When I was brainstorming a new blog post, I thought I should switch things up and interview alumni who graduated last spring semester. The career section often highlights students who studied business, but does not really discuss other fields. As the new editor, I do not study business, and would like to add stories and lessons that students all over can take away. I wanted to change that and bring a fresh perspective to the Skidmore Career Section.
I reached out to Heba Saliman, an Egyptian-American from New York City who studied psychology. She is Egyptian-American from New York City. Her story stood out to me because like many psychology majors, her post-grad story is unique, and that’s what makes it worth sharing. I believe there is always something to learn from hearing other people’s journeys, even if their academic background is different from our own. Take what resonates with you in this interview, and I hope you find this insightful as I did.Â
What was your major (or field of study) and why did you choose it?
HS: I majored in Psychology and minored in Management and Business and the Honors Forum. I chose psychology because after taking an intro to psych class in freshman year, I was really intrigued by the experiments, such as the Stanford Prison Experiment (among many others), and wanted to pursue that interest. As a result, my most valuable experience in the psych major was the research I conducted with professors. I chose the Management and Business minor because I really enjoyed learning from Professor Dunn, who I had for my scribner seminar. He taught The American Immigrant Experience, which I loved and inspired me to take another one of his classes. I ended up enrolling in his MB107, which eventually led me to declare MB as my minor.
Are you working in a field related to your major?
HS: I am currently working as an Admissions Officer for Undergraduates at Johns Hopkins University. Having a degree in psychology and business is pretty vague, and it allows you to take on many different positions. I wouldn’t say it is very related, given that I am not directly using the content that I learned in marketing and statistics classes, for example; however, many of the soft skills that I accumulated from these fields have been extremely useful (time management, problem solving, presenting, etc.).
How is post-graduate life different from undergraduate life?Â
HS: The main difference between post-graduate life and undergraduate life is being able to have a work-life balance! When you are in undergrad, there are always assignments due, tests to study for, internships to apply for, and research to be conducted. Especially when you live on campus, I found it difficult to separate from my identity as a student. However, working a 9-5 means I can have set times that are unrelated to work! Additionally, something that I did not anticipate is the uncertainty of timelines in the professional world – I have full agency to control where I work and for how long. There’s no “expiration date” like the four years of undergrad. That just means I have to be continuously intentional and fully reflect on how much I want to move through positions vs. stay put indefinitely.
What is your favorite memory from your last year at college?
HS: My favorite memory of senior year was gathering everyone for a BBQ, music, and volleyball games at the sand court in Northwood apartments. Take advantage of having quick access to all your friends because it is likely that you will all be spread across a city, country, or globe!
I hope you all enjoyed reading about Heba’s experience. She is not currently pursuing any other degree, but who knows what the future holds. Her story is a reminder that not everyone’s post-graduate life looks the same. She moved to a new city, is working in a field that doesn’t directly tie with her major, and is making the most with every opportunity! We should all embrace change and stay open to what’s ahead. I am learning that once college is over, we all begin navigating life on our own terms. Â