Securing Employment Before Graduation

Written by: Gillian Lopez, Management Career Consultant

Edited by: Dalton Rogers, CCPA Student Assistant

Posted By: Serena Nguyen, CCPA Media Intern

UC Merced’s 2014 Commencement is right around the corner. If you are like me—a graduating senior who is excited for the next chapter called “post grad”—then start counting down from today because there are only 110 days left until we toss our graduation caps into the sky!

There are multiple paths one can pursue after graduation, such as attending graduate school, joining the armed services, finding a full-time job, or even taking some time off to travel the world. However, if you are still like me—a graduating senior who is ready to transition into finding a full-time job—then now is the time to buckle down and secure employment before commencement.

Here are three tips to help you in your job search:

1. Dedicate time for future success

Finding a job is a full-time job on its own. On average, it takes at least one hour to apply for a single position, not including the time it takes to craft your cover letter and resume. A great way to begin the job hunt is to make a target list of companies that interest you. When you are exploring career opportunities within a company, you should examine the position’s responsibilities, minimum qualifications, salary range, employee benefits, travel and relocation options, and other important job characteristics.

If you are uncertain about which company you would like to work for, or which industry you want to be in, then research companies that have work atmospheres that you value. Your first job will probably not be your last, and occupational well-being is an important aspect to consider when looking for your first full-time job. You will likely spend at least 40 hours a week at work, so you’ll want to be comfortable.

These are a few critical aspects to consider when researching career opportunities after graduation. If your goal is to be employed before graduation, make it a priority to work on post grad plans now rather than later because finding a job is a tedious process.

2. Never underestimate the power of networking

According to recent statistics, 70% of all jobs are found through networking. In some cases, it’s not about what you know, but who you know. As 2014 graduates, we should feel confident in the skills and experiences that we have cultivated over the past few years, and we should share those achievements with our network. Everyone has a network, beginning with family and friends. Share your career interests with them because you never know what opportunities may be available right in your own backyard.

Another great networking tool is LinkedIn—a professional social network platform. LinkedIn contains several career advancement tools, but one of their greater purposes is to connect colleagues, coworkers, employers, and other professionals. A good network can be influential during a job hiring process, so invest in your network now and continue to form professional relationships.

3. Stay proactive, engage in career events, and utilize our office’s resources

 

Did you know that CatLink has over 300 national and international employment opportunities? The Center for Career & Professional Advancement strives to assist students with their career goals. Our office offers assistance with resumes and cover letters, in addition to welcoming companies like IBM and AT&T for informational workshops. Coming-up on March 20^TH, 2014 is our annual Career & Internship Fair located at the Gym. Over 30 different companies will be present on our campus, and I hope to see you there in your business professional attire and resume in hand!

While we enjoy the last semester of college, it’s also important to prepare for the next chapter of our lives. If finding a job is the next step for you, then start taking action today in order to be employed before commencement.

Finals Week is Almost Here!

Written by Elizabeth O’Kane, Gillian Lopez, Kristen Nelson and Serena Nguyen

Center for Career & Professional Advancement Student Employees

Question: “How are you going to prepare for all of your final exams for the last few weeks of school?”

Elizabeth O’Kane, Media Assistant

Wing it.  Just kidding.  Final exams are always stressful, but there is never a clear path to study for them.  Even though you supposedly learned the material front to back all semester, this will not help you breakdown and identify the question.  Yes, you need to know the fundamentals as a base, but this alone will not guarantee an A.  Here are some tips to be mindful of when test taking:

1.    Breakdown topics, NOT chapters.

Multiple chapters usually refer to common topics.  Identify these common trends and group them together.  Trust me, it will be easier to remember, because you are creating a cognitive file system.

2.    No flashcards!

I used to always get stuck in the flash card rut.  I would memorize the way I wrote the words or a fold in the flashcards.  This did not help me learn the material, because I was looking for clues instead of reading the content.  Get out of this rut!  Look at a concept and physically write 1-2 paragraphs about it or verbally explain it to someone.  If you can explain it, then you know what you are talking about.

3.    Read every word.

Not every word in the textbook, every word of the exam question.  Have a piece of scratch paper and rewrite the question.  Writing the question out automatically puts you in the mindset for identifying what the question is really asking.  Circle keywords and start writing notes about what you know about the topic.  If it’s multiple choice, go back and start eliminating answers to better your chances.  This does take time so only use this method on questions you are unsure about.

Have faith, get plenty of rest and you put yourself in a confident mindset!

