Development: Student Activities » Where Are They Now Speaker Series

Where Are They Now Speaker Series

Our Where Are They Now Series connects current students with Alumni to explore educational and career opportunities after graduation from the Schermerhorn Program.

 

Taking place throughout the academic year, students meet with Alum virtually or in person for 45-minute interviews. Informal in nature, Alums provide an overview of their college experience, including lessons learned, job search and interviewing tips, and how to advocate for appropriate accommodations in the workplace or while pursuing a degree at a college or university. 

 

Starting this dialogue early is imperative to supporting students as they work to succeed in their endeavors and become independent adults. As not all students wish to attend college, these conversations provide insight on alternate paths to launching a successful career that can ensure their financial independence as adults. 

 

We are grateful to the alums who generously share their time and insight with us for the betterment of our students, and we invite all to join us on LinkedIn by following this link:

 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-york-institute-for-special-education/.

 

In doing so, Alum can increase awareness about their work and career paths for those who are blind and visually impaired. 

Below is a list of questions compiled from students during past interviews, offering a glimpse into their mindset as they plan for their future. 

 

Who Questions

Who were your favorite teachers, and why?

 

What Questions 

What was your least favorite class during high school?

What was your favorite class during high school?

What do you wish you did more of during high school?

What programs should students be taking advantage of during high school?

What was your high school experience like?

 

How Questions

How did high school prepare you for college?

How did you find an internship?

How did you learn about academic subjects not taught in school?

How Questions

How did you find your job?

How would I find a job like yours?

How can networking help you get a job?

How do you like your job?

How hard is your type of job?

 

Who Questions

Who helps you the most?

Who is your role model?

Who is your biggest supporter?

Who helped you find your job?

 

What Questions  

What was your first job?

What is it like to interview for a job?

What do you put on your resume?

What is the job market like in your area of study?

What helped you decide what to do for a career?

What made you decide to follow your career path?

What is the difference between a job and a career?

What do you plan to do in the future?

What do you expect to achieve in the future?

 

Why Questions 

Why is writing important in college and in finding a job?

Why is math important in college and finding a job?

Why is asking questions at a job interview important?

Why can it be helpful to have an internship before getting a job?

What can an informational interview be a good first step to finding a job?

 

How Questions

How hard is your career path?

How do you find help when you need it?

How old were you when you decided what to do as a career?

 

Did/Do Questions

Do you work on a team with others or by yourself?

Do you volunteer?

Did you take a break between high school and college?

Did you find it hard to do all your work at college?

Did you know what you wanted to do for a career?

How Questions 

How much do you have to study?

How many classes do you have to take?

How do you find your way around campus?

How did you choose where to go to college?

How did you know what you wanted to major in?

How did you know what colleges were out there?

How do you adapt from living at home to living at college?

How hard is college, and how can you find help when needed?

How did you advocate for yourself to get what you needed for your classes?

How many other students do you meet who are blind or visually impaired?

 

What Questions 

What was your major?

What was your minor?

What is it like living in a dorm?

What is it like to be in college?

What degree did you graduate with?

What is the point of going to college?

What is it like living with a roommate?

What does being teachable mean to you?

What skills for independence do students need for college?

What advice do you have for students who want to go to college?

What advice do you have for those applying to college right now?

What advice do you have for those going to college next year?

What challenges did you face in college, and how did you overcome them?

 

Where Questions 

Where did you go to college?

Where do you buy your books?

 

Why Questions

Why did you choose the college you went to?

Why did you choose to go to college?

Why did you choose your major (or minor)?

 

Did/Do Questions

Did you have a dream college?

Did you tour a college in person?

Did you have a mentor in college?

Did anyone help you research where to go to college?

Did anyone help you fill out your college application?

Did you do any internships while in college? If so, how many and where?

 

Who Questions

Who told you what classes to take?

NYISE students graduate and move on to colleges and universities in the tri-state area, including:

 

  • Brooklyn College
  • Hostos Community College
  • Molloy University
  • Marymount Manhattan College
  • Rockland Community College
  • School of Visual Arts Filmmaking
  • Stony Brook, Fine Arts Program
  • SUNY Purchase, Fine Arts Program
  • Queens College

Stay Connected

Join our mailing list by following this link: 

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/QsNgWx9/signup.

Connect with us on Instagram @NYISE999 by following this link:

https://www.instagram.com/nyise999/?hl=en

Connect with us on LinkedIn by following this link:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/new-york-institute-for-special-education/