When I was 4 years old, I wanted to be a dentist. why? It’s because of Hermey, the elf from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Since then, I’ve considered firefighting, law, and becoming a fairy princess, but ultimately settled on my last internship in college. Now that they’re in their third year, everyone seems to be thinking about their lives, and even though it’s only September, everyone seems to have found their dream internship with a job offer.
I’ve been avoiding it for weeks. My apartment is spotless and I watched all three seasons of Love Island. Then, one fateful evening, I received an email.
“Dear Carolina community,” they taunted, detailing promising career prospects, “to help, we’ve launched the UNC Career Hub.”
Unfortunately, when I clicked on the website and saw a ton of resources, I realized it was official. There are no more excuses. It’s time to look for a summer internship.
Now, I’ve been pretty frustrated with UNC’s web pages. ConnectCarolina makes you want to throw your computer against a wall. I’m honestly hoping to have a similar experience with this new development, and use this as an excuse to take a trusted approach of stressing about my future and doing nothing about it. I was hopeful that I could start watching “New Girl” again. Unfortunately, Tar Heels, the new UNC Career Hub is extremely organized and frustratingly smooth-running.
Honestly, the process of not only deciding on your career but also taking the steps to make it happen can be quite daunting, especially when you think about everything else you have on your plate as a college student. Career Hub offers a way to make those first steps a little more manageable. No matter where you are in the process of mapping your future, resources are available to meet you where you are and help you get closer to where you want to be.
The website organizes a variety of options by area, including resume writing, career coaching, and salary negotiation practice. One of the more helpful resources I have found is networking opportunities. Students at large universities can sometimes feel like they’re a small fish in a big pond. The reality is that when UNC commits to student-centered resources in this way, the opportunities that come from such a large network are endless.
I can’t say I’m having the best time of my life on my new internship journey, but I will admit that the kind of resources and networks provided here make me a proud Tar Heel. I’m as excited about this new career-focused website as you are. It’s the kind of excitement that makes you think, “Wow, we really are Public Ivy!”
UNC gives all students the opportunity to pursue their passions in a unique and elite environment. We hope your passion is based on more than just cartoon elves, but now is exactly the time in your life to expand your horizons and try something new and exciting. So my advice is: Your career is important and you should take advantage of Career Hub, but it will save you a lot of effort, so use all your free time to try being a fairy princess first.
