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Connect with Sonia Cacique
LinkedIn
Instagram
JOIN OUR CAREER NEWSLETTER here.
🚀 I'll help you rediscover who you truly are, provide clarity towards your future and be your personalized coach with Multiple Service Package options. Your Coach Sonia is ready to help you!
"Stay well, be present, and enjoy the journey"
Welcome to College and Career Ready, the only podcast that helps parents equip their growing teen as they transition from high school to college and college to their career. My name is Sonia Casique. I'm a former educator, certified school counselor, turned career coach and founder of Discover U. Together, we will redefine what it truly means to be College and Career Ready. I believe that you deserve all the tools and support necessary to open the doors to endless opportunities of success and, with our community, you don't have to do this alone. So come with me and let's get started. Welcome everyone. Welcome to the College and Career Ready podcast. Today on our podcast we have Bernadina Gonzalez-Streeter. She is from the University of Houston Clear Lake campus. So welcome Bernadina. Welcome to the College and Career Ready podcast.
Speaker 2:Thank you, Sonia. I'm so happy to be here having this conversation. I've been looking forward to it for a long time.
Speaker 1:Yeah, me too. Me too, and I'm sure we have lots to talk about. But for our audience, why don't you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about yourself? Okay?
Speaker 2:Well, thank you Myself. So I have about a 20-plus year career in higher education, and so I've worked quite a few areas in the world of higher education, from community colleges to university, four-year universities, four-level universities, and so I've kind of run the gamut. I've been in recruiting, I've worked with international students, writing F120s for them, and I've also done a scholarship program, even counseling at one point, because counseling is my master's degree that I have earned here at UH Clear Lake, and so currently before this, I actually was in academic advising and then now currently I work in the Office of Strategic Partnerships, and so that, in a nutshell, is a lot, a lot of engagement out in the community, at different meetings both on campus and off campus, with companies and organizations seeking opportunities for our students in the terms of experiential learning.
Speaker 1:All right, I love this and about experiential learning, so you and I know what that means. But why don't you tell our parent listeners what experiential learning is?
Speaker 2:Absolutely so. Experiential learning is not a new thing. I know parents of your after listening. They were always in the form of apprenticeships or volunteering or shadowing different professionals out in the industries. Now we are calling them experiential learning in terms of internships, and so for our university those engagements mean that our students are getting the opportunities to be in a industry of their choice. So you typically match with their major and they're getting paid. So in our office we work with all paid internships. So either the company is funding the student for X amount of weeks, usually in a fall, spring or summer session, and sometimes it can last the fall, spring and summer if a student gets lucky. We also in our office actually host 10 students that we actually fund.
Speaker 2:The university, specifically the University of Houston Pearl Lake's president has allotted money for our students to have these unique experiences with 10 of our partners that we have already have an agreement with that they're long term, so that we know that we're going to have them. And when students graduate from these opportunities, once they've served either fall or spring or maybe a year long opportunity, then we place other students for those partners that we're working with. So it's really a win-win for the companies, because the companies are looking and observing and taking it all in and saying if this particular student could be a good match once they graduate. We've had the opportunity where the students have been picked up for full-time employment, which is great because that's what we want. It doesn't always happen that way, but we have been very fortunate, or I should say, the students have been very fortunate to be picked up and it's good because they get to know the student, especially if they are a good fit for that company.
Speaker 2:That's the best thing, and so we are creating pathways to companies, not just for the experience, but hoping that they get placed full-time, which is what the goal is for a university.
Speaker 1:Wow, that is amazing because and for parent listeners experiential learning still today encompasses shadowing, mentoring. It's still encompasses that. But what Bernardina is saying is that at the University of East StCore Lake they're focused on paid internships, which what an opportunity, because not only are they getting experiences, but they're actually getting paid for it.
Speaker 2:Correct, so we know that a lot of the students at college, just like my parents and you and myself and you and parents out there, if and when you went to college or a university, you had to work right, and so many times those jobs were not related to your major.
Speaker 2:Sure, you were gaining skills that could be transferred over to your major eventually, but in this case, for our office and what we do, we are making sure that those opportunities are paired specifically with the students major, which is amazing because because they get a bird's eye view, they get a look at whether industry is going to be not could be, but is going to be, as Sonia says, they get mentored by the people that we pair them up with.
