Category Archives: People and Interviews

Meet Your Hosts Ryan ’10 and Kathryn ’15

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Welcome back! This week we wanted to take an opportunity to properly introduce ourselves as the hosts of Afterword.

One of the major reasons we started this blog was to help recent graduates feel accompanied on their journeys through the real world, and gain advice from fellow alums along the way. In other words, if you aren’t sure what’s next, you are definitely not alone.

We have a recurring series on here called “My First Year Out” in which we interview a recent alum about what they were up to in their first year out of UVM.

This week, we are going to tell our own first year out stories, and give some helpful tips on what we learned along the way. Stay tuned in future weeks for more posts like this from other recent alums.

Now, on to our stories…

Kathryn Meader ’15

Describe your first year out.

When I graduated from UVM in May 2015, I had absolutely no plan.

Well, that’s not entirely true. I had a part time job at Macy’s working in the stock room, and enough cash to justify staying in Vermont while I began my search for a full time position. Within a month, I was working full time at Macy’s and with every closing shift I knew that retail was not for me.

When a Development Assistant position opened at the UVM Foundation, I decided to apply for it – A change of pace. I know I wouldn’t have gotten that job without the encouragement/advice of one of my mentors. When I took that position, I told myself I would keep that job for a full year. Then I would allow myself to think about grad school, or where I wanted my career to go from there. When I began my job search again, I realized how much I had grown in my time at the Foundation.

I was thrilled this spring when I was approached about moving into the Assistant Director of Annual Giving position. I’ve loved living in Vermont post UVM, and welcomed an opportunity to continue my life here.

What was your biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it?

I think my biggest challenge after graduation was my own indecisiveness. Once I left the security of college, there was a moment when it hit me – no one was in charge of me.

No one was expecting anything of me. For the first time, I actually felt as though I had absolutely no structure to my life. School had always been easy, and something that I excelled at. Because it was easy, I was never forced to make any real decisions.

Suddenly, I was faced with a world of choices, and no real rudder for what I wanted to do. It took a long time, and a significant amount of realizing what I DIDN’T want.

This is a challenge I think we are all grappling with, on one level or another. There are people in the world who have known since they were small what they wanted for their career. But, I am not that person – most people aren’t. We all sometimes need to learn to give ourselves the time to really learn about what we want.

In the end, I overcame this challenge by learning to give myself a break.Hear that? Give yourself a break.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

Try not to be afraid to ask people for help/advice.

What are you doing now, and what are you looking at next?

Well, having just started my new position with the Annual Giving team two months ago, I’m really excited to learn all there is to learn about the world of fundraising and annual giving. I am especially excited to enter this world from the perspective of a recent graduate, because I think that will give me important insight into the way that younger potential donors feel about fundraising projects, and how to best engage with a growing population of young UVM grads.

I want to help make sure that young alums feel engaged with UVM, and continue to have positive interactions with the Foundation.

Ryan Chartier ’10

Describe your first year out.

Like Kathryn, I had no plan.

But I did think about my very first move after school ended. Sometime during senior year I decided I would move back home with my parents after college and work for a while to save up money. I was REALLY broke all throughout my last year at UVM trying to pay for rent etc, so I worked a few jobs to make ends meet and kept a positive attitude.

The idea of saving money up to move somewhere on my own eventually seemed like a good idea. Graduate school was in my future, but honestly I didn’t think too much about how I would realize that plan.

I spent most of the year working, saving up money and visiting Burlington to see friends once in a while. Where I grew up in Western Massachusetts, there wasn’t a lot to do and most of my high school friends had moved away, so honestly it was kind of boring and I regretted my decision.

I spent a lot of evenings reading and watching TV shows, specifically watching all nine seasons of the X-Files, so if I happen to mention the X-Files a lot, it’s been burned into my brain.

In the early winter I applied to grad school and really wanted to just go back to Burlington and UVM so that’s what happened. Hooray!

What was your biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it?

