College Experiences That Helped a Head of Exhibitions at UC Santa Cruz Succeed
Louise's approach to success emphasizes cultivating and maintaining relationships with mentors, not just professors but also "staff who worked in the studios or in the wood shop," who believed in their creativity and offered support. This involved reciprocity, giving back to others as these mentors had supported Louise, exemplified by the simple yet effective gesture of "sending thank you notes."
Mentorship, Networking, Communication, Building Relationships, Reciprocity
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Louise Leong
Head of Exhibitions
UC Santa Cruz Institute of the Arts and Sciences
University of California Santa Cruz, 2012
N/A
Fine Arts, Music
Arts, Entertainment & Media, Education
Operations and Project Management
LGBTQ, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Maintain relationships with mentors and professors: Cultivate strong relationships with professors, staff, and mentors who can support your growth and offer guidance throughout your academic journey and beyond. These relationships can provide valuable insights and opportunities.
2. Seek out mentors beyond professors: Don't limit your mentorship search to professors. Staff members in studios or workshops can also provide valuable support and insights.
3. Practice reciprocity: Once you are in a position to help others, remember to pay it forward by mentoring others, offering support, and expressing gratitude (e.g., thank-you notes). This creates a positive cycle of support and development.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I stayed in touch with professors and mentors. Not all my mentors were professors; in fact, most of them weren't. They were staff who worked in the studios or in the wood shop, and people who noticed my creativity and supported me along the way.
I think keeping in touch with people who are invested in you as a person is important. They care about what happens to you and want to be there as you're making big decisions in your life, not necessarily to weigh in, but just to be present. It's been really special to have these kind of lifelong mentors.
My teachers have always been my mentors. When I moved to college, I met many other people invested in my success, and that can also be your friends. Keeping in touch with people who believe in you is really important.
Reciprocity is also key, whether it's back to them or beyond. I had great mentors as a student, and I want to be able to provide that for other people. Sending thank you notes to people goes a long way, and people really appreciate it.
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