CALLA JORDAN / CONTRIBUTOR

An inevitable consequence of going to college is that, at some point, the journey must come to an end. And with that, students must jump-start their careers and lives outside of USD’s campus. While some students choose to go to graduate school, or immediately dive into the working world, some Toreros have chosen to step outside the lines of convention, navigating their postgraduate experience with the thrill of the unexpected.

USD alum Carmen Grey initially imagined herself applying to graduate or law school programs throughout her senior year. However, the early graduate’s busy school schedule and thrilling college adventures prompted a different path. Grey decided not to rush into pursuing another degree right away and to venture outside of what’s deemed predictable. 

“I was looking for a way to travel after graduation,” Grey said. “When I talked to my professors from the political science department [at USD] they encouraged me to look into fellowships … service work usually focused on giving you a chance to build skills in the humanitarian world.”

Grey was accepted to a fellowship  from  Volunteers in   Asia,   partnered   with   the   nonprofit Suwandi Foundation, located in Bali, Indonesia. Grey oversees volunteer programs within the organization, and works with passionate college volunteers.

USD professors helped Grey navigate her fellowship research, and taught her that spending time abroad surrounded by new people and culture would further expand her education.

“We spent a lot of time talking about the ethics of volunteering in another country,” Grey shared. “I wanted to make sure that I was engaging in work that was not exploitative, didn’t promote white saviorism and that was genuinely beneficial to the community I was joining.”

Many  students  feel encouraged throughout their experience at USD to seek out what works for them, rather than following a standard path. According to Senior Director of the USD Career Development Center Matt Yepez, career readiness resources are not only built around finding jobs and internships, but also discovery.

“We’re here to share that it’s really okay to not have all the answers and to really lean into exploration,” Yepez shared.  “Our team of career counselors are leading  with  such  a  culture  of  care,  helping students not just with how to tactically handle a job search, but also trying to explore options.”

The Career Development Center offers a number of assessments centered around career exploration for students to take, and sessions with counselors aiming to unpack students’ interests, values and goals. Yepez highlighted the importance of individualized help for USD students, as everyone’s paths and career goals are different. 

“Students are wanting to see that the work that they’re doing is making a difference,” Yepez shared. “Having that compass of what’s important to them and starting that conversation earlier can really help because these aspects may vary based on everyone.”

History Department Chair Ryan Abrecht, PhD, encourages students to take time before jumping into their professional careers. He highlighted the impact that unique experiences are to a person’s growth.

“I think  everyone should take a  gap year, or teach  English abroad  or  do  something  like AmeriCorps,” Abrecht shared. “I think  it’s  hugely  valuable for  people  to  see  that  there’s more than just school then job, or this kind of linear path that you must walk.”

Prior to becoming a professor, Abrecht considered a variety of other career paths. His love for gardening led him to consider a career in landscape architecture. After getting his undergraduate degree, Abrecht moved to Colorado and worked at a ski resort with a college friend. His path to becoming a USD professor was built on a variety of twists and turns, ultimately leading him back to his love of history and intellectual freedom.

Many students nearing graduation share the same ambition to look beyond convention     and     find   a   career     path     uniquely     fitting to their  individual   passions.    Some   alumni  from    the    USD    community embrace the unconventional opportunities that present themselves and emphasizes that there is no prescribed path for everyone to follow.

Some alumni participate in volunteer experiences abroad after graduating from USD.  @suwandifoundation/Instagram