A Seat At The Table: Learning From Every Program - Haderah Phillips (Attending a career-related workshop: 2 points)

 Attending the Career Launch powered by Verizon, directed by Ms. Charla Armstead for the month of September, was a meaningful experience that helped me see my future in a clearer way. What made this program special was not only the information shared, but the feeling of connection created among students from every grade level from freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors all learning together in the same space. Meeting from 12 o'clock to 12:50pm every Thursday for a month in the Suites Private Dining Room, talking about career development skills, developing skills on creating professional emails messages to job recruiters, and being given a career development guidebook made the experience feel less overwhelming and more prepared in moving forward in our chosen careers. It did not feel like a lecture, but more like a conversation about life after college. Hearing professionals share their journeys showed me that success does not follow just one path. Their stories connected effort, patience, and growth, reminding me that everyone starts somewhere. What stood out most was being surrounded by students of different ages. Freshmen  as myself were full of curiosity, seniors shared confidence and experience, and everyone in between was figuring things out in their own way. This mix of perspective made the program feel supportive and encouraging. It reminded me that we are all moving forward together, just at different stages. Ms. Charla Armstead’s leadership brought everything together. The program felt organized, welcoming, and purposeful. The partnership with Verizon showed that people outside of Spelman College believe in our potential and want to invest in our futures. That support made the advice feel more powerful and motivating. By the end of the Career Launch, I felt inspired and more hopeful about what lies ahead. The event connected conversation, guidance, and community into one meaningful experience. It reminded me that learning about our future does not have to be stressful, instead it can start with simply sitting down, listening, and believing in what is possible.

-Haderah Phillips

-Haderah Phillips