By Allison Marshall (LFNC Fellow – Shallotte)
February 13, 2020
Last week, I attended the N.C. State College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS) career fair with our Executive Director, Dylan Russell. However, this time I was attending my alma mater’s event as a recruiter rather than as a student, and what a surreal feeling that was! One year ago, I was in these students’ shoes: searching for and applying to jobs, networking, and stressing over trying to figure out my post-graduate plans. Fast forward twelve months and I am now living the legacy of Lead for North Carolina in real time and serving a community I treasure so dearly.
This event was incredibly exciting for me since I am a proud alumna of N.C. State and CHASS. I had reached out to Dylan about attending this event together as a way to continue building our base and reaching a wider audience. Since we are still a newer program, it is important for us to broaden our exposure and connect with as many people as possible. The CHASS career fair is a great event that gives students of all ages an opportunity to meet and network with recruiters from companies and organizations in a variety of industries, from police departments to state agencies to non-profits and everything in between.
We had actually lucked out at the event and were placed at one of the best tables in the house that faced directly toward the ballroom’s entrance. For the next four hours, we were able to meet with dozens of students who expressed a genuine and enthusiastic interest in our program. Speaking on behalf of both myself and Dylan, I can say that was a pretty awesome feeling. We even had a few students who knew all about Lead for North Carolina before coming to the career fair and were prepared with questions.
Returning to N.C. State in this recruiter role meant a lot to me. This university gave me so many memories, experiences, and invaluable resources that will stay with me forever. I was able to speak passionately about my love for LFNC and N.C. State and truly relate to all of the students I talked to. This program is growing fast and it is so inspiring to see so many students express an authentic excitement, passion, and love for this state and our communities.
To the students we met with at N.C. State, the students who have already applied, and the students we have yet to meet, I want to leave you with this bit of advice. Hold onto your passions and your dreams, and believe in your ability to change the world. Never stop making those connections and inspiring others to follow in your lead. As a current Fellow, I can promise you that this program truly works, and we are working on projects that are improving our communities. Apply today and join us in improving North Carolina one community at a time!