Speaker 2:They get connected through all the social media platforms, specifically linked in, which is important because then they are connected to these industry professionals and everything they're doing in their work life, which is excellent, because then they can see the conferences they attended, the other peers, that they're connected with, some of the discussions, that they're having some of the opportunities elsewhere or different pathways in that same industry, but different pathways, because sometimes we get really a tunnel vision right that this is the only pathway in a specific major or specific industry, and it truly isn't, and that is a beautiful opportunity for the students to then go out and see the various opportunities of variety right Of pathways that a student has arrived at once they're a full-time worker and the students love it.
Speaker 2:They're like I'm on LinkedIn and they're mentoring me and I can go back and check and it is statistically proven. We work with a NACE organization the national organization that keeps track of all of internships and works and so they provided the statistic that students who are in internships, especially if they're paid have a better way to negotiate their first salary when they go out into their industry. So there is a high statistic that those who intern and get paid negotiate for more money than, as opposed, if they didn't. And I think the reasoning behind that is that because they're in that environment, so these professionals are telling them this is what this skill set is valued at, because we have to, and sometimes we look at jobs and getting hired like personally, but really it's really looking at the skill set and really in some of our cases, we have an IT company that we've been working with for almost three years now and they actually pay for a lot of the certifications the student intern will be receiving when they intern.
Speaker 2:I mean that's just unbelievable. And they are working with us like that because they realize the cost of those certifications and the training to get that certification is probably out of reach for students, but in this case they're taking on one of our students each semester so that they can help train them up and then get them certified so that they are a more valuable candidate when they go out for their full-time employment. So we cannot thank them enough. I mean there are not enough words in the vocabulary to let them know how much we appreciate that and it's just amazing for them to step up like that for our students.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, and I do want to share this with parents.
Speaker 1:Or parents just to say, listen to Bernadina just said, she said higher pay, she said the opportunity of getting employment at higher pay for entry level.
Speaker 1:I mean that is a win-win right there. And actually, bernadina, I just released an episode specifically talking about the topic with parents, about what happens if the child decides or the student decides this is not the right career plan I want and the reason that I share this is actually to pinpoint a couple of things is, before students switch pass, before they they're like I want to change degrees, mom or dad that together they analyze the situation because there are different branches within a career, within a profession that they could find an opportunity that might suit them. And then the second thing is if your child has these experiences and they realize you know what I like, this part of the job, but not this that's still a win-win. You are finding out early what you're not good at, what you don't like and what you do like. So when you do look for that opportunity out of college now you know exactly where your skills are at and what jobs you're looking for.
Speaker 2:I so agree with you, sonia, and during my days of academic advising I did come across a lot of students who one would change their major early on or even unfortunately, you know, at the very end. But it was still a win-win because they realized what they wanted to do, and that's important. I mean, aside from the money, because I know we all have to make a living. Everything costs, you know everything. There's a price for everything. But you also have to look forward to going to work every day and you're going to be more productive. You're going to be a better candidate, better employee If you're happy and that's a good fit for you and you can grow so much more. And you just have no idea the potential that you will have If you're happy, going and waking up every morning and thinking, hey, I'm going to go and I'm going to do XYZ. I mean I know I get excited and a lot of people tease me like you're so passionate about this. I'm like, how can you not be, because I'm helping and teaching?
Speaker 2:I never formally I know you were formally an educator, so I have never formally been a teacher, but I feel like I'm teaching and guiding these students like ask a lot of questions, get involved, get connected and, as you were saying before, before they decide on a career and it could change a little bit. Right, the pathways are a little bit. There's a lot of variety there, but go and seek people out. You're not in a university or college yet. Try to, when you go to your visits, ask for the alumni, ask who's in charge of the alumni so that they can connect you with some people who you think you might be interested in their pathway. Or just make calls.
Speaker 2:I mean, we do that for students a lot. They'll ask me well, what if I reached out to this person? I'm like I can help you do that, I can do the introduction and then you can take it from there. That's the beauty, actually, of leveraging the LinkedIn platform, because you can start doing that and it's perfectly okay, as long as like I tell my own children, as long as you ask nicely and don't expect the whole world. I think people are always flattered if you ask them how did you get into your career? What was your pathway? And it's always going to be zigzag and all kind of crazy. Right Pathways are never a straight line ever and
Speaker 2:so, as we do away with that myth, know that you're going to go everywhere around the map until you land into the perfect fit or where you're meant to be, because I strongly believe that everybody has a place they're meant to be and you will find it.
