Hello all!
This is Jooah and Isha back on campus and ready for a new semester!
We both arrived on campus a week earlier than usual for what’s called “Sophomore Summit.” This is a three day career-building conference for Amherst College Sophomores, providing many opportunities to connect with alumni, receive feedback for resumes and cover letters, and learn more about how to best prepare for life after Amherst. Sophomore year at Amherst is huge–students declare a major, decide whether to study abroad, and what they want to do for the summer. Sophomore Summit guides students through these important decisions. Today, we will walk you through some of our favorite events from the Sophomore Summit!
Alumni Panels
One of the most memorable panels for me was called “Recent Alumni Panel: Graduate School.” As indicated in the name, there were four recent alumni who were currently graduate school students in UPenn, NYU, Dartmouth, and Georgetown for a variety of fields such as business, medicine school, law school, and public policy. It was a very inspiring talk as they provided lots of insights on the reality of graduate schools and how their Amherst education has prepared them for it. I deeply resonated with the importance of critical thinking skills and many social skills you learn throughout the undergraduate years at Amherst! This session highlighted the tight bond amongst the Amherst College community, and many (including myself) were inspired and motivated.
-Jooah
I felt a strong sense of belonging and admiration at the alumni panel: Careers in Health and Well-Being. I heard from five notable panelists: Richard Aronson ’69, Rebecca Dago-Cross ’11, Michael Dougan ’02, Stephanie Dougan, and Stephen Ettinghausen ’74. They shared their experiences as doctors, researchers, and healthcare professionals–I know that improving the lives of others is my path after hearing the panelists speak about their experiences. They spoke so eloquently, eager to inspire us students and share wisdom. Many used the skills they learned at Amherst College to connect with patients in meaningful ways. For instance, an English Course, “Representing Illness,” helped a panelist reflect on the ways in which pain can be expressed. They praised this course for teaching them how to truly listen to their patients, understanding the ways pain transcends common language. I am currently enrolled in the same course and excited to see how it transforms my thinking, writing, and the way I care for patients.
-Isha
Career Experience Lab: Arts & Communications
On the second day of the Sophomore Summit, we had a chance to attend two “career experience labs.” There were four different labs, covering vastly different fields from finance to education. I chose to attend “arts & communications” which focused on uncovering opportunities in creative industries such as entertainment, museums, libraries, journalism, marketing, and more. An alumna who works as a digital asset manager at the National Museum of Women in the Arts visited campus, and everyone in the lab was able to engage in activities that gave us hands-on experience on what it would be like to work in her field. Overall, this lab was very inspiring as it discussed less-known industries that could be tricky and confusing to break into. It was also liberating to be in the room with peers who are passionate for many different kinds of creative activities!
-Jooah
Professional Headshot Stations
I never get the chance to wear business casual, a powerful blazer, dress pants, a dress shirt, and cute flats. This might be because I am too invested in STEM, wearing a lab coat in those professional settings. But at the Sophomore Summit, I had the opportunity to dress elegantly. The best part? Everyone can see my polished look on LinkedIn. At the sophomore Summit, there was a Professional Headshot station. There were mirrors, hairspray, blazers to borrow, and Chapstick at the station to help students prepare for their photo. With my new professional headshot, I feel confident that I will be employed this summer.
-Isha