College Experiences That Helped A Serna Center Coordinator At Sacramento State Succeed
To set up for career success in college, Saray emphasized "taking advantage of every opportunity presented" and overcoming fear by doing things anyway, combined with actively practicing self-advocacy by asking a million questions to get clarity on how to reach goals. Saray highlights that asking for help and using available resources, even as a professional, is crucial for both personal growth and contributing to the overall team success.
Self-Advocacy, Resourcefulness, Questioning, Opportunity, Teamwork
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Saray Aguirre
Serna Center Coordinator
California State University, Sacramento
CSU, Sacramento
CSU, Sacramento - MA in Education (Higher Educational Leadership & Policy Studies)
Anthropology, Sociology
Education
Education
HSI Grad, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Taking advantage of every opportunity presented, even if it means doing things scared, and asking a million questions.
2. Self-advocacy, reaching out and asking for clarification and guidance on how to achieve goals.
3. Utilizing resources, including asking for help from coworkers and not being afraid to admit when you don't know something.
Transcript
What did you do in college to set you up for success in your career?
I took advantage of every opportunity presented to me. I did things scared, even if it meant doing them scared, but I did them and asked a million questions.
Self-advocacy truly changed my trajectory in my sophomore year. If I hadn't reached out and asked for clarification, asking how I could get here, how I could get there, and what I needed, my path would have been different.
Asking questions is one of the easiest things someone can do, though it's easier said than done. If you get a "no," that's okay; go to the next person. Having the courage to ask questions helps you get where you need to go.
Don't take things personally, and use your resources. It's okay to ask for help. Even as a professional, we don't know everything, and that's okay. Making sure people understand this is a huge step forward.
Tap into your resources, like your coworkers. If you don't know something, go talk to someone who might be an expert. This ensures you're doing your job to the best of your abilities. When we all get our jobs done, it's easier for the whole team at the end of the day. These are some of the things that have instrumentally helped my career.