Speaker 2:But use your resources and I know we're talking about the platforms and we're talking about going to visits and people but once you are in college, also use those resources. Like I was having a conversation with a group of students today and I told them thank you for making me part of your team, because I exist on this campus, like many of the support offices on campus, for the purpose of the student success. That is why we are hired. They hired experts like myself and my colleagues so that we help, that we're part of a team, a big team for each student, and I think students and possibly parents, forget that All the people on campus are here for your student. So ask us questions, Encourage your students to ask us questions, because that is what we exist for. If we didn't have students, there would be no purpose for us. So we are ready and waiting. I can speak for my colleagues here at UH Hurlick. We love helping our students be successful in getting connected out there.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. And parent listeners, I actually have an episode on LinkedIn from a student perspective, why you need to help your child create a LinkedIn account. So many benefits, so so many benefits. So I think this is like the third guest that has told us about LinkedIn. So if you haven't done it, you need to do so today. A lot of great opportunities. I was also going to ask you. So we've already I mean, we've knocked out the benefits. I don't think there's any doubt as far as the benefits for experiential learning. As a matter of fact, I know when I went to school, it was a huge debate like what's more important, the degree or the experience? And how do you get one with you know, with the other, and I think nowadays there's no doubt that we need both. And if colleges are providing the opportunity for these internship opportunities, that is something that students need to take advantage of.
Speaker 2:I so agree with you, sonia, and in all programs maybe not all of them will have a capstone or an internship that they are required to do. But even if you don't, even if your student doesn't have that in their degree plan, I strongly recommend that they do some kind of experience, even if it's on a voluntary basis or short-term basis. Sometimes universities will connect with companies and between breaks like the fall and the spring semester, those three weeks, a student can have an experience, which is called an externship, so that can be possible. Or even during a spring break week they could do shadowing with a company. So there's all kinds of ways that students can engage for both the experience and, of course, continue working on the degree, because I totally agree with that, both are necessary, especially when you want to go into some of these other higher demand industries. But yes, there's so many different ways a student can get engaged. Like I said, they don't have to do it on their own, because I know myself as a first gen student. I didn't really know anyone out there in the industry that I wanted to be in and I didn't really know a whole lot about the industry. So there are different people who helped me along the way and helped me get connected. So that would be the same for any student who's first gen and didn't have that sounding board, so to speak, or that resource available to them. We can help with that. In fact, here at our university we're almost 50 percent first generation, so we have a lot of work. They keep us very busy. It's the same even for people who have parents who've gone to the university.
Speaker 2:A lot has changed, especially after all the things that our nation or world has been through. There have been a lot of changes in the industry and so many different opportunities come up for the students. It used to be, it was a trickle when we came back after the pandemic and now it's really boosted up. In fact, I'm going to mention Home Bank because we had that lunch and learned today with our students. So they came to visit and they engage with our students, talking about all kinds of different pathways a bank can offer a student.
Speaker 2:Even if you were, let's say, if you weren't outgoing and you didn't want to be in the front face of the bank. They had a lot of opportunities behind the scenes that were very critical to the front-facing people. So they really broke it down in terms of what a student could do even before they earned their degree, as long as they had the want and the will. It's like we'll teach you what it takes to have the skill to be successful in the world of banking, and so they have not yet created an internship opportunity for us here in Houston, but they are working on that. And then we were so excited because we will be one of the first universities of students that will get those opportunities presented to them. So those are the kind of things that I really, really enjoy doing being the first, trying to get everybody out there, getting our students motivated and saying you can do this, you can do this. I believe in you. If no one else believes in you, I believe in you. So believe in yourself, because anything is possible.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, and you brought something a good point, even for our parent listeners who have been to college or have you know for your degree or higher ed. The other thing is that your child might be interested in a career that you have no knowledge of, because that's not the career path that you're in. So you are in need of resources as well. Your child needs resources, and this is where building connections is so important, and, as a matter of fact, I know building relationships is one of your passions, bernadina, so tell us a little bit about that. Why is it so important for parents and students to start building these relationships early on?