Kristen Nelson, SSHA Career Consultant

My number one rule for the time leading up to finals is to stay balanced. It’s so easy to just shut down during finals week. The end is so close, and yet for some reason I can actually get lazier. Because of this, I try not to break my routine. It helps me stay on task, keep a good work ethic, and also keep the stress at bay. This means the week prior to and also on finals week, I still go to the gym, enjoy some time with friends, and make sure to get enough sleep. The only way I am able to stick to my routine is by making adjustments and managing my time well. So I might go workout for 30 minutes rather than an hour, or I might go home a little earlier from hanging with friends so that I can finish up an assignment. Another thing that helps me through finals week is staying positive. This year my motto for finals time is “Pedal to the Medal!” I am not giving up. I am pushing hard all the way through, because I know by giving my 100% effort I will feel my break is well deserved.  Whatever your way of getting through finals is, positivity can always help. Happy finals Bobcats, and may the curve be ever in your favor!

Gillian Lopez, Management Career Consultant

When it comes to studying for final exams I like to do three things; create a study schedule, make time for study breaks, and form study groups.

Creating a study schedule is a great way to stay organized during finals week especially if you are studying for more than one cumulative exam.  For example, my study schedule consists of the chapters I will focus on each day and the amount of time I will dedicate to each subject. Getting organized is an important part of prepping for final exams because it prevents procrastination and late night study crams!

In addition to my study schedule, I also like to include breaks in my day and week. It is not effective or healthy to study for 10 hours straight. In fact it is psychologically proven that your brain can only retain so much information within a given amount of time. I like to study throughout the day, but in between every hour I will take a 15-30 minute break before continuing my studies. This can include taking a walk outside, doing small exercises, watching an episode on Netflix, etc. Exercising is probably the best study break and stress reliever during finals week, not to mention all the positive endorphins that are released throughout the brain that can make you feel even more awake while studying!

Lastly, I like to study with a group. Usually the day before a final I work in a study group to test my knowledge and assist my peers.  During our study groups we would quiz each other or review our class materials.

Studying for finals can be overwhelming at times, but getting organized, taking study breaks, and starting early will help prevent some stress and unnecessary panic!

Serena Nguyen, Media Assistant

This might sound crazy but we have less than two weeks of school left for this semester! I am always amazed how time passes by so quickly. It is crazy just to think about it!

I know that many students are already struggling with their classes and overwhelmed from group projects and final exams to study for. Although my mind is filling with many exciting events to do with my besties over winter break, school should always come first. In order to deal with my final week for this semester, I try to pace myself by creating a schedule for the next two weeks. In addition, I always remind myself to leave out the fun for later because after finals week, I will have plenty of time for fun. I know I should not be neglecting my study, because if I do, I will regret it once I receive my final grade at the end of the semester.

Good luck, Bobcats!

Do your best and ace that final with flying colors!

Winter Break Game Plan

Winter break symbolizes a time of completion of the Fall semester. For some this means going back home, relaxing, and enjoying the holidays. Work, class, anything that requires any brain effort might be the last thing you want to do, but the break can be the perfect time to get started on building your professional profile. Work, classes, and involvement in professional organizations can fill a student’s schedule to the brim, and adding another item to the list during the semester can be overload. For graduating seniors, this is especially true, on top of campus and class responsibilities, your goals for the next semester most likely encompass completing graduate school applications or looking for a full time job. And those responsibilities are pretty much full time jobs in themselves. Do yourself a favor and use the break to your advantage.

 

1. Revamp your Resume: Maybe you got a new position over the semester, or were elected to secretary in your organization. Now is the time to reflect and add those experiences to your resume. Also take a look at my last blog post to see how you can strengthen your resume even further.

2. Network: Many times students don’t like the idea of networking, but it is so important! 70% of jobs are made through networking, and the easiest network to tap into is your family. You might not think about it but your mom, dad, aunts, uncles, etc. are all part of an expansive professional network. Talk to them about what your are interested in, or the location you would like to work after college, and they just might know someone or at least have have some great advice for you.

3. Reflect on the Semester: Have you noticed anything missing in your professional profile? Lacking presentation or customer service skills? Make a commitment to strengthen these skills. For example, if you want to go to graduate school for psychology, often times they like to see you participate in undergraduate research. If you aren’t involved yet, find out how you can.  Four years goes by quickly (take it from a senior who knows) so make sure you utilize your time here. Think about what you want get involved in for the next semester and then actively look for opportunities to make them happen.