My biggest challenge was thinking that I NEEDED to do something with my degree. Since I was an English major, the possibilities are pretty broad and not that specific, so that’s why I went for an advanced degree.

Another challenge was just believing in myself and that I could make something happen if I just got my foot in the door somewhere. The ‘real world’ feels like an ocean of limitless depth that you can find yourself lost in, so really narrowing down what I wanted to do was a big challenge.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

I would say don’t move home, unless you have an internship opportunity in that location. Go somewhere you really want to live with your friends, even if you have to rough it for a while.

Also, don’t rush. Like Kathryn said, give yourself a break.

Take a minute to enjoy life and remember that you just spent four years or more bettering your education and preparing for an independent life. Enjoy that independence. Keep moving forward.

What are you doing now, and what are you looking at next?

Currently I am working as Assistant Director of Annual Giving at the Foundation where I work in development and keep alums better connected to UVM by doing personal outreach and fundraising.

Recently I took on some new responsibilities in my job so I am looking forward to getting on the road to meet more UVM alums and gaining more development experience. Later this summer I will be taking a vacation to Denver and New Mexico to see some places I have never been.

Win a Pair of Red Sox Tickets! + Welcome Kathryn Meader ’15 to Afterword

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Remember when we politely asked you to make a gift to UVM and get argyle socks in return?

Well, we kind of went crazy with all sock-related stuff last month and have a free pair of Boston Red Sox tickets to raffle off.

That’s right. A free pair of Red Sox tickets!!

The game is on Saturday, August 5th and it’s Vermonter Day at Fenway. There’s a pre-game reception with other UVM alums and the game starts at 7:10pm.

You may love the Red Sox or hate them (I’m not sure there’s an in-between) — either way, this is a sweet giveaway.

But before you enter our raffle, even more big news!

We have a new co-host on the blog, Class of 2015 alum and Boston native Kathryn Meader.

So as you can see from the picture, she actually has the tickets.

Wait? Another host? Yep.

Kathryn joined our team as Assistant Director of Annual Giving at the Foundation, and as a recent UVM grad, we thought, who better to help host the blog?

If you want to learn more about Kathryn, check out this week’s post for the 2017ers where she tells her “my first year out” story.

We are really ramping up for an exciting time here at Afterword, so stay tuned!

And now, without further ado…go ahead and enter the raffle for Red Sox tickets!

MFYO – Sammie Ibrahim ’16

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Today, we have another edition of My First Year Out!

Our featured grad this week is Sammie Ibrahim– she is the recipient of a Fulbright research grant, and is currently abroad in Kazakhstan! Since she went abroad after graduation, you could call this more of a “MFYO – Abroad edition.”

 

How did you get to where you are, and how did you get involved in your area of academic focus?

I applied for a Fulbright research grant the fall of my senior year with the encouragement and support of the UVM Office of Fellowships Advising and my academic mentors. I found out the following April that I was awarded the grant. Since November, I’ve been conducting research on labor migrant communities in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

 

Did you study abroad as an undergrad? If so, how has this experience been different?

I studied abroad my junior year in neighboring Kyrgyzstan for 8 months. There are a lot of similarities between my study abroad experience and my current Fulbright experience in the sense that both countries have a lot in common culturally, historically, and linguistically. However, I didn’t have the same struggles with culture shock or communication like the first time I traveled to Central Asia.

The biggest difference has been the amount of independence and control I have over my schedule on a day-to-day basis. When you study abroad, you generally have a structured schedule and a built-in social network and support system through a host-family, classes, fellow study abroad students, and your host institution. Since coming to Kazakhstan, I’ve had to build that structure and network completely from scratch, which has been frustrating and gratifying in equal parts. The beauty of a Fulbright research grant is that you are your own boss and there’s no one looking over your shoulder…at least for 10 months, that is.

 

What about your UVM Experience inspired you to continue your studies?

I was involved with several research projects related to migration and refugee resettlement during my time at UVM with Prof. Pablo Bose in the Geography Department. I’ve had longstanding interests in studying both migration and the Central Asian region. I always thought of them as separate and distinct spheres of interests in my mind, and I wanted to find ways to combine both of them through a Fulbright research grant.