Speaker 2:Well, I think most parents if they're, of course, in their own industry and have been very successful it really is all about people. It's getting to know people, nurturing those relationships, because it's not like, okay, let's use LinkedIn. I have about 500 connections and I can't say I personally know all of them, but I know a whole lot of them, a whole lot of that bunch, because of the work. You know the nature of the work that I do, but then I also keep up with them. It's kind of like having work friends, but across the world, and so every now and then they post something and we have a brief conversation offline because it reminds me like, hey, we really need to get connected, or I'm reaching out to you because I know you're good contact or somebody recommended you, and so I keep those conversations and those connections going and keep them as fresh as I possibly can, because it's a lot to manage, right.
Speaker 2:But it is all about people and you never have any idea who is connected to whom. It is such a small world out there, even in the big city of Houston and our surroundings, that we work in. Every now and then I run into people and like, oh yeah, I heard your name because somebody is on this committee, and then they tell me about this activity that you're doing or want to do, and I get that all the time, and we live in a big city. Even here in the Clear Lake area, where we reside here in the university, it's not so small anymore because of all the different growth in the aerospace industry specifically, but it is a small, small world of the people who are doing the work, and so we have to make sure that we connect with people and continue to build those relationships. It's not just about what you need from them, but I also offer up. What can I do for you? How can I help you? Because a student can do the same. You have no idea how many times a company calls and says how do I get connected with students? Well, there's so many ways, not just through our office, but we have a huge student organization clubs, right and so we have a long list of clubs and a lot of the participants or a lot of the companies want to attend those club meetings. It's not just about going into the classroom any longer, but they either zoom them in because they leverage the technology right, or they come in because they want to give them swag. Companies are huge on that. It's just amazing. It's just amazing what companies will do to get connected to students and it's like you have to be ready. I tell my students that I work with really every time that I have an engagement. It's like you have to have that resume ready.
Speaker 2:Yes, and so we collaborate a lot with our career services office because the students think, oh, it's because you went in a specific way. It's like no, because you have to talk the language of your industry. And who better knows? That is our career services counselors. So, parents, if you're listening, it doesn't matter if they haven't worked. But if you're a student, let's say, even in high school, they have contributed through a club, they contributed through a project, they contributed through their church or their community. All those things count because those are skills, those are soft skills that the industries are looking for here on our campus, same thing A lot of students will downplay their projects that they're doing with their professors.
Speaker 2:It's like, talk those things up because you're going to be working in teams. And I know sometimes students are like, oh, not another group project because there's somebody who doesn't do hold up their part right. Well, guess what You're going to still be working in a team at work. So learn how to leverage all those things, learn how to work in that team, and I have a thing that I found on LinkedIn, in fact and it's talking about a toxic character in the workplace and it also it doesn't just name them.
Speaker 2:But the great thing about that graphic is it tells you how to approach them, how to manage them, and that's great. And then the last line on that graphic was a real really, was inspirational to me, because it said even though you might come across these eight types, learn how to recognize some of these same symptoms in yourself, because sometimes it's so easy to fall in, you know, like the gossip or the complaining, so it's real easy to fall into that, especially if that's kind of the majority. So it tells you how to not be that way, which I thought is great. And so that as well is one of the things that we do in our office is to help get them ready once we launch them out there. Because this is really, we're really at the tail end of their academic journey.
Speaker 1:But yes.
Speaker 2:I mean I just love working with people. I mean everybody has their story, and that's one of the things I really enjoy hearing is people's stories, because you may find something in common with them or you may find something that is like, hey, I want to try that.
Speaker 1:How do you do?
Speaker 2:that and do it yourself right. Sometimes we don't feel comfortable in thinking I can do that, you know, and because we think, oh, it's too much of a risk. But when you start to meet other people, you think, well, they did it and they're encouraging you to do it, especially if they're being your guide.
Speaker 2:We'll go with it. Go with it because they always love company, right? People who are doing different things than us is like well, come join me, come do this and sooner or later you find yourself part of all these groups and well connected out there and really enjoy living the best life, right? Isn't that what the kids say today? Live your best life, and really that's what an education is about. That's about what training is about. That's what about getting connected with people is about. It's just really, really living the best you, because you can't really compare yourself to others.
Speaker 2:You are unique, so parents if you're out there know that your students are unique, and that's exactly how we look at them. We do not look at them like oh, you're number this, you're number that. Everyone has their own contribution and their uniqueness about them.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, absolutely. And back to to LinkedIn, just to kind of make this full circle, bernadine and I connected through LinkedIn, so I was yeah, I was on LinkedIn because I was connected to UHCL, to all my audience listeners. I went to UHCL, so I'm a graduate of UHCL and so I had a connection there, and then that connection connected me with you and I was like, oh my gosh, her and I are speaking the same language. We need to connect. So, yeah, so that's how it started.
