The Importance of Exploring Opportunities and Having a Growth Mindset

Meet Olivia, a junior Sociology major, Peer Career Advisor, and Vice President of Collegiate Curls at the College of Charleston. Olivia is a great example of how to make the most of your time at college, both in and out of the classroom. With the upcoming Career Exploration and Graduate School Fair, I knew I had to feature Olivia’s story! 

I remember meeting Olivia as a first-year student – she was bubbly, engaged, and thoughtful – it was no surprise to me that by her junior year, she had revived a club on campus, became an orientation intern, and pleasantly, applied to work at the Career Center (with me!). 

From yoga and self-care, to spending time with friends and building community, Olivia has always looked for ways to get involved and grow. Let’s learn a bit more about Olivia’s experience as a Teach for America Ignite Teaching Fellow, in hopes that you feel inspired to explore new opportunities for your own goals and growth.  

Around this time last year, you were considering attending the Career Exploration and Graduate School Fair – what ultimately led you to attend? 

I was a sophomore at the time, and I just wanted to go out and explore more opportunities for self-growth. I was really excited to network with different employers. It was also a great opportunity for me to learn how to dress professionally and get comfortable greeting and talking to employers. 

How did you prepare for the Career Fair and how did that help lead you to your opportunity as an Ignite Teaching Fellow with Teach for America?  

I prepared for the career fair by researching some of the companies that were going to be there first. I also searched online for some possible questions I could ask the employers to start conversation and stand out. Researching how to greet and communicate with these companies led me to finding the internship opportunity. 

Reflecting on your experience in your Ignite Teaching Fellow role, what is one skill you would say deserves an A+ that you learned or developed?  

I learned how to develop patience. Working with third graders you must have a lot of patience and understand they do not know what I already know. I took this as a lesson to take my time teaching them the lesson plans and stepping into their shoes by learning with them. 

As a Sociology major with an interest in social work and family therapy, how did this experience help you make progress towards your own career goals? 

The Ignite Fellow experience aided in my progression towards my career goals in social work and family therapy by allowing me to gain interpersonal skills. This is needed to better connect with people on a deeper level. 

If you were to share a piece of advice with our current Cougars learning to explore and develop their own path, what would it be? 

“Listen more, talk less”. This is especially important in professional settings because it can be better to listen to others’ experiences, lessons, and gain insights to progress as an individual. 

For students who aren’t sure it’s worth going to the Career Exploration Fair, what would you tell them? 

I would tell them any time spent connecting with others; especially employers, is worth it. If I hadn’t gone, I wouldn’t have been able to build my resume and gain experience working with elementary students. It was an amazing opportunity I have never regretted.  

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You read it here, everyone! Even if you aren’t sure about trying something new, keep an open mind, explore, and invest in your own growth to see where opportunities may lead you. 

We’ll see you at the Career Exploration Fair! 

Maura 

To learn more about the Teach for America Ignite program, additional opportunities, and employers, please visit the “Fall 2025 Career Exploration and Graduate School Fair” under the “Events” tab on your Handshake account!