are here.” - Mark Twain Mark Twain said the quote above to ensure people make the most of the life they are given. As a college student you probably have goals that are short and long term, both academic and professional. But how can you go about achieving these goals?
The acronym SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) is often used as a guideline for goal setting. Although the acronym can be a helpful foundation, I want to focus on small steps you can take toward making your dream a reality. The video How to Design Your Life with Alex Heyne outlines a three-step process toward achieving your goals that I find very inspiring. Heyne, an author and founder of self-help resource Modern Health Monk, talks about designing your plan, forming habits, and following through. The “Design” It’s important to understand that without a vision or game plan, you cannot accomplish anything. Maybe you have a few goals already. On the other hand, perhaps planning your future is overwhelming and you don’t know where to begin. Heynes states that starting with the thought of “Wouldn’t it be cool to…” is a great way to brainstorm new goals. He emphasizes the importance of having a journal and writing down the kind of life he wants to build when he thinks of new goals. Heyne keeps notes on things in his life that spark interest and curiosity to “put trajectories in your brain and in your subconscious”. Start off by thinking about where you want to be within a certain time frame. If 5 or 10 years into the future is too much to consider, maybe just think about the next two months. The goal setting process begins with an idea, which can develop into a much larger plan. Forming Habits Now that you have a goal, you have to put steps into practice toward achieving it. Forget the goal, form the habit. Heyne suggests forming three habits per goal and writing them down so you remember to do them. For instance, if my goal is to get more sleep my habits could be taking a nap during the day, putting my phone away by 10:30 PM, and setting a nightly curfew of 11 PM. Setting smaller goals to work toward your larger goal is also important. If I want to get a job in marketing right out of college, effective benchmarks to set along the way could be making the Dean’s list during the Spring 2021 semester, building my LinkedIn profile to 150 connections, and attending two virtual networking events each month. Following Through This last part can be the easiest or hardest thing to do during your journey toward your final goal. You must hold yourself accountable to your habits and practice them daily. To increase the likelihood of achieving your goal, try having other people like trusted family and friends, or even a faculty mentor, check in with periodically to see how you are following through with your new habits. There are many additional resources that explore goal setting techniques. I highly recommend listening to the Ted Talk How to Achieve Your Most Ambitious Goals with investment manager Stephen Duneier. Michael Hyatt’s book Your Best Year Ever provides a clear, research-based approach to setting meaningful goals and creating a purposeful life. Lastly, I would check out the Forbes article on 6 Ways to Achieve a Goal where Molly Cain gives practical advice on following through on your commitments. While your goals and aspirations can change during your time at Marist, know that the Center for Career Services team and many other resources are available to assist you in taking steps to achieve them.
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Kaylin Moss ’21 and Terrence Echols ’21 will each receive a $500 scholarship from Resorts World Casino By Kevin McCallFollowing a competitive application process Marist students Terrence Echols ’21 and Kaylin Moss ’21 were selected to enroll in the inaugural Gumbo Coalition University Mentorship Program sponsored by Resorts World Casino. Echols and Moss were two of 10 college students who earned the opportunity to participate in the intensive six-week virtual mentorship program to hear from prominent authors and speakers from all over the nation. Upon completion of the program each student will receive a $500 scholarship from Resorts World Casino. “It’s a great opportunity for me to not only network and meet new people, but also gain knowledge and insight on what it takes to be a good leader and mentor,” Echols said. The lecture series is based off Marc Morial’s book The Gumbo Coalition: 10 Leadership Lessons That Help You Inspire, Unite, and Achieve. Students in the program will read chapters of the book and participate in virtual discussions with other leaders on the topics and lessons contained in that particular section. The first virtual meeting was held in late January and virtual sessions will continue into late April. “The program takes a really holistic and unique approach to mentorship,” Moss said. “It’s really conversational and a there’s a lot of back and forth dialogue that makes it feel more like a Q&A than a lecture.” “Throughout history, effective leadership has guided us through the most challenging times,” said Michelle Stoddart, Vice President of Community Development at Resorts World New York. “Now more than ever, a new generation of students must be equipped to lead boldly in the face of the medical, political, and environmental challenges we face as a country. By teaming up with renowned civic leader and former New Orleans mayor, Marc Morial, Resorts World is proud to present the Gumbo Coalition University, a virtual platform that will shape the leaders of tomorrow.” Morial, who was mayor of New Orleans from 1994-2002, is president and CEO of the National Urban League (NUL), the nation’s largest historic civil rights and urban advocacy organization. In addition to Morial, the speakers in the series are Dr. Elinor Jackson, Ed.D, an expert advisor with extensive experience in business development and program management; New York Times best-selling author Lavaille Lavette; Aswad Walker, a professor of African American Studies Program for the University of Houston; and Silvia Mathis, the founder of the multimedia production company Punkin Pictures. Both Marist students learned about the Gumbo Coalition University Mentorship Program from Desmond Murray, Associate Director for the Employer Experience in the Marist College Center for Career Services. Students filled out an online application that included an essay discussing their professional experience and career-related goals. Candidates who advanced to the next round were invited to meet virtually with the program’s speakers and talk about what leadership meant to them. Then the speakers made the final selections. “The program takes a really holistic and unique approach to mentorship. It’s really conversational and a there’s a lot of back and forth dialogue that makes it feel more like a Q&A than a lecture.” - Kaylin Moss '21 Echols is majoring in communications with a concentration in public relations/advertising and has already begun graduate work in Marist’s 5-year dual degree program in Integrated Marketing Communication. Moss will receive her bachelor’s degree in computer science with a concentration in software development in December 2021. Both seniors agreed that their experiences at Marist helped them earn the Gumbo Coalition scholarship. Echols is a student-athlete on the men’s basketball team and a senior researcher in Marist’s chapter of the American Advertising Federation. As an AAF member he writes copy and helps prepares presentations with his group for the National Student Advertising Competition that will take place later this spring. “Collaborating with everyone using online platforms like Zoom, Face Time, and Google Meet has really helped me get comfortable having meaningful conversations in a virtual environment,” Echols said. Echols mentioned how joining the Marist Radio Club as a freshman inspired him to create his own podcast, which has helped him articulate his thoughts and ideas on a variety of topics. “I’m learning how I can be someone who others look to for guidance, and that’s inspiring.” - Terrence Echols '21 Moss participated in the Marist/IBM Joint Study program for one year and completed a virtual internship with IBM in the summer of 2020.