Speaker 1:And and also I wanted to tell parent listeners in my self-discovery to your ideal career path digital course that I have created, I have a LinkedIn module. So one of the modules is teaching students high school students or college students how to create your LinkedIn account and how to leverage LinkedIn. So make sure you take advantage of that, or you can always email me if you have any questions, but we do have a module on that. And then, in reference to resources and the things that Bernadine has shared with us, one of the things that I encourage our parent listeners is to teach your children how to ask Ask for help. That is not it. It shouldn't hold them back. It should actually actually move them forward, because they need to know that they're not the only ones and, like Bernadine said, there is a whole team ready to help, but you have to learn to ask for help when it's needed, or that support or that tribe to walk you through the journey.
Speaker 2:I so agree with that, sonia, and I know sometimes culturally we feel like, oh well, I can't ask for help because I should know this.
Speaker 2:And I think those are a lot of myths that we've bought into right. And you know, I went through that phase two as a first-gen student like don't ask for help because that's a negative thing, but actually it's a very positive thing to just come out and say you know what? I really am not understanding it and I really need somebody to help me understand what the next step is. And so it would be the same like I actually have a college daughter who's attending San Jack college, who's in her second year, about to finish at San Jack, and I've taught her is like, do not leave that academic advisor's office until you fully understand what that academic advisor has said to you and just keep asking question after question until you understand, because if you walk away they're going to assume what they understood, what I said, and if you truly did not understand, it's not going to help you one bit. And so I'm like Sonia, it's okay to ask questions, and in fact I'm learning from the business side of things as well, when I'm engaging with these companies.
Speaker 2:They want you to ask questions. In fact, the best candidates are those candidates who bring interviewed, who ask tons of questions, and because that shows a sign to the companies that you're also interviewing them. You're not the only one being interviewed, but you have done your homework and you've thoroughly searched, research, the company and you know their mission statement, you know their values. You're asking about their culture, and culture can mean so many things right but if you're asking all those questions, then they are paying attention.
Speaker 2:They sit up and pay attention because they're thinking this student really knows what they want and I need to make sure that I'm answering the question or responding so that I can get this top talent. And that's how it works. When you go into an interview or you have an engagement with the company or even introduce yourself and you're not asking any questions, they're like mm.
Speaker 2:They're probably not ready yet yes you know, next round we'll get them. But if you are really out there and really pushing yourself and like full throttle right and know all the questions and you're ready, they know when you're ready and I think you every student probably knows when they're ready as well. But train them, I mean, and like Sonya has some terrific modules, if they wanted to talk to me, I could also tell them or share questions that I've actually put together for, or we had an employer engagement not too long ago with HR representatives and so we got lots of tips from the HR reps as well as questions that I shared with the students at the roundtable discussions. I'm more than happy to share those questions out, because those are questions that you should be asking, and when the HR representatives saw those roundtable questions, they're like these are great questions. So they they blessed them for me.
Speaker 2:I was like thank you, because I worked hard on that, because I wanted to make sure that we were asking, the students were asking good questions if they didn't have any already prepared coming to the engagement. But yes, I mean ask away because they like that. People like talking about where they work. I mean, just like me, I was so excited today. But yes, they like people like talking about the experiences and how they arrive there and how many times.
Speaker 2:They may have changed career paths or majors even, but people like talking about where they've been and how they got there, so do not hesitate to ask those questions. That is a very positive thing absolutely, and you know so.
Speaker 1:For parent listeners who are still in the college selection process, what recommendations do you do you want to share with them as far as things to consider, because what we, the majority of people, talk about the name of the, the name of the school, right, and there's so many other things behind the scenes that you and I know about. The parents don't like this the resources of experiential learning, career services. So what would you recommend parents as they are exploring college options for their child?
Speaker 2:Well, definitely the experiential learning. Definitely I would ask to engage with their university alums. So students who are already graduated and maybe have five, ten years in, can they talk with them? Do they have any statistics on that, as far as the success rate, meaning where they're being placed and on LinkedIn?