4. Volunteer, Intern, or work: In my opinion, it’s very important to relax during the break, but I also feel that if your class load is too hectic to work during the semester, then using the winter and summer break is when you need to acquire those professional experiences. Find volunteer or internship opportunities using Cat Link on theCcareer center website hire.ucmerced.edu, to find opportunities close to home.  College is now less about the degree you receive at the end of your four years, and more about what you do along the way to earning it.  Make sure that by the time you graduate your resume has meaningful experiences for you to tell future employers.

 

It’s Okay to Say No

Written By: Laura Li

Center for Career & Professional Advancement, STEM Career Consultant

The pace of this semester has rapidly increased compare to any previous semester that I’ve encountered. It’s almost  as if all these task were clumped up together and given to me at the same time. This is my second year taking on two jobs along with class assignments to turn in, exams to take, workshops/events to prepare. I love being involved but lately I’ve been feeling overwhelmed. I believe my problem is that I can never say “no.” Although, I’ve always been the type of a person who want to take on the world with one hand and enjoying the challenge that comes along with it, sometimes, it is ok to say “no.”

Recently, I was taking part on a lead role in a project at work when I realized I was short on time to complete the project because the time slot fell between the week I had presentations and midterms. I always told myself that school always comes first so I needed to do something. The most difficult part for me was to tell my supervisor that I was no longer able to take lead on this project. While saying no at work may not seem like a wise choice, keep in mind that taking on more work than you can complete is worse. You never want to tell your supervisor or boss “no” without giving any reasoning. You want to make sure to learn how to reshape and refine the request  instead of using the word “no,” be honest and propose an alternative solution. Remember, honesty is the best policy. I told my supervisor  that due to time constraints regarding my academic performance, I didn’t have time to help out with the project but proposed an idea for one of my co-workers who expressed interest to take my position. It is important to be cautious when accepting multiple tasks  because then you may be turning in work that you can’t complete.

Finding Yourself

Written by: Serena Nguyen

Center for Career & Professional Advancement, Media Assistant

Back in highschool, the things you did with your friends are majority being influenced by your peers because you wanted to blend in and wanted to belong somewhere in your pool of friends. However, college is all about you. What you choose to do is all up to you to decide. College is the place where you truly finds more about yourself such as your likes and dislikes, what you truly wanted to do, or where you might find yourself end up in the future. If you ever pick a far away college like me (UC Merced), about 300 miles away from home from So. Cal, you will eventually learn more about what you can and can’t do without your family constantly be by your side.

As for me, it was difficult at first when I entered UC Merced as a freshman. Everything was overwhelming because there was no one here that I know from my high school. I felt like I am in a complete different world. Although I got many supports from my family, they will not be here, with me, helping me out in the dire time of needs. I am on my own. During my first semester in college, I didn’t know what I truly wanted except continues to behave as if I was still in high school, blending in and trying to make many friends as possible because I didn’t like to be alone until one major thing happened to me.

My ex-roommates and I were in a huge conflict. At first, I thought things will be fine as long we gave ourselves some space and then talk over it with one another because I considered them to be my close friends, therefore, we practically did everything together during our first semester of college. However, during the first few weeks of the second semester, I sensed something is going to happened and my god, how I always hate my accuracy in prediction. Things became more intense than I expected it to be. It was very unfortunate that things ended the way it did for me and my ex-roommates, but in the end, I realized that things like this happened for a reason. I admitted that I was hurt severely. I broke down when I found out what they did, and what they didn’t do in order to keep our relationship to be at the mutual standing, but if thing like that never happened, I wouldn’t be able to find myself where I am now. I am always a sentimental person who likes to think positively about a person and grateful for all the help they gave me, and maybe that is why it is easier for me to get over with my past and moved on.

As the second semester quickly passed by and I moved on to my second year of college, I find myself looking at a paid internship with Energy Service Corps, a non-profit organization in which promoting energy efficiency through the younger generation (K-12) by educating them about renewable and nonrenewable resources. I never expected that I would get involve much with all the activities coming from the organizations until when I took up the position of Recruitment Coordinator and Co-Coordinator for my Home Assessment Team. I enjoyed what I do within the organizations, especially when joining ESC gave me the opportunities to communicate and meet many amazing people who gave me so much inspiration and a new outlook for life. In addition, I found that I didn’t stop there. I decided to apply for an on-campus job and get the job offer from the Career Center as a Media Assistant. While working as a Media Assistant for the Career Center, a leadership position for ESC, and being a full-time student at UC Merced made me realize that I am capable of handling myself for any situation by managing the time I had on my hand and being organized about myself and what I need to prioritized in order to get the works done. Thus, there isn’t a thing I did in the past that make me regretted. However, if I ever have a chance to turn back the clock and go back in time, there is one thing that I would like to tell my-past-self who have no guide or someone to help her is that, “everything will be alright and never be afraid to be yourself, and gave yourself a chance meeting new people.”