“The joint study exposed me to a lot of public speaking roles and presentations,” she said. “So I felt like I had a lot to draw on from that experience when applying for the (Gumbo Coalition University Mentorship) program.” In October 2020 Moss founded a chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) at Marist College. The organization’s main goal is to create an inclusive community for black students and other students who are interested in pursuing opportunities in technology, engineering, and other sciences. Moss said she wanted to learn about different styles of leadership in the program so she could apply them to her role as NSBE President. Interestingly, Moss sees computer science as an industry where she can hone her artistic talents. “In my career I want to focus on things like software development, web design, user interfaces, and anything else that creates new digital experiences,” she said. This summer Echols will intern with Galaxy Media, a multi-dimensional media company that services clients in Syracuse, New York. He has thought about owning his own advertising agency one day, but definitely aspires to a leadership role in marketing or public relations. He said participating in the Gumbo Coalition University Mentorship Program aligns with these goals. “I’m learning how I can be someone who others look to for guidance, and that’s inspiring,” he said. By Lauren Kazemekas '24As we navigate the virtual world, opportunities for professional development are right in front of us on our screens. Regardless of your expected graduation date from Marist, the Center for Career Services has many opportunities for you to invest in your career development this spring. As a first-year student, I have found many career services’ virtual events have benefitted me as I develop my own career path. But instead of just telling you to get involved, I have laid out specific formats of career services’ virtual events---Career Connections Series, Virtual Employer Information Sessions, One-on-One Employer Chats, and Virtual Career Fairs---in this post. I have also given examples of some Center for Career Services virtual events that you can register for right now. Most of these programs are open to students of all class years and majors. After you RSVP in FoxQuest for these events you will receive a link to the virtual meeting. Please note that these events, dates, and times are subject to change. If you have further questions please email the Marist College Center for Career Services at [email protected]. Career Connections Series Students who attend Career Connections Series presentations learn significant information about professional development. Marist alumni speakers who work at a variety of companies give their own advice on a specific career-related topic such as adapting to a remote work environment and translating your liberal arts skills to the workplace for instance. The alum presents for about 20-30 minutes followed by a Question and Answer session with the student attendees. Upcoming Career Connections Series events: Virtual Interview Preparation with Ryan Parbs’20 (Amazon) on Wednesday, February 24; Topic TBD with Wendy Fillmore ’98 (Licensed Clinical Social Worker for State of Connecticut) on Wednesday, March 31 RSVP in FoxQuest under Events > Workshops Virtual Employer Information Session When there are upcoming deadlines for jobs, internships, or other professional development opportunities, an employer will sometimes choose to host a virtual information session specifically for Marist students. Recruiters or other company representatives in hiring roles, some of whom are also Marist alumni, typically host these types of events. Even if you feel like you are not eligible for opportunities that the employer is currently offering, attending their virtual information session can be a great way to put yourself out there and start networking. After the presentation there will be time allotted for students to ask the employer representatives questions about their company and available opportunities. Upcoming Virtual Employer Information Sessions: UPS on Wednesday, February 10; Teach For America on Thursday, February 25; TIAA on Wednesday, March 3; Channel V Media on Wednesday, March 10 RSVP in FoxQuest under Events > Information Sessions One-on-One Employer Chats These types of events can be more personal ways for you to interact with employers. Instead of doing a presentation for a large group, the company representative meets with students one at a time. Students who schedule a one-on-one chat must prepare questions for the employer representative and be able to discuss their own career goals and interests during the chat. Rather than registering to attend a presentation, students RSVP for a 10-15 minute time block to meet with an employer via one-on-one chat. This valuable interaction has the possibility of turning into a future interview or offer of employment. Stay tuned for more information on these types of events. Virtual Career Fair Typically lasting for about three hours, virtual career fairs allow you to meet with multiple companies on the same day. The Marist College Center for Career Services will host another Virtual Career and Internship Fair this spring right in the FoxQuest system. The virtual career fair will give you access to meet remotely with companies and organizations who are hiring for full-time jobs and internships for the summer. Once you join the employer’s queue during the virtual career fair, they will invite you to a group or one-on-one chat using the video conferencing platform of their choice. Professional attire is recommended for everyone who attends this event because you will be using the camera on your device to have a conversation with each organization representative that you meet with. Stay tuned for further details on the Spring 2021 Virtual Career and Internship Fair These four types of virtual events can immensely help you prepare for your future profession while you are still in college. All of them can offer connections to career development opportunities. Follow the Marist College Center for Career Services on Instagram and check your email for the weekly Career Services Newsletter for more information on these and more upcoming events. There is no such thing as an inopportune time to learn, grow, and network professionally, even in a remote setting. |
AuthorInformation on the latest professional development trends and advice, plugs for Marist College Center for Career Services events and initiatives, and stories from your Marist peers. Content is produced by Marist students for Marist students. Categories |