Speaker 2:I'm going to go back to LinkedIn you can call up any university and you can look at the alums and where those alums are in terms of their industries. That's a little tip that I'll give you so you can do that. I know we can do that here for our University of Houston, clear Lakes, so I would do that. A big thing now is that students are getting into research, especially if they, if your son or daughter, your student, knows that they want to go on and get other advanced degrees like the master's or even a doctorate degree, or even just do research. That's a positive too.
Speaker 2:On campus, how do you do research? Are there competitions for that? Do you? Can you do that with the faculty? Because at our university I know we're big on research and so a lot of the students can do that. Those are all pluses.
Speaker 2:And, as Sonia said, don't just look at the name and I know names go far, but you still have to apply yourself, you still have to get in there and you have to do the hard work, because college is not easy, right, it's a lot of balancing and a lot of commitment of time in terms of scheduling. But, yes, so I would say the experiential learning, connecting with the alums and seeing where they have been placed and if you could engage with them and universities nowadays have a lot of alumni engagement Try to get out there and see if, or ask them if, they do research and research competitions. I was just talking to a young lady who's one of our interns out in one of the companies. She recently she's a college of science and engineering student. She engaged in a competition as a team member of some of the students who got together here in our university and they competed at NASA and they won.
Speaker 2:And so just those different opportunities. I mean ask, turn over every stone and keep asking questions like what can they engage in? What makes you different from other programs and universities? And so, yes, if you needed a list of those, I'd be happy to give them to you, because those are critical, because it does cost. So, yes, your return on investment right, your ROI make sure you're getting that return for your individual student. Not all students are the same Everyone is going to be different.
Speaker 2:Everyone has different needs and expectations and again, it's how much you put into it is what you're going to get out of it. But again, it's all about asking questions, because I just met with a student again and she was a transfer student and she's done that. She's been in a competition. She just came in fall in the fall of 2023. She was in the competition and she got an internship just in her first. Wow, yeah, and I asked her because this was something too, the transfer students and it's okay to transfer my own daughter's got transfer as well.
Speaker 2:What were you anticipating when you came here? And she says well, I never anticipated the possibilities that came to me. And I said but you know, they didn't really come to you. You came in. She actually literally came into my office and introduced herself, gave me her resume, I looked over it and sent her to the Career Center. She came back just like a week later and said okay, here's my resume, Please consider me for all these opportunities. And she did. We interviewed her once. She didn't get it and then she interviewed a second time. And that's the other thing. Don't give up. Even if something doesn't work out the first time, don't give up because on her second round she was selected for an internship placement. So that's the other thing. I would ask this well, you know you can work on campus and there are a lot of engagements on campus. So students think all the time of financial aid. So let's talk about the money piece, right? The other thing I would ask what other jobs on campus can I work in outside of being a work study student?
Speaker 2:So that is a good one as well, because there's a lot of opportunities for that on the campus as well. A lot of our own visions and departments are hiring students as interns, so they're able to get that experience, like in our accounting department and our marketing department, and so that's a little bit different right? So they're not just zeroxing the papers or they're not just setting up an event.
Speaker 2:They're actually acquiring those skills that they need for their major. So that would be another thing. Although, sonia, I don't know if you're aware of this, but work today, now in different parts, can work off campus. So they've now changed the work study where, if you get awarded work study, like our students, some of our students are connected with the city of Houston and so they're working in the police division for work study, and those are criminology students.
Speaker 2:And so I know right. So ask about that. There's, like I said, there's so many things that are new and they had to kind of evolve. And I tell all my students and even my family is like, I know, higher ed is kind of slow because it's, you know, a lot, of, a lot of things have to happen before it can be stamped and blessed and all of that. But it is moving in the direction where students, the next generation, you know, we now use all the technology.
Speaker 2:Before COVID we never had virtual advising, we never had virtual interactions with students and we do now. So there's so much there that a student can be asking, as far as a return on investment, keep asking those questions. So again, the experiential learning, engaging with the alumni, working on campus as an intern, working off campus as an intern, the work study, research those are all critical things that a student needs to be asking because you're going to get further that way. Research in terms of engaging and even maybe going into conferences I have an internship right now with NASA. In fact they're going to be working on something with the Apollo recordings from way back when and they're even offering that student an opportunity to go to a conference, all paid for and presented. I'm like that's amazing, that is truly amazing. So you just never know what you don't know, right?
