For the majority of us, the courses we register for (and for the most part attend) are preparing us for our inevitable entry into the post-graduation job market.
But the path isn’t as direct for everyone. In the case of a few recent Boston University grads, the time they dedicated to extracurriculars proved to be more influential to their careers than the twelve hours they spent in class each week.
In particular, a number of BU students are finding the career offerings traditionally advertised on idealist.org to be more appealing than any entry-level coffee/copy job.
ELEMENTARY POLITICS
Twenty-two-year-old Maylien Herm stands in front of her classroom at Maxwell Elementary school and tries to teach her students — a pack of first graders who barely speak the same language as Herm — how to read.
Herm was not a Spanish, linguistics or even an education major. Rather, when she picked up her diploma from BU last spring, she received her Bachelor of Arts in political science.
But, instead of rubbing elbows with senators and congressmen in Washington, D.C. after graduation, Herm moved to Montbello, Colorado — a low-income community near Denver — to work for Teach for America.
Herm said she discovered her interest in teaching through volunteer work with the BU Community Service Center.
“I have to admit that my life at BU was largely life in the CSC and some class on the side,” she said. “My work in the CSC shaped choices that I made to end up where I am.”
Specifically, her experiences working with children were enough to prompt her to pursue a career outside of her field of study after graduation.
“Working with different programs [through the CSC] that involved children made me realize what kind of work would make me happy,” she said.
Herm only took a few education classes at BU — she never transferred into the School of Education because her decision to teach came late in her career here. Either way, her academics became hobbies in comparison to her volunteer activities. She maintains that she learned her best lessons outside the classroom.
“If people think doing well in class is going to make them happy in college, I would love to challenge them to see more of what the school offers,” she said. “The CSC is not the only organization that makes people think outside of themselves and be more aware of the world around them. BU is huge and there are so many ways to learn about the things no class can teach you.”
In changing her aspirations from political science to education, Herm changed her definition of success, as well. For her, success came from challenging herself.
“Work that is challenging is the only work worth doing,” she said.
AN ENGLISH MAJOR’S FIRST BOOK
When she graduated last May, Rachel Collins had no intentions of pursuing a corporate future.
“I just ended up here by chance,” she said, “learning the ropes of the corporate world and nonprofit organizations.”
The 23-year-old former English major realized there was more to her studies than Shakespeare and good grammar. During her undergraduate years, she participated in BU’s Initiative for Literacy Development and the siblings program through the CSC.
In this time, Collins became haunted by the idea that a number of children are illiterate because they don’t have access to reading materials.
Now, Collins is a campus advisory board manager for the nonprofit organization First Book, where she works with corporate officials, literary organizations and volunteers around the country to provide reading materials to low-income families.
In her job, she works with BU on a new level.
“BU is one of the biggest schools in the city and they have the resources,” said Collins. “It would be great for BU to represent more of a literacy cause . . . It is really important for BU to step up their participation.”
Collins, who was not aware that First Book had a BU chapter during her college years, regrets not being involved while enrolled at BU. Current president of BU’s First Book chapter Yesmin Cure, a CAS junior, said she is working on increasing involvement in the chapter.
“We’re trying to come up with some events that will be fun for the members and the kids,” Cure said, “but we have to really concentrate our efforts in fundraising to provide the kids with as many books as possible.”
SUBSIDIZED HOUSING: A SCIENTIFIC PROCESS
Scott Parker is another whose life little reflects what’s on his diploma.
“When I was in college I didn’t know what I wanted to do long term, and I still don’t,” said Parker.
The 2006 alum, who majored in physics, now works for HomeStart, Inc. as a housing search advocate, helping shelter residents find permanent housing.
“My senior year was really the first time I started thinking about my career path,” Parker said. “The CSC played a very big role in my decision to go into nonprofit because I enjoyed my volunteer experiences so much . . . I learned that although it’s important to do well in school, many of the jobs out there only care if you have a degree or not — the only things listed on my resume were my extracurriculars.”
While Parker plans on going back to school, he is certainly finished with his education in physics.
“I don’t really want to get my PhD in physics,” said Parker, “but I have been considering going back to school, although I am not sure what for. I would like to still do something in nonprofit or along those lines.”
PROFITING FROM NONPROFITS
Although they admit that financial anxiety may turn some young professionals away from a career in nonprofits, these non-profit employees say the worth of their work is greater than any compensation.
“You know the nonprofit world isn’t for everyone and the corporate world definitely isn’t for everyone,” said Viral Sheth, a 2007 CAS graduate who now works as a volunteer recruitment coordinator for Community Servings meal delivery organization. “However, one of the biggest misconceptions is that you cannot make a living working for a nonprofit. This is the furthest thing from the truth.”
According to Sheth, nonprofit organizations can offer competitive wages and great benefits, just as any other business. But,
Sheth does say he has bigger plans for the future. “You can’t be a volunteer recruiter all your life,” he said.
With a background in economics and business administration, Sheth says it can be hard to take the heat from others about his nonprofit work.
“Life is full of surprises and that’s part of the excitement,” said Sheth. “I am a firm believer of doing what makes you happy. Don’t listen to those who doubt you, and if you want it bad enough and work hard enough, you’ll get it.”
This is the same reasoning Herm uses in deciding to stick with teaching, even when times get rough.
“I am happy,” she said. “Every time . . . it gets hard, I ask myself if there is anything else I could see myself doing, and the answer is always no. I know that [because I am a] teacher in a school with students and families that are forced to deal with tougher issues than I ever could have dreamed of as a child.”