By Jennifer Enriquez Martinez, Fellow Class of 2016
University of Denver
College was my first step in gaining independence since I would no longer rely on my parents. I had received enough scholarships to cover my tuition and dorm, I had a job and since I was a first-generation college student I was navigating college on my own.
I had so many questions about college life and no one in my family went to college so I had nobody to ask. Luckily, I had my LSYWC mentors. They told me about their greek life experiences, about the clubs they had joined, about their roommate stories and so much more. Later on, in my college career, I had to make choices like changing my major, adding minors, and choosing between internships. They were there for me to help me make the right decisions for myself. These four years they've been there for me through rough times and good times. I couldn't be more thankful for their mentorship and friendship. They have definitely been the best part of being a LSYWC scholar.
LSYWC has also helped me develop personally and professionally. My favorite workshop was the "Success, Derailment & Emotional Intelligence" workshop. Before this workshop, we were able to take an Emotional Quotient Inventory test as well as the Myer Briggs Type Indicator personality test. Then during the workshop, we discussed our results and what they meant. I learned more about my strengths and weaknesses then contemplated on how I can work on my weaknesses. As well as how I can use my strengths to my advantage in the workplace.
LSYWC also helped me develop professionally by giving me the opportunity to apply and become an intern at Molson Coors Brewing Company. It was an experience I will never forget, I learned about different things like various legal terms, international governance practices, marketing, and more. I met amazing people who mentored me throughout the internship and gave me advice for the future. They also allowed me to attend different networking events every week where I practiced my networking skills and asked different professionals about their jobs and experiences. Furthermore, I learned about balancing individual projects and group projects.
Now I am a senior at the University of Denver majoring in Finance and minoring in Leadership and Business Information and Analytics. I will be graduating on June 13, 2020, so I am currently in the process of job searching. In the future, I'm also hoping to pursue a Masters of Business Administration. I'm looking forward to what the future holds.
