If you
Take a Triton to Work ...
Here ’ s what will happen : “ It takes away that fear factor . With our current students and recent grads , the career world may seem so foreign and daunting , but to get a look at a particular industry or just working life in general from a fellow Triton , they see someone thriving and know that it is possible for them , too .”
So says Paula Thomas ’ 87 , who has led four instances of the Take a Triton to Work program since its inception in spring 2019 , with more planned for later this year and spring 2022 . This collaboration between UC San Diego ’ s Alumni office and Career Center has become a thriving career exploration program , connecting over a thousand students with alumni for a quick chat over coffee , a few hours on the job , or , in the times of pandemic , a short video chat about their careers .
“ It ’ s a way alumni can give back in a very meaningful way ,” says Thomas . “ It ’ s a relatively low time commitment , but makes a profound impact on students who are just starting out in their professional lives .”
Prior to the pandemic , Roosevelt alumna Sarah Stawiski ’ 98 hosted two students at the Center for Creative Leadership , a global nonprofit where she is the director of insights and impact . Haleh Yazdi , a PhD student in experimental psychology , and Lauren Weiner , a PhD student in public health , both appreciated the personal connection . “ Sometimes you can read a job description and not know how your skills are transferable ,” Yazdi said . “ But to see and experience a company , even just for a few hours , and learn about the different roles from someone who knows is really helpful to visualize yourself in a position .”
The experience was also gratifying for Stawiski , who was happy to provide the kind of perspective that she would have benefitted from in her college days . “ When I was a student , I didn ’ t know what all the options were
20 TRITON | FALL 2021