The people I met in my life taught me so much more than what I needs to know. Yes, there are always people out there who will try to bring you down, who makes you feel inferior to them and powerless. However, never for one moment to forget that there will be people who always be there to help you stand back up on your feet, give you the encouragement you needs to find yourself, and help you to continues down on the road that you’ve chosen for yourself. That’s why if you ever felt like your college experiences were not as expected, then the only person who can make those changes is yourself because this is your life and no one could do anything except you. You must be your own inspiration!

“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”
Aristotle Onassis

Escaping my Comfort Zone

Written by: Kristen Nelson

Center for Career & Professional Advancement, SSHA Career Consultant 

In the past month, many students I have met with have talked about their worries for after graduation. Mainly these students are seniors who are conflicted about where they plan to be after graduation. I certainly know the feeling very well and I hope that my story gives others self-assurance as they being thinking about post-graduation. Serious contemplation of my post-graduation plans happened during my last semester of junior year, and it came down to two decisions: job experience or straight to graduate school. A little insight into my goals, one of my biggest aspirations for my education since high school has been to receive my master’s degree. My only problem was, and still is, is that I didn’t know what I want that degree to be in.

Thinking about it more, I knew that If I wasn’t confident and passionate about what I chose for a master’s program that I would find myself wasting my time and money. Seemed like a logical and realistic decision, but for some reason, I couldn’t help but shake this feeling of inadequacy.

As college students, we are so used to this idea of accomplishment through education and for over 16 years have been trained to see the value in academic success. It was no wonder I was feeling that way. I have been primed to think this way since 7 years old. I realized that I found myself wanting graduate school because school is something I have known for so long, it was effortless for me to see myself in graduate school. I knew in the future I would be working full time, but that’s in the future, right? Like when I am older. News flash! I am 22 years old, so that time has caught up with me.

I think the hardest part about your post graduate decisions is that most often no one is telling you what to do. If you grew up in a household similar to mine, there was a road map that was expected of you: do well in school, high school, college, and then it gets blurry. What’s next? Why haven’t I been given the answer to the next step in my life? For the first time, I had to be the one to fill in the blank and make a decision for the next part of my journey.

Disclaimer: For students that are going to graduate school after graduation: First there is absolutely nothing wrong with this decision. Your journey is your own. And second, wow! How exciting! I cannot wait to be where you are, interested and passionate about a program. It has taken some time to get used to my decision, but I know it is the right one for me. I have done my best to prepare and professional develop while in college. It is finally time to get out of my comfort zone. I don’t have a fear of not going back to graduate school because I have given myself a timeline of 2-3 years to explore and then return. If that is something you fear, I definitely recommend making a commitment to yourself with a plan and deadline. Ultimately, find security in that if you truly want to accomplish something, you will!

Sometimes you might find yourself feeling somewhat bipolar, I do. One day I am super excited and the next I question whether I am ready to make this decision. That is normal and part of the process. If you aren’t a little scared, you aren’t challenging yourself.

“You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition.” – Alan Alda

Informational Interviews

Gillian Lopez

Center for Career & Professional Advancement, Management Career Consultant

Are you a career explorer like me? Uncertain about what you want to do after your collegiate experience? Well a good building block to this career exploration process is to set-up and conduct informational interviews.

So what’s an informational interview you may ask?

An informational interview is a great opportunity to acquire new knowledge about a particular company, filed of industry, or even a specific job position. It carries the same concept as a regular interview however, instead of the recruiter asking questions about you, you are in the position of asking questions about them. Hopefully in a real job interview you are already prepared with your company research. I like conducting informational interviews because it provides me with the opportunity to gain new and in depth knowledge about a particular position or company. In addition, it is a great foot-in-the-door technique paving the way to welcoming new relationships or strengthening your network.

Here is an example of an informational interview I conducted last week, but before you read on, always make sure you are prepared for your interview. This involves setting up a meeting time, prepare the questions you want to ask in advance, and make sure to send a thank you card. These individuals take the time out of their schedules to assist you with your career journey and sharing that gratitude with the employer is a great way to leave a lasting impression.