Speaker 2:So that's my job, absolutely it's helping people know what they don't know and getting them to ask those questions that I know that they should be asking. So again, I never was a formal educator, but I feel like I educate a lot of people on what is out there because it's limitless. I mean it really. Just you limit yourself. If you say, okay, I'm going to stop here, that's okay too, but don't that's my advice. Don't limit yourself, do it all, yes.
Speaker 1:Yes, absolutely, and, as a matter of fact, there are very few people like Bernadina and I that are actually talking about this. Most people. If you start, if you start looking for college selection or college admissions, all you're getting is about SAT scores, act scores, gpas, but we're not talking about the experiential learning that should be happening. We're not talking about that. A college for me might be different. I'm not talking about the experiential. I'll put the perfect scenario I have twins. They were born one minute apart from each other and they are completely different. I can honestly, truly say that the exact same college, university might not be a good fit for both of them because they're both different. I'm learning who they are, their traits, their abilities, their skills and what type of environment works for them. So one and I'm going to make a plug here for UACL One of the good things about UACL it's a small campus. It's more of a 101 feeling, and some students thrive better in that environment. So only US appearance. Know what works best for your child. This is what Bernadina and I are talking about Visit the campuses and find what is a great fit for you. Aside from the name, we want you to look at the services available the resources. And again we go back to the experiential learning that's happening, because that is important.
Speaker 1:And then the other thing I want to add as well is for parent listeners. The resources are there, but it's different In high school. The resources come to you, they knock on the door. They're like hey Johnny, I keep saying I always use Johnny as my name hey Johnny, here is this tutoring and please come on Thursday. And here's this. And we noticed that you need this additional help at the college level. These resources are there and actually there's more resources at the college campus than in the high school. However, you have to advocate for yourself. Your child needs to advocate for themselves and they need to know hmm, I need to visit the career center, I need to visit the tutor, the tutor lab or the tutoring center. The resources are there, but you have to teach your child to advocate for themselves and find what resources they need.
Speaker 2:I Totally agree with you, sonia, and again I'll go back to saying that when we tell students go, reach out to the resource or go to tutoring or go to the writing center, it still has that negative connotation to it, like I only have to go because I need help. It's like no go, because you're going to be much better off than if you hadn't gone. I mean, like the writing center, you're going to do writing in every single class, not just your English class. You're gonna be writing in every single class and so get better at it, be a better communicator, and that's part of it. Right, not only verbally, but in written communication.
Speaker 2:We use emails all the time. If I'm not on some kind of platform, like Sonya says, we met through LinkedIn but I'm also on email the time. I'm also in teams all the time. I'm on zoom, I'm on everything, and so I have to make sure that I continue myself enriching those skills and writing and being verbal communicate In verbal communication, speaking clearly and making sure I'm making that point that the students need or, you know, sending that clear message to my students, because I know my messages are not clear If I have all these students emailing back, asking questions like what is this me?
Speaker 1:Where do?
Speaker 2:I go, or even anyone if they're return emails having too many questions, I know that I haven't done a great job. So then I myself have to go back and think okay.
Speaker 1:Yes, what did?
Speaker 2:I say, how do I say it better? And that's okay, that's called growing, that's continuous. Absolutely professionally, personally, I mean even communicating. I think we all can relate just on a personal level with our families and friends. Sometimes we like goof that up and so we make sure that we are clear communicators always and everything that we want to do, because that's how people get to know who you are.
Speaker 2:That's how people get to know the why about you and you get to know the why about you yourself. Sometimes it takes us forever to find. In fact, sonia may be familiar with this, but through the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce I went through a leadership program and really it was cemented of why I exist and why I do what I do. Because at first I mean not that I didn't love it, I do love it, but I love it even more now that I understand that is why I exist. I have those gifts. I feel that I can help students get to where they need to be. Even for my own child, things change and so I had to equip her with that Confidence. Right to know it's like. It's okay to ask questions, it's okay to go to the center. So K did have writing your essay read a thousand times before yes.
Speaker 2:And that's what writing is about. A lot of students forget that it's like it's not going to be perfect the first time. Nothing is. I can tell you that maybe Sonia does this too.