 

What was your biggest challenge, and how did you overcome it?

My biggest challenge continues to be managing the logistics of field research. Developing connections tends to occur through word-of-mouth or simply knowing the right person (not unlike in the U.S., I’ll add). Email isn’t a terribly viable form of communication here, so I have to arrange all of my interviews and meetings by cold-calling or simply showing up at someone’s office uninvited. This process has pushed me out of my comfort zone, because I’m not an extroverted person and I’m loath to talk on the phone in English, let alone in Russian.

More often than not, there are a lot of dead ends and meetings that don’t go anywhere, and I’ve felt like, at times, it was difficult to establish a steady momentum of progress. I try to deal with these frustrations with combination of patience, humor, and creativity when things seem stalled. I also think learning to be flexible and adjust my expectations was important. There’s nothing I love more than a 10-point plan and well-organized schedule, but those things are often incompatible with the realities of qualitative or ethnographic research.

On a more mundane level, another challenge is simply daily life in a non-English-speaking country like Kazakhstan that operates with its own set of logic and rhythms. Basic tasks like paying your utilities, going to the doctor, calling a plumber, dealing with an electrical outage, etc. can suddenly seem like insurmountable feats of language and negotiation. I like to think of myself as a competent and self-sufficient person, but I’ve definitely had to swallow my pride a few times and ask for help with the most basic things. Much like the challenges of field research, patience and a good attitude can go a long way as a foreigner living in Kazakhstan.

 

What’s Next for the Class of 2017?

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With graduation coming up this weekend for the class of 2017, it’s an exciting time to check in with a few seniors to find out what their plans are for next year.

You all might remember where you were at this time a year ago; excited or nervous for the unknown of post graduate life, or just thrilled to finally be done with exams.

To add some perspective to your own experience, I thought it could be helpful to take a look at what these seniors are going to do during their first year out.

What are your plans for next year?

I will be moving to South Africa for the Peace Corps, where I will be living in a rural community and working in a primary school.

How did you arrive at this decision?

I’ve wanted to join the Peace Corps since high school. I knew that I wanted to travel or do something unconventional after graduating UVM so I decided to go into the Peace Corps!

What are you excited about regarding those plans?

I am really excited to gain a new perspective, and have a global experience right out of college. I think experiencing a new culture and way of life, while working with children, will be really powerful learning experience. I am excited to see how this new experience changes my perspective on education and the way I work with children. I’m excited to gain new understandings of how other cultures and children value education, and how I can bring in new motivation into my future classroom.

What are you nervous about?

Although I can’t wait to move abroad, I’m nervous for what I’m leaving behind. I love change, and moving around, however I’m sad to leave my friends and family for two years. I think a lot can happen in our lives as we enter the “real world”, and I wish I could be experiencing this transition with my friends.

What will you miss most about UVM?

I think I will miss the friendships that I’ve made at UVM the most. Because I am moving to a new country, I’m unsure of the next time I will see my friends, which is quite sad and a bit surreal. I also feel so privileged to have gone to school in a state as beautiful as Vermont. I will definitely miss hiking in the Green Mountains.

What are your plans for next year?

I am hoping to get a job working in a brewery in the Midwest, and I am thinking of going to brewing school in the spring.

How did you arrive at this decision?

I became interested in brewing through my minor in microbiology, particularly after working with yeast in the lab. I started brewing at home and took the brewing in food sciences class which helped me learn more about it.

What are you excited about regarding those plans?

I am hoping to one day open my own brewery in Chicago or Milwaukee and am looking forward to getting experience working in brewing the next few years.

What are you nervous about?

Getting a good job mainly, and deciding if brewing school is the right choice.

What will you miss most about UVM?

My friends, and the scenery. The mountains are a lot better than the flatness of the Midwest.

What are your plans for next year?

I am moving to San Francisco to work at Accenture as an analyst, job details are to be determined.

How did you arrive at this decision?

