River Hawk Scholars Academy Initiative Supports Job-Minded Juniors

Two young women smile while talking to each other at a table in a conference room Image by Ed Brennen
Juniors Jamilet Amoguea, left, and Yaritza Gil-Javier take part in an icebreaker activity during the kickoff meeting for the River Hawk Scholars Academy's new Pathways to Career program at University Crossing.

09/23/2022
By Ed Brennen

For first-generation college student Jamilet Amoguea, the River Hawk Scholars Academy (RHSA) has helped her navigate her first two years at 51视频.

Now that Amoguea is a junior, her focus has shifted from figuring out college life to preparing for a future career.

鈥淚 know I wanted to attend 51视频, and I know I want to do something with psychology, but I鈥檓 still a little lost about what I鈥檓 doing in the future,鈥� says the psychology major from Revere, Massachusetts.

To help Amoguea and others like her find their way, the RHSA has launched a Pathways to Career pilot program. While the nationally recognized RHSA program is geared toward freshmen and sophomores, it is expanding to provide career and graduate school readiness programming for juniors and seniors, thanks to $500,000 in federal funding.

鈥淚 was happy to see it being offered. It鈥檚 especially helpful for first-generation college students, because a lot of things are new for us,鈥� Amoguea says of the yearlong program. 鈥淚 feel like there鈥檚 a lot of pressure put on college students to have everything mapped out in their first or second year. This will help me try to figure out where I鈥檓 going from here.鈥�

A young man in glasses smiles while listening to someone talk in a conference room Image by Ed Brennen
Computer science major Arthur Rosa is one of 26 juniors taking part in the RHSA's new Pathways to Career program.
Managed by Assoc. Director of Career Services Serwa Addae-Adoo, the Pathways to Career program provides the first cohort of 26 juniors with a structured plan for the academic year. Students are required to participate in several activities and programs hosted by the Career and Co-op Center, such as interviewing and r茅sum茅 workshops, networking nights and the Dine & Dress event. Students are also required to attend either the fall or spring career fair, as well as conduct career-related interviews with three people from the UML community.

鈥淓very year, the needs of each college cohort are different,鈥� Addae-Adoo says. 鈥淏y junior year, they understand the ins and outs of college, and now they鈥檙e thinking, 鈥極h, I need to get an internship and do something with my career.鈥� That鈥檚 why we鈥檙e here 鈥� to support them in a variety of ways.鈥�

Addae-Adoo began developing the program last spring with RHSA Director Matthew Hurwitz and Carol Towle 鈥�22, coordinator of college-based advising in the Manning School of Business. Towle earned an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from UML last spring, with her thesis on 鈥渋ntrusive advising,鈥� which involves proactive intervention with students.

A young woman with dark hair in a plaid shirt listens to someone talk in a conference woman Image by Ed Brennen
Junior business administration major Stella Cortese talks with fellow members of her Pathways to Career cohort.
Arthur Rosa, a computer science major from Everett, Massachusetts, says he signed up for the program to keep himself on track for finding a career that will allow him to help people.聽

Being part of a cohort of first-generation students 鈥渉elps drive me forward due to the support of my peers,鈥� he says. 鈥淪eeing my peers from all different backgrounds strive for their career, even if it鈥檚 tough, inspires me to do the same.鈥�

Yaritza Gil-Javier, a criminal justice major from Lawrence, Massachusetts, signed up as soon as she saw the email from RHSA.

鈥淚鈥檝e struggled with what I want to do with my career,鈥� says Gil-Javier, who explored options in forensics and law enforcement before discovering an interest in homeland security through her coursework.

Two young women, one in a plaid shirt and one in a blue sweatshirt, talk to each other while sitting at a table Image by Ed Brennen
Junior biology major Naisha Sterling, left, talks with a fellow Pathways to Career cohort member at their kickoff meeting.
鈥淭his program is definitely going to help me decide what I want to do with homeland security,鈥� she says. 鈥淗opefully, I can network and make new connections.鈥�

Addae-Adoo says many first-generation students face barriers in starting their careers, such as a lack of connections, that she hopes the program can address.

鈥淲e鈥檙e very excited to have our first cohort,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e hope the numbers increase next year and we can support even more students.鈥�

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