College Experiences That Helped A Vice President Of Philanthropic Strategies At United Way Of San Diego County Succeed
Katie, a VP at United Way, feels that during college, survival was the main focus and the goal was "just to finish," but a turning point came when applying for a grant to fund the last semester, emphasizing the importance of keeping "that eye of opportunity out" because one never knows who you're going to meet or what opportunities may arise, even from professors or unknown grants.
Overcoming Challenges, Financial Literacy, Resourcefulness, Opportunity Recognition, Resilience
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Katie Khaism-San
VP Philanthropic Strategies
United Way of San Diego County
SDSU & Springfield College
Humanities, Business Management & Admin
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Communication and Marketing
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Persistence and hard work are valuable even when your initial career path changes.
2. Seeking out opportunities like grants can be crucial for overcoming obstacles.
3. Networking with professors and being aware of available resources can open doors.
Transcript
What did you do in college to set you up for success?
Honestly, I don't think I did anything that special. I feel like I was just trying to survive. I was working and just trying to do what I had to do.
I told you I actually picked a different industry, so it just shows that if you pick a different industry and you're just working really hard, the goal is, for me, just to finish. There was a turning point when I was paying for my own college and I couldn't afford that last semester.
I applied for a grant, and by doing that, I was able to continue and finish. So, the point is, always keep an eye out for opportunities because you never know who you're going to meet in school. You never know who your professors are or what other opportunities or grants you should look into.
There are a lot of grant opportunities out there that people don't even know of. I think that was probably the only thing that really took me to the next level to help me finish.