Name: James Hatten
Position: Front Desk Admin assistant
Department: UC Merced Office of Student Life
Start Date: 16 months ago

How did you hear about this position and what was the application process like?
UC Merced human resource website. It was a basic application process where you upload your resume and apply. It was a simple process.

What are your position’s responsibilities?
Phone, filing, appointments, and supervise three student staffs.

What do you like most about your job?
The interaction with the awesome college students!

Name one thing that can be stressful about this position?
The wonderful college students! Educating students about the new OSL policies and campus culture. Before James arrived into this position OSL used to be more relaxed, but now the office is setup to be more structured. For example you cannot just walk in to visit someone in the office. You have to make an appointment with the fron desk and check in, etc.

How do you cope with that stress?
Work hard now for cruise control later. If you work things out now then later it won’t be difficult to manage. It is all about educating the students about OSL’s new policies and structure.

Share a recent accomplishment:
Developing the automated checkout system. When students check out tables or equipment they no longer have to leave their cat card or fill out paperwork. James generated the idea and worked with Cat Card department to develop this system for easier use and efficiency. Great fit for a campus that is trying to go green as well.

Advice for students who are seeking a position that is similar to yours?
Pay attention to details and come in with an open mind. Don’t have the preconception that you already know what to do. This job also requires being flexible with your time and assistance.

I’ve known James for a few months now and I can see some great improvement with the department’s organization and communication efforts with the students. James is highly familiar with the campus policies and procedures. He knows the ins and out of his department and while things may get a little busy at OSL, James can manage things under control and with some fun.

The Summer Internship

Written by: Gillian Lopez

Center for Career & Professional Advancement, Management Career Consultant

Learn by Experience

This past summer I had the privilege and opportunity to intern for Human Rights Watch, a global non-profit organization that focuses on advocating human rights across the nation and world. HRW is a large organization that does incredible works in a variety of fields, but this summer I worked for the Student Task Force division at the Santa Monica headquarters. The Student Task Force (STF) team works closely with high school leaders in West Los Angeles and Santa Clarita Valley. During my three-month internship I planned multiple activities from leadership meetings to assisting with the development of the 2013 -2014 school campaign. In addition I had the great honor of working with a few of the best researchers in HRW for Senate Bill 260 and with that I also acquired knowledge in grant writing research. However, if I could only pick two things that I truly enjoyed about my internship this summer it would have to be the following:

Networking can get you far in life, but building relationships can take you even further.

 At our office the Children’s Rights Division (CRD) was working on Senate Bill 260, a bill that focuses on youth fair sentencing in California. The CRD division worked with our STF team in collecting petition letters for various state representatives in California. In one month my Santa Clarita STF team collected nearly 400 letters for SB 260.  One day while I was asking for letters, I ran into a good old friend and we caught-up over dinner. After talking about SB 260 and my summer internship, he told me that he was a good friend with Assemblyman Scott Wilk. I was in disbelief for a moment because I knew our STF team needed a meeting with him. A few emails and 24hrs later I was able to solidify a meeting with Assemblyman Scott Wilk and three STF student leaders. Expand your network as you progress with your professional journey, but don’t forget to maintain those special relationships as you carry on.

Do your research and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

 If I wasn’t planning something I was researching. I would have to say that 50% of my internship experience consisted of grant writing research. Non-profits rely heavily on donors, grants, fundraising, and sponsors in order to sustain and expand their organization.  I remember being presented a list of 300+ potential donors in the beginning of summer, and towards the end of my experience I nearly researched 200 organizations, foundations, and major donors. I presented a potential candidate list to my supervisor and felt confident in my work. However during this grant writing research process I had to ask a lot of questions to help me digest the information I was absorbing, but more importantly to supply HRW-STF with the best donors as it takes several days to compile a grant proposal for a foundation. I haven’t heard any feedback yet about HRW-STF’s grant applications are going, but before leaving my internship I was able to obtain a grant for one of their upcoming events for the 2013-2014 annual campaign. And guess what, I was able to get that grant with persistence, creative thinking, and most importantly, asking many questions.

If you are interested in a summer internship I strongly encourage you to start looking now or at least start preparing for the job hunt. Learn by my experience as it took me most of spring semester to find a summer internship. The best steps you can take to finding a summer internship is to set a goal and make time to apply because sometimes finding a job can be a fulltime position on its own.

