Arch Scholars Career Conversation
Arch Scholars alumni shared their journeys with current Arch Scholar students!
Arch Scholars alumni and students sat down in Kresge to chat about their unique experience at Northwestern and how it shaped their life beyond the purple walls of Evanston. Students found that "the stories the panelists provided on overcoming failure, being flexible with their career, and giving advice for life past Northwestern" were most inspiring! Here are just some of the words our alumni shared today.
“If something is interesting to you, then do it! Even if it’s different from what you think you should be doing (i.e. taking a class or joining a club that's not related to your major or career path) that’s okay! It will not be a clean and direct road to where you’ll end up. There will be twists and turns, some of them scary or otherwise difficult. And you’ll be grateful you took the time to pursue those things you did out of pure interest or enjoyment. You never know where they will lead you! If you only stuck to your original plan, you would’ve never known there was a better fit in career waiting for you.
One of the best pieces of advice a professor gave me when I was considering my path after graduation was to follow whatever was calling to me at that moment. I didn’t have to put it on myself to have a 10 year, or 5 year plan figured out. Because things don’t even work out the way you plan them to. I now know SO many people who have worked in vastly different industries through their lives and are making those changes all the time that they never expected to. So you can take off some of the pressure to have it all laid out. What matters is to listen to your heart about what excites you right now, and to take it one step at a time.
Finally, it’s never the end when you face rejection or (what feels like) failure. You have so much worth and value as a person regardless of the midterm you failed, the opportunity you really wanted and didn’t get picked for, or the countless mistakes you made. Especially as a first-generation student, there’s a lot that makes college harder for you than most of the people around you— don’t let it get you down! Those hurdles will only make you more resilient and knowledgeable. The complicated emotions of being first-gen are valid and heavy, but they will get easier with time. The friends you make and the mentors you have, especially those you share identities with, will help you blossom and heal. Be so proud of yourself and where you come from, even when it’s hard to do that. So much good is waiting on the other side!" -
Sherlina Chauhan '19 (Anthropology) Continuum of Care Program Coordinator at Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County
"Learn to see every rejection as an opportunity, it can lead you to figure out your true passions or go down paths you wouldn't have explored otherwise. On top of that, your picture of success might look vastly different from another peer's (one size does not fit all!) or you might not even know what success looks like for you - that's ok! So many paths are non-linear, and you don't have to have it all figured out as a first year. Regardless, NU will expose you to many opportunities and unique perspectives; be a sponge and take the time to soak in all that these encounters have to offer." -
Danielle Hojnicki '19 (Neuroscience) Consultant at Accenture
"Think of Northwestern as an incubator environment: you have come to a place of learning to grow and start shaping your future. Students are not expected to know all things nor immediately grasp all things, and where you start in your academic and/or professional development journey does not determine your final destination. Embrace all the challenges that refine and season you - they are ultimately a recipe for resilience that will serve you well when you encounter rejection, disappointment, or unexpected detours." - Marina Williams '14 (English) Associate Director, Career & Leadership Readiness at University of Chicago, Harris School of Public Policy
Thank you Danielle, Sherlina, and Marina for joining us and thank you Erika for being a great student moderator!