I interned at Accenture the summer after my junior year and really liked the work. At the end of the summer I was offered a full time job and requested to be located in the San Francisco office despite having interned in my hometown of Philadelphia (I was feeling adventurous that day)! Much to my surprise I was offered a spot in the San Francisco office and decided to take it! It is kind of a big leap but I have always wanted to know what life is like out west and there is no time like the present!

What are you excited about regarding those plans?

I am really excited to see what the West Coast is all about. I am specifically looking forward to the moderate climate, the chill vibes, and the access I will have to so many of the country’s national parks and natural attractions!

What are you nervous about?

I am nervous about being far from home and moving to a city where I don’t know anyone!

What will you miss most about UVM?

I know I will miss Burlington and the sense of community I feel here as well as the flexible life style of a college student! It is still TBD if I will miss experiencing all four seasons (specifically winter)!

What are your plans for next year?

I plan to attend Millersville University in central Pennsylvania to get my Masters degree in Social Work. My hope is to intern at the VA during that time.

How did you arrive at this decision?

I went back and forth for a long time trying to decide if I wanted to go into the field straight away, take a gap year before graduate school, attend seminary, or go straight back to school. Eventually I decided that going to graduate school right away made the most sense for me financially.

What are you excited about regarding those plans?

I’m most excited about the opportunity to work in the field of my home community. I think I’ve grown and changed a lot through my four years at UVM, so it’ll be interesting to take all that back to where I grew up.

What are you nervous about?

I’m most nervous to find real community again. UVM has provided me with so much structure and support, that it feels impossible that I’ll have that again.

What will you miss most about UVM?

I’ll miss the culture of UVM for sure. It’s an incredible place and the people really make it.

What are your plans for next year?

Home to Maine for the summer and then going to grad school – Master of Medical Science Degree Program at UVM

How did you arrive at this decision?

Lots and lots of thinking. Decided I want to stay in Vermont and continue learning new things.

What are you excited about regarding those plans?

I’m excited to meet new people and stay in Vermont another year.

What are you nervous about?

Taking rigorous courses and finding a good place to live next year.

What will you miss most about UVM?

The interesting people.

What are your plans for next year?

Stay in Burlington for the summer doing part time graphic design projects and working as a hostess.  Then save up money and apply to programs to either Wwoof in New Zealand or teach English abroad in Russia.

How did you arrive at this decision?

I knew I wanted to hang out in Burlington for at least a bit post-grad, so when this graphic design position was offered to me as a summer gig, I jumped at the opportunity.  I am half Russian and have a deep desire to travel around before settling down so that’s where the Wwoofing and English teaching ideas came from.

What are you excited about regarding those plans?

Very excited to spend another summer in Burlington and see more of the world!

What are you nervous about?

Actually being financially stable enough to pull off my plans (..ha)

What will you miss most about UVM?

I will really miss the sense of community and security from all the connections I’ve forged here over the years.  I will also miss the reckless abandon that being a college student enables me to have.

What are your plans for next year? 

I chose very early on in the year I wanted to stay in Burlington, before I had a job lined up. There’s just something special about this town and I don’t feel ready to part with it quite yet. And I will be working at a local shop part time but I’m still keeping my options open!

How did you arrive at this decision? 

I think the great thing about Burlington is that even though it is a small town, there’s always something going on and something to do, particularly in the live music scene. I also think it’s a great stepping stone, for me at least, to ease into the real world. I already know my way around and a lot of my friends are sticking around for the next year too.

What are you excited about regarding those plans?

I’m excited to start my new job and learn more about local Vermont artists and just meeting new people too. I’m also looking forward to staying here over the summer, living with my current roommate Niky.

What are you nervous about?

I’m nervous about a lot of things, but right now I’m worried about tripping on stage when I go to collect my diploma.

What will you miss most about UVM? 

From the day I came to UVM for admitted students day, I immediately felt so welcomed into this community, and that’s exactly how I felt with so many of the professors here. I am so grateful to have had professors that have truly inspired me academically and in general and those who I have formed good relationships with. They have been a huge part of my happiness during my time here. That and also just constantly being surrounded by so many positive and genuine people.

