Written by Francisca Gelman
What is one thing that I can join on campus that will make me different from someone else?’Is what I had on my mind before entering my first year of college. This was and continues to be a difficult question to answer. Being a first-year student, I have no idea what I want to be, or what I want to study. I always knew that I was interested in some component of the business world. Yet, as a non-business student, I thought my opportunities to be a part of the Leavey School of Business would be quite limited. Fortunately, I was wrong! Ciocca Center has provided phenomenal interdisciplinary opportunities to meet students from around campus.
When I was selected to be one of the Ciocca Center’s Mindset Scholars, I was excited and intimidated. Even though I had a lack of entrepreneurship understanding, and I was also afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the minds of fellow students, I decided to take the risk.
In the short time I have been at Santa Clara University, I have been able to hear Kevin O’Leary speak, use my Spanish skills to share with university presidents and executives from Colombia and Mexico, formulate a design to change public school curriculum through Idea Lab, learn part of the complex process of design thinking through a short three week Saturday course, and start to create my network.
My mentors, Hallie Bodey and Yesie Miller, have encouraged and allowed me to grow! My interest in the Ciocca Center, as an intern has introduced me to meaningful connections around the school which ultimately, has left me feeling like I have possibilities to make a valuable impact in this program, and in the university too. As I have only begun my university experience it is difficult to imagine where I will be after graduation. Something I am certain about is that the experiences that I have had so far will serve me for a lifetime. I have already been able to create a strong foundation here at the Ciocca Center through the creation of collaborative relationships with my fellow Mindset Scholars and with eagerness and curiosity, I appreciate the events and special opportunities hosted by Ciocca Center.
In my future, I plan to explore and discover everything the Mindset Scholar program has and will continue to teach me, and I know I have a strong network here at the Ciocca Center which I can turn to in my career journey.
February 22, 2023