Career Path of a College Student Exploring Careers

I graduated from Chapman University almost a year ago with a double major in political science and strategic and corporate communications. My second major was communications, and I also had a minor in leadership studies.

When I started college, I had these two majors but wasn't sure about my career path. So, college was an opportunity for me to experiment with different classes, courses, internships, on-campus experiences, and work opportunities.

Initially, I didn't have any internships or a job. However, I wanted to ensure I could balance internships with my on-campus opportunities. Luckily, Chapman University, being a small private school, offered the luxury of getting involved and having a significant impact in leadership roles within university clubs.

I aimed to balance my internship work experience with on-campus leadership experiences throughout college. I completed three internships during my time there. I also had a part-time job as a campus tour guide at the university.

I took that job primarily to earn some money on the side and because I was passionate about my university. Being able to talk about it for 90 minutes straight was a great exercise for my public speaking skills.

My first internship was at the beginning of my junior year. I was an unpaid intern for a real estate firm. I wanted to try something different and get my first internship done. Unfortunately, it didn't work out, which was okay.

A major lesson from internships is learning what you do and don't want in your career. This internship taught me that real estate was likely not the best fit for me.

By the end of my junior year, I interned in Washington D.C. through the Fund for American Studies program. I was a communications intern for a nonprofit organization called Asian Americans for Justice (AAJC). It was a cool internship, especially being in D.C., but it was mostly remote.

Another thing I learned from internships was that remote or hybrid positions are not for me. I prefer being on my feet, engaging with people, and staying active, rather than being behind a computer.

My final internship was at the end of my senior year. I was a radio intern for Seacrest Studios, a nonprofit organization founded by Ryan Seacrest. They use media as a fun way to interact with patients in the hospital.

This involved creating live TV shows, organizing hospital events to engage patients, and going on air to broadcast their voices throughout the hospital. That was by far my favorite internship because I found a strong interest in helping others while being actively involved in media.

As you may notice, my internships were very different. What led me to them were three key things.

First, I took different coursework each semester. I made sure to take one class outside my majors to gain well-rounded experience and learn about other subjects. I wasn't fully sure about my path in college, so taking classes outside my major offered a broader perspective.

Second, having leadership experiences on campus was incredibly helpful. It allowed me to understand how organizations function and the importance of leadership. This was crucial and prepared me for my current job.

Getting involved on campus provides a better understanding of what you truly want to do. By my senior year, I was involved in a film fraternity, president of the South Asian Student Association, had a campus job, participated in Chapman News, and created my own radio show.

I wanted to do everything possible by the time I graduated. This way, I would have a clearer idea of what I wanted to pursue in my professional career.