First Year Reflection
- The Experience, Margaret Benson ’23
As a first-year, I was new to campus, eager to experience college life and hoping to meet new people and make the most of my first semester. My first-year seminar was oriented around analytical thinking within economics. I found that most of my peers in this class had predetermined interests to pursue a degree in econ. I wasn’t quite there yet but I was curious about the lessons that would be covered. Fortunately, within this class, I was introduced to opportunities that would expand my knowledge on the topic. It’s how I found out about the Finance Cohort Career Action Program led by Director of Employer Engagement Cheryl Banker and Dean of Academic Support Noel Garrett. The cohort, a newly developed program, focused on career prep for roles in the financial services industry. I was aware that this industry was male-dominated, and joining the cohort was a friendly reminder of that. Positively, Cheryl alluded to the importance of my representation and encouraged me to feel confident about my role within the cohort. And it paid off.
As a first-year, I didn’t feel compelled to start thinking about my career post-grad.