On the evening of Oct. 22, Drew University alumni gathered in the Ehinger Center’s 1867 Lounge in order to meet with current Drew students to connect professionally and talk about possible future career paths.
Alumni from a variety of majors, ranging from theater to biology, were invited to attend this event by the Center for Career Development. Students were required to RSVP to the event through Handshake, a website that Drew frequently uses to post on-campus job openings and share networking events with current students.
At 6 p.m., before the general mixer, the Center for Civic Engagement hosted a Civic and Action Scholars alumni panel. Four alumni shared their experiences post-graduation and how their time volunteering at Drew impacted their career journeys. “I didn’t know I could make a career out of something I enjoyed so much,” said Kim Haupt (C‘23), now an Education and Garden Manager at Grow it Green Morristown.
The Civic and Action Scholars alumni also shared challenges they faced after getting out into the real world. They shared how they had struggled with people-pleasing and imposter syndrome when in a non-academic setting. Jose Barahona (C‘25) discussed how he found it difficult to wait for career opportunities when he had lost one that he had lined up after graduation, “I learned to be comfortable with not always being in motion.” For many Action Scholars, it can be hard to recognize when to give themselves time to breathe when they are constantly balancing classwork, extracurriculars and volunteering.
Starting at 6:30 p.m., students could sign in at the front table with the Career Center. Before going in and meeting alumni, the Career Center provided students with a packet which included a list of the alumni and which table they would be at based on the table’s number. There were also several conversation starters listed within the packet in order to help students get started when talking to the alumni.
While students and alumni conversed, they had the option to eat some light appetizers and refreshments set up by the pool tables.
Overall, the event had a big turn out student-wise, with many of them gaining more networking skills, career opportunities and guidance and advice on how to be successful during their remaining time at Drew.
The Center for Career Development is hosting a Drew Alumni Career Conversations panel on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Ehinger Center’s The Space. Check The Path for more information coming soon.
This article was a collaboration between Katie Germinder and Jaden Finn. Katie Germinder is a junior who is majoring in environmental studies and sustainability and minoring in anthropology. Jaden Finn is a sophomore who is majoring in environmental science and minoring in creative arts & technology.
