CSC Program Coordinator Nica Genestin recently took part in a panel featuring first-generation alumni at the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at the City College of New York. This collaborative event, organized in partnership with Delta Phi Omega Sorority Inc., the Office of Student Success at the Colin Powell School, and the CCNY Career and Professional Development Institute, aimed to equip students with crucial skills for navigating their career journeys. Attendees gathered to delve into topics such as career and internship navigation and resume drafting, to bolster their job prospects.
Genestin, herself a first-generation college graduate, CCNY alumna, and former Coaching Assistant at the Colin Powell School's Office of Student Success, shared her personal journey with the audience. She discussed overcoming imposter syndrome, seizing internship opportunities, the importance of networking, and strategies for balancing school work and internships. She drew from her own experience participating in seven internships during her undergraduate years, notable among them were an internship at Just Tech Fellowship initiative at the Social Science Research Council and as a Congressional intern for Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.
The panel was attended by many City College computer science students, many of whom eagerly sought information about the offerings of the Vagelos Computational Science Center and expressed a desire to attend CSC workshops and events.
Genestin was also pleased to see her previous work displayed on the walls of The Colin Powell School, which showcased the coaching philosophy she developed during her tenure at the Office of Student Success. Among the philosophies highlighted was the recognition of students as experts of their own lived experiences, encouragement of civic agency, and the importance of staff approaching coaching with humility while being aware of their own personal biases. Her work also emphasizes the empowerment of students by inspiring resourcefulness to foster collaborative experiences - an interest she continues to foster in her role as CSC Coordinator.