Da Struggles to the Top

By: Serena Nguyen

Center for Career & Professional Advancement, Media Assistant

Ten years ago, I was lost, confused, and had no idea what kind of future would be in store for me when I came to the United States. People looked down on me. They underestimated what I could do because I wasn’t able to speak or understand English compared to how I am now. At that time, I had low self-esteem, no self-confidence, and was a very negative person. I didn’t want to tell my parents what was going on with me in school because they had enough things on their plate, thus, I didn’t want to add anymore burden to their shoulders. Those people whom I supposedly call “friends” bullied me, pulled  me down from the rail, make funny English jokes at me when they knew that I had no idea what they were saying. I was constantly laughed at whenever I came to school, and was made as a laughing stock in front of the entire classroom. I heard whispers, and all eyes were on me which make me felt uncomfortable. I was traumatized and wanted to go back to my home country so then I could forget about everything here. I missed my friends, my relatives and all the fun things I’d been missing out on while I am here in California.

I was afraid to ask question, to raise my voice in the public because I don’t want to received attention from other people who might make fun of me because of my broken English. I cared too much on what other people think about me instead thinking about what could makes me truly happy. If I didn’t have the full support from my parents, and the sacrifice they made for me by coming here to the United States in order for me to receive the education and opportunities that I could have never had in Vietnam, I would have truly give up because at that time, giving up sounded so much easier than continues to strive forward when you are the clown of the class. One day, I realized that this girl wasn’t me. I was stronger than that. I am a positive person who always love to socialized, helping out other people, I love to have the accompanied from friends whenever I am at school, in class, and mess around during recess, and most of all is to have my voice heard. I can’t stand the thought of being shut out, the treatment in which I do not deserved. I didn’t like any of it, thus, I decided to change everything.

I started from the ground up, slowly, and one step at a time.  I read books that were available in the children section. I know. It is embarrassing as it sound but it is a good start for me, at least that’s what I believed and so I just do it. Then I started to listen to English music. Blasting it up as loud as I could. At first everything I heard was just some blubbering sound from my mp3 player since the words were so fast, my brain couldn’t decode it in time, but that didn’t stop me. I asked my cousins to speak  in English whenever they are talking to me because that will makes me to do the same, too. I must admit, everything wasn’t easy but I knew that if I don’t do anything for myself, then I will get nowhere in my life. I was so young, so many opportunities are ahead of me and so I can’t give up now and let everything passed by without trying to do anything. I simply cannot allow myself to do that.

Now, whenever I looked back to all of the things I did, I must say, I should give myself a pat on the back because I am proud of myself to get to where I am now. I am able to attend to one out of ten prestigious university in California. I was able to communicate with others and creating a wider network that I couldn’t have done ten years ago. The one thing that I am most proud of about myself is that I am not waiting for any opportunity to come to knock on my door, instead I’d put myself out there, looking for the opportunities to grow as an individual and learn more about myself, what I truly want in life, and what I really want to do with the skills I had, and I am also excited to learn and acquired on new skills while working at the Center for Career & Professional Advancement as a Media Assistant for almost a year now, and my new job at Christina’s Boutique as a graphic designer and video editor in order to promote the store and boost up our sales. 

This story wasn’t meant to inspired anyone who is going to read this but this is just a part of my past, something that I wanted to put out there in order to remind myself that I can accomplish anything, and turn my goal into reality as long I am determined to go with the plan and make sure that I work hard toward my goal, because I was able to understand that in life, there is no easy way out. As human, we tends to achieve great things in life when we are able to learn things and do things the hard way. Of course, there are many people out there who are able to find shortcuts to everything they do and still able to complete the same task like others, however, those people are truly the unfortunate ones, who is missing out on things that life has offered: adventures, challenges, motivations and the satisfying feelings of a person when they accomplish something through hard work by struggles their way to the top.

How about you? What kind of life will you choose for yourself?

The Next Big Thing

By: Laura Li

Center for Career & Professional Advancement, STEM Career Consultant

I must say, reflecting back on my journey here at UC Merced, there have been a plethora of wonderful and exciting moments that I’ve been lucky to experience. Since this will be my final chapter, I want to embark on new adventures and experiences before it all comes to end. For quite some time now, my long-term career interest was to be working in the medical field, specifically, as a physician assistant. I’ve always had the passion to help others, whether it was volunteering and giving back to the community or simply being a helpful hand when a friend of colleague needed me.