Many of us entered Lawrence with a specific major in mind. While some students are fortunate to stick to their major, some are destined to change their minds several times.This is, after all, America — the land of the free and the home of the value menu. While at Lawrence, we have the ability to test out different options, but we all know that one day we will have to choose.
Can you imagine if there were no options? What if the first career we picked was the only career choice we would ever have? Luckily, there are an infinite number of possibilities, and while one day I hope to settle on one, I am glad to have so many opportunities to test drive until I figure things out.
It is strange the opportunities that come from the simplest acts. I took a trip to the Milwaukee 7 (the seven counties of southeastern Wisconsin: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha) last February, and because I took the opportunity to write an article about my experiences, I received a second expenses-paid trip which I took over reading period this year.
Over the course of the combined two weekends, I gained a handful of business cards, a live interview on the Sunday morning news, and many quotes in publications like Midwest Airlines in-flight magazine.
On the most recent trip, I met former Governor Tommy Thompson, dined with many successful businessmen and women who do the things I want to be doing, live in places I want to be living (and make the money I want to be making), and gained an internship with the World Trade Center of Wisconsin.
For the college student and future graduate, the Milwaukee 7 is a Mecca of networking opportunities without the hassles of the more commonly known metros of New York and Chicago.
Take every opportunity that you can — utilize the resources that we are fortunate to have on campus (like the Career Center) and seek opportunities that may otherwise elude you. It just may provide the start to the future you only dreamed possible.