The following guest post was written by CSF Alumnus Andrew Fernandez. He attended St. Leo School with a CSF Scholarship and is currently a junior at New York University, studying nursing. We asked him to share his advice to younger students on succeeding in college and internships.
How to Succeed in College & Internships!
By Andrew Fernandez
My name is Andrew Fernandez, and I am currently a nursing student at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, an HMHB organization. I am also a Community Affairs Coordinator for Men Entering Nursing, a student interest group at NYU; Secretary for the Undergraduate Nursing Student Organization, and a Health Educator for Plaza Del Sol Family Health Center. This summer, I will be working as a Nurse Extern for NYU Langone Medical Center Hospital for Joint Disease. Here are some tips that I have learned over the last three years of college:
To succeed not just academically, but to get on the path towards your dream career, I recommend students to take advantage of every opportunity – whether it is a paid internship, externship, or a volunteer initiative. And to make the most of these opportunities, I have three mantras: 1. break out of your comfort zone, 2. learn how to network, and 3. present yourself professionally!
Break out of your comfort zone.
With my current work as a Health Educator for the adolescent community, I advise each and every person to challenge themselves, break social anxiety trends, and get out of their comfort zones as much as possible. Students should speak to their peers, never be afraid to ask any questions, and definitely never be intimidated by others who have more experience than them in a specific field of interest. High school students should take the time spent in school to learn their likes and dislikes, interests and disinterests by getting involved in clubs/activities. Getting involved in these activities will help students understand what they might want to study when they move on to college. At NYU, I have learned that others respect you more for breaking out of your comfort zone and asking questions. Be a leader!
Learn how to network.
It is vital to take advantage of any conferences/trainings available to you to expand your network, stay ahead of current trends and technology, and learn new skill-sets or new methodologies to deepen your knowledge in the industry. I also advise college students to apply for as many scholarships as possible because funding is readily available and most just require a personal essay. Tell your story and make it resonate with the reader. It is also important to break the habit of going to school and going home – get involved on campus or outside of campus if you truly want to integrate yourself in your community, which is essential for networking.
Present yourself professionally.
It’s not just about dressing professionally but presenting yourself as someone people would want to work with! This also means looking and feeling healthy and energized! Self-care is very important and it is something that we underestimate. Go to the gym, sleep, eat as healthy as you can, read a book, dance to some music, attend a show, hang out with friends, talk on the phone, build your social platform – do things that you enjoy to relax and de-stress. I live by the statement “How are you supposed to take care of others if you do not take care of yourself?”