Juliet Huntington RN, BSN, PHN
M.S. in Nursing, Nurse Midwife
University of California, San Francisco ‘16
What was your INROADS experience like?
I had a supportive and enriching experience as an INROADS intern. Gretchen Summer, who sponsored me for two summers, gave me every opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills I desired during my internship. The seminars I attended as an Inroads Intern were invaluable to my success. I learned professional skills that I would not have gained otherwise.
What adversity or obstacles do you feel students coming from underserved communities face?
The biggest obstacles students of underserved communities face is affordability and accessibility. The cost of four year universities is only increasing, and the debt that is accumulated in order to obtain a degree can be an incredible burden. Although cost is a huge obstacle, even those who receive full scholarships have a difficult time achieving in college, due to the lack of support and confidence in their ability to succeed. INROADS does an incredible job of preparing students for the culture of the professional workforce, and helping them gain the confidence needed to succeed.
What words of advice would you give to our graduating seniors?
Network, network, network! Keep in contact with your mentors, and those you connected with during your internship. Email them updates on your academic and professional journey. Let them know what your goals are and ask for advice. This will open doors for you for years to come. Congratulations on your accomplishment and Happy Graduation!
What has been your experience since graduating from college and INROADS?
I graduated from the University of San Francisco with by BSN in 2010. I then worked at San Francisco General Hospital as a Labor & Delivery Nurse. I continued to seek opportunities for professional growth, and participated in several programs related to Change and Quality Improvement throughout the hospital. I later returned to school to obtain my Master’s in Nursing, and am now working with my sponsoring company from INROADS, Kaiser Permanente, as a Certified Nurse Midwife. Throughout my professional career I have used the skills INROADS taught me to seek opportunity, network, and challenge myself. I am grateful the experience.
Nataly Romero
Government/ Journalism
California State University, Sacramento ’15
What adversity or obstacles do you feel students coming from underserved communities face?
I think there are a couple of obstacles that students face when they come from an underserved community. Some of the obstacles I personally faced were a lack of professional skills, a professional network, and the guidance/mentorship necessary to make critical career choices.
I didn’t know these we’re obstacles in my career path, until I joined INROADS. I realized the value of knowing other professionals and the power of networking. Having a professional network allows you to learn about various career opportunities you may not know of otherwise.
There are many professional skills that are not taught in school. INROADS provides you with the training you need to succeed as a professional in the corporate setting. This could include things like managing a meeting effectively to creating an executive summary. Throughout the program you are learning various skills you can readily apply in your internships and throughout your career.
Lastly, having a mentor is critical in the corporate world. I found many of my mentors through each of my internships that I still reach out to for advice. They have guided me in deciding what career opportunities to pursue and how to go about pursuing them.
What route did your life take after graduating from INROADS?
When I graduated from the INROADS program, I had one more semester to go before graduating in the Fall of 2015. I was really concerned that I wouldn’t have the same opportunity for a full-time offer as someone graduating in the spring.
At the time, my summer project involved the deployment of a new system of record for the National Compliance Office and the project was expected to be complete in 2016. I knew that I could still contribute to this project while I finished school and brought up the idea of extending my internship with my manager. My manager liked my proposal and I was offered an internship extension that allowed me to work part-time while I completed my last semester in school.
Upon graduation, I secured a full-time position as an Internal Auditor with Kaiser Permanente. Since then, I have transitioned into my second role with the company as a Compliance Consultant and will continue to grow within the organization. I am fortunate and extremely thankful for all the doors the INROADS program opened for me.
What suggestions would you give to someone on the fence about joining INROADS?
In today’s job market, having a degree is not enough. Companies are constantly searching for the best of the best. The INROADS program offers you a competitive advantage over others through the education, experience and exposure they provide.
If you are on the fence, don’t think about it twice and apply TODAY!
Marlisha Burris
University of California, Riverside ’18 – BA, Public Policy
What adversity or obstacles do you feel students coming from underserved communities face?
This system is not built for everyone to succeed. Students from underserved communities are underrepresented in the workforce. Due to obstacles stemming from socioeconomic status, discrimination, and the lack of resources, it is harder for us to achieve social mobility. Thus, it is important that students from underserved communities challenge the status quo with the power of higher education. We must disregard societal standards that deem us incapable and trust that through programs like INROADS, we are highly qualified and destined for greatness.
How did INROADS prepare you for the future?
Through INROADS, I was given the opportunity to develop both professionally and personally. INROADS cultivated my leadership through various learning summits, boot camps, and the Leadership Development Institute. Through intensive training, I learned teamworking, communication, and networking skills. INROADS has also taught me how to be a competitive applicant for any position and how to stand out in the work place. Lastly, INROADS pushed me out of my comfort zone and I have learned valuable networking and relationship building skills. I am so thankful for my past INROADS advisor, MayLynn Melendez and the rest of the team who supported me on my journey.
What words of advice would you give to our graduating seniors?
First, congrats grads! You’ve made it this far and through INROADS, your future will only get brighter. The most important piece of advice that I would give graduating seniors is to develop relationships with your supervisor and other leaders within your organization. Don’t be afraid to express your career interests, even if it they are not aligned with your current department. Even in large organizations, everyone knows one another, so by speaking your dreams you may be welcoming a new opportunity. Use this time to discover your passion and determine what puts out your flame. Through hard work and a strong network, you will reach your full potential!