My First Year Out (So Far) – Octavio Araujo

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On this edition of My First Year Out (So Far) we check in with Octavio Araujo, who shares some helpful tips on adapting to an exciting (and challenging) new work environment, learning about airplane structures, and moving to the west coast.

Describe your first year out of UVM:

It’s only been 11 months, or so, but it sure feels like year. I left Burlington shortly after graduation to spend two weeks in Florida with my family before the big move. I had accepted a job offer in Seattle from Boeing without having ever visited the west coast.

I’d say that was intimidating given I didn’t know anybody living there.

Boeing is a big company and I was constantly asking myself if I was going to be up for the challenge ahead, learning how to design plane structures, especially in a place renowned for designing the best commercial airliners.

I had only a vague idea of the team I would be working with, so I didn’t know what engineering topics I would need to brush up on specifically before starting.

It turned out that the team was quite amazing, mostly senior engineers, with the exception of three new hires including myself. The amount of knowledge I’ve gained in these last 9 months is incredible. I’m surrounded by experts in all airplane components, from wings to empennage and fuselage.

I must give credit to all the amazing professors in the school of engineering, who provided me with the tools, knowledge, and experiences I needed to succeed.

The work is challenging, but also rewarding. The designers I collaborate with have a lot of passion for their work. I would say that out of sheer luck I have the best job in the world, but must also admit that I’m really devoting myself.

Sometimes it can be stressful and difficult, days can be long, and due dates too close. I’m back in school for a Boeing/University of Washington certificate in Modern Aircraft Structures, which takes place after work. I regularly take optional training for 8hrs on Saturdays, and during free time I’m trying to teach myself advanced CAD workbenches in CATIA.

I also sometimes volunteer with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers doing high school STEM night.

What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?

I’m most proud of two things. First, I was presented to Boeing’s chief design engineer and given a task by my manager very hastily. I had to read up on some specific material to bring out specific differences between industry standards and in-house standards. I was unfamiliar with both, but brought myself up to speed and was able to deliver as expected.

Second, I’m being mentored by a wing expert at the moment who assigns me work and coaches me through. As a mechanical engineer I’d expect to be doing only strict mechanical engineering. In this particular case, I’ve had to learn A LOT about fire.

As new airplane models undergo FAA certification, different engineering organizations are delegated responsible to comply with all regulations affecting your component. In this case, the wing, is impacted by FAR25.867 which defines certain wing surfaces must be fire resistant.

So I went along and learned [almost] everything about it, from fleet accidents to current regulation interpretations. I (with orientation from my mentor) came up with intelligence over how to achieve compliance and had to present to a committee of technical fellows (high regarding engineering ‘rank’ at Boeing, engineering decision makers).

In both occurrences I was nervous and unsure of myself, as coming into the presentations you’re told “it’s only another meeting in their schedule” but going upon leaving you realizing “this is where careers are made”.

I guess preparing and being able to think on your feet was necessary to overcome these challenges.

What did you learn from this experience?

At the end of the day, you need to be yourself. Bring who you are to the table and let people criticize your work. Take pride in your mistakes, they end up being lessons.

I learned that the only way to get better is by practice and preparation. Burrow like a worm.

Any advice for your classmates?

Convince yourself you can always do better. Everyone is on their own clock, but don’t procrastinate. Do something! Strive to find that which drives you.

What’s it like being on the west coast?

I’m focusing on getting a good start in my career, but whenever I can I try to head downtown and explore Seattle. I’m not the most outdoorsy person, but I’m exited for spring and hiking. I’m making plans for summer, I want to explore the west coast a bit more!

I’m also taking advantage of the Pacific North West and I’ve been able to go on some pretty cool hikes around the area, currently waiting for friendlier weather to enjoy more of the outdoors.

 

If you liked this post, check out our previous check-ins with your classmates Kristen Smith and Lyndi Wieand.