During my second meeting with my Area Coordinator, Dovonne Adams, we revisited the goals I had initially set at the beginning of the semester and discussed my progress toward them. One of my primary goals had been to secure an internship in Houston, my hometown, for the summer. Although I searched for and applied to many opportunities, many of them had deadlines that had already expired or had already reached maximum capacity. While I wasn’t able to achieve this goal, I still plan on looking for a remote job or part-time position for the summer.
Despite not finding a financial internship, the insight I gained while reflecting on my previous experiences was incredibly valuable. I took the advice of a Wesleyan alum I met at the beginning of the semester and analyzed each on-campus job and leadership experience I had undergone so far. I assessed what skills I used in each role and what lessons or new skills I gained from them. By taking the time to analyze each experience individually, I realized that there are many non-apparent skills I’ve gained that, while not obvious at first glance, are necessary skills that I can apply to other experiences.
For example, I didn’t initially recognize that the customer service skills I developed working at the RJ Julia Campus Store could translate into my Residential Advisor position. Although the target audience for each position has different needs, I was able to use the communication skills I honed while talking to customers to effectively communicate with my residents. This was a challenge I had anticipated when taking on the RA role, but my previous experience helped me tackle it effectively. Additionally, being a staff member of the Residential Office and collaborating with my co-RAs on the 2nd floor of Bennet for community events each month has significantly improved my collaboration skills.
By engaging in this reflective and analytical activity for each experience, I was able to identify the transferable skills I’ve acquired. This process not only helped me analyze my practical work and extracurricular activities, but it also helped me understand how I could apply my liberal arts education to future careers. When I asked multiple Wesleyan alums on LinkedIn how they applied their Wesleyan education to their respective careers, most of them gave me a similar response. They emphasized that the critical thinking skills gained through a liberal arts education are invaluable assets that set liberal arts students apart from applicants from technical schools.
Hearing this advice from multiple alumni gave me the determination to apply the knowledge I’ve gained from my courses to my future career. I realized that although I take a wide range of classes in seemingly disparate fields—College of East Asian Studies and Economics—they have more similarities than I initially thought. Speaking to one of my CEAS professors, Professor Aalgaard, helped me understand this connection further and allowed me to develop a confident tie between both majors.
Overall, this experience was very valuable as it required me to reflect on myself and the skills I’ve gained. The reflective process has made me appreciate the breadth and depth of my liberal arts education and how it complements my academic, extracurricular, and career interests. Going forward, I feel better equipped to articulate these skills and apply them in various contexts, thanks to the support and guidance from my meetings with Dovonne Adams.
