In Chancellor Nancy Cantor’s opening note to students in the Syracuse Welcome 2012 booklet, she writes, “We are delighted to have you join us, and we promise you many opportunities to grow, learn and explore.”
She is absolutely correct. Any university, especially the one you have all chosen, provides innumerable chances to get involved and to push yourself toward your goals. In the next four years, you will learn a craft, find a job and hone some valuable skills.

Your classes help you achieve these goals. But the opportunities outside the classroom can prove to be just as valuable, if not more valuable. Though you need to attend classes, no one will force you to launch yourself headfirst into the other opportunities SU provides.

That’s on you.

Take advantage of what SU has to offer you. Attend the job fairs Career Services offers. Sign up for clubs that pique your interests at the Student Involvement Fair. Talk to your professors one on one, use their office hours and make a meaningful connection early on.

The Career Services internship fair in the fall semester is Sept. 25. An internship can sometimes help you decide which area of study is best for you. It is also never too early to start building experience for your resume. Career Services offers other valuable tools, including 15-minute drop-in sessions.

During your first week you will be bombarded by organizations. They will be on the Quad, in residence halls and in your classes angling for your extra-curricular time. It will be worthwhile to get involved. The experience from these clubs can help you find jobs and internships. They also provide countless networking opportunities.

In most cases, SU professors have worked as professionals in their fields. That means they likely still have contacts in the industry.

Find a teacher you admire in a profession you are interested in, and begin a relationship. It’s that simple. Professors are here to help you be successful.

The university provides the tools both in and out of required class time. The responsibility is on you to take advantage of them during your time here.

Published on August 21, 2012 at 8:08 pm

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