College Experiences That Helped an Upward Bound Project Director at an Education Non Profit Succeed
To prepare for a career in nonprofit education and youth development, Lidia "tried a little bit of everything," including mentoring students of various ages, volunteering, and working as a teaching assistant. This approach, combined with proactive research and networking, allowed Lidia to gain experience and determine their career path before committing to a specific role after graduation.
Career Exploration, Youth Development, Mentorship, Nonprofit, Higher Education
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Lidia Alfaro Chavez
Project Director III, Upward Bound
Education Non-Profit
UCLA, 2014
Pepperdine University, MA Social Entrepreneurship & Change, 2017
Anthropology, Sociology
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Operations and Project Management
Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Greek Life Member, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Explore diverse roles in education and youth development to find your niche.
2. Network with professionals in the field and seek mentorship to gain insights and guidance.
3. Plan and prepare thoroughly before committing to a specific career path to ensure a good fit for your interests and skills.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I tried a little bit of everything. In terms of education and youth development, I was a mentor for different grade levels. I also did some volunteer research.
I volunteered and worked with elementary, middle, and high school students for a period of time. Additionally, I was a TA for a first-year experience class. I really dabbled, read, learned, and talked to others in the industry and people I looked up to, asking them questions.
All of this helped me become better informed. I am someone who likes to plan. I was a planner as an undergrad and I'm a planner now. I like to prepare myself as much as possible for what I'm about to go into.
This helps me determine if it's truly what I want to pursue. As an undergrad, I did research and gained experience in my own way. This was so that once I entered a role after college, I would have a more firm grasp on whether I liked it and if it was something I wanted to stick with, or if I might want to jump into a different industry.