How Being A Transfer Student Has Influenced A Career Counselor's Career At Cal Poly SLO
Travis's experience as a transfer student significantly impacted their career path, initially leading to feelings of "not hav[ing] a sense of belonging" and delaying their bachelor's degree. However, late involvement in campus activities and an internship ultimately led to the realization that "there are people that get paid to talk to college students about their career dreams," inspiring their career as a career counselor and a deeper appreciation for their role.
Higher Education, Transfer Students, Career Counseling, Sense of Belonging, Overcoming Challenges
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Travis Raynaud
Career Counselor
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Masters in Counseling and Guidance for Higher Education
Psychology
Coaching, Speaking & Writing, Education
Education
Pell Grant Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Highlight 1: The speaker's experience as a transfer student significantly impacted their career path. Initially feeling unsuccessful and lacking a sense of belonging at a previous institution, they later found success and community at Cal Poly, leading them to appreciate the value of career counseling and their own role as a career counselor.
2. Highlight 2: The speaker emphasizes the importance of community and belonging in a college environment. Their delayed involvement at Cal Poly highlights how these factors can influence both academic success and career exploration. Only after becoming actively involved during their senior year did they discover their passion for supporting students.
3. Highlight 3: The speaker's journey demonstrates the potential for non-linear career paths. Their initial setbacks and eventual success highlight that career decisions can evolve and that past experiences, even negative ones, can shape future aspirations and career choices positively.
Transcript
Here's the cleaned transcript:
**Q13: How identity impacted career**
As a transfer student, how has that impacted or navigated your career?
Being a transfer student significantly impacted how I got into my career as a career counselor. I went to community college and worked. After that, I transferred to a four-year institution down south in California, but I wasn't successful there.
I didn't feel a sense of community at that university and didn't have a sense of belonging, so I had to leave. All those steps delayed me pursuing my bachelor's degree.
I finally applied to finish my last two years at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. I was a little gun-shy, as I didn't know how to navigate a four-year institution after having failed once. I had always worked a lot in community college, so by the time I got to Cal Poly, I didn't get involved.
I just went to class because I didn't know how to do anything else. This meant I missed out on opportunities to form community, feel pride in my university, and give back. It wasn't until my senior year, after spending one whole year at Cal Poly, that I was forced into an on-campus internship.
A faculty member asked me to step into a club position. These experiences, being assigned an internship and asked to be in a club, forced me to be on campus with my peers in the evening and attend social events. Suddenly, I realized how amazing it was; there were so many cool things happening on campus, and I was making friends.
I think that's a huge reason why I chose to be a career counselor. It was like, "Oh, there are people who get paid to talk to college students about their career dreams, answer career questions, and support them." Now I see that because I was forced to do that as a transfer student, it made the process that much sweeter when I finally figured it out.
Being a transfer student definitely impacted my career, but it made me appreciate the opportunity to be a career counselor that much more.