Speaker 2:I put emails aside because I write it, then I erase it, then I write it again and I erase it because I make sure not that it's perfect, but that it's clearly being stated of what I need or what somebody needs for me on how I Communicate, and that's why I do that. All right, pause and think and I tell the students the same thing. You don't have to instantly reply because they're so trigger happy, right, I text yeah, back. I text. You know, here's a icon, it's not a text. You have to remember that it's not a text.
Speaker 1:But yes.
Speaker 2:I totally agree with everything Sonia is saying. You can never Overprepare for coming to work on your life. Right, that's really doing with students. We're working on their lives and it's just the first chapter. They're gonna create many, many more chapters after us, but we're more than happy to embrace everyone who comes our way.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. And and the other thing I wanted to add, just to kind of sum this up as well as far as asking for help, even me in my career, I can spend One to four hours trying to figure out a new system, a new way of doing things, or I can ask for help and get the support within 30 minutes and then, boom, like you know, the website is up, or the project I'm working on has a little bit more clarity. So this is a skill that, if you learn it early on, it's gonna serve you for the long run. So, parents, please encourage your child to to know that asking for help is actually an advantage and it's something that it's gonna benefit them for the long run. Well, bernadina, I want to wrap up by asking you, or giving you the opportunity to tell us why you HCL. So give us some you know top reasons why parents should consider the University of Houston, clear Lake.
Speaker 2:Well I think you've shared one of the reasons is that it is a smaller campus. The students who need that one-on-one. They're not going to feel like a number, so that's definitely a plus. We're definitely a very welcoming campus in terms of when students do come to our offices. As far as the support services, there is somebody there all the time and, because we've incorporated a lot of the technology, students can email. They can schedule themselves at any time of the day. They don't have to wait on anyone or go into the office to do that. They can put themselves on the schedule as early as the next morning in many of the cases for the services that we provide. For myself in our office we get emails all the time at midnight, 2 am, 3 am, because I know that's when students are studying or they're awake and studying or doing something and they think that you know they have the thought. So we're very welcoming and embracing of students who want to use our services and we provide them happily.
Speaker 2:And, of course, I think the biggest reason is that our University is really leveraging all that's around them, all the industries that we have here, and it's not just the aerospace but it's the medical centers as well that we've curated on this end of town and the business. We have lots of banking and all kinds of other businesses that encompass finance and accounting and Analysts and data science. I mean it's just endless. We do have a lot of industry that is a nonprofit, so there's that's a high need area as well, and so we are bringing all these companies in for our students sake, because we want to make sure that they are connected. So I think that's three great reasons of why your students should attend UH. They will not be a number and I know if they put their half in, we will put our half in, and together they're going to have a very successful step into their industry.
Speaker 1:Oh man, I love this. Thank you so much for Nadina, for sharing all these great points and having the conversation that no one else is having so I know now.
Speaker 1:Yeah, our parents are already in an advantage because they're listening to this and, again, this is something that you're not going to be hearing in the mainstream. And we've and Bernardina has even been so kind to share tips, not just, you know, sharing about you a sale, but also sharing tips that you can take to whatever college you are considering in your college selection process because that's what her and I are here or to support you and your child in their unique journey and their own college Selection process, because we want what's best for them, and what's best for them is identifying a college that that suits who they are and the needs and the resources and the support that they're looking for. So, thank you so much, bernardina.
Speaker 2:You're welcome. I enjoyed it.
Speaker 1:Yes, and if for last, but in the last but not least, share with us where people can connect with you.
Speaker 2:So you can find me on LinkedIn. It is Bernardina Gonzalez Streeter, so you can hit me up there, send me a request to be one of my Followers or just connected as members, and then you can also email me anytime. My last name is Streeter or my email here is Streeter at UHCLedu, and so either one of them will work. I look forward to working with any parent. Just because I work for this university does not mean that I will not answer If you don't want to come to the university, but I definitely would be helpful to you. As a first gen, I consider myself very successful, and where I am, I mean I would. My mother I didn't say this but real quick I had parents who never graduated from high school my mother in fact and everyone went into middle school, and so they were reliant laborers most of their lives. So for me to sit here, to be in a nationally recognized university, that's huge with two degrees.
Speaker 1:So if I can do it, I know all of you and your students can do it as well, oh, Thank you so much, bernardina, for spending this time with us, sharing your time, and I'm sure this is gonna be the first of many more. I'm really excited for our collaboration, and we've already talked about some Opportunities for us to kind of share with each other a network, and I love that. This is what it's all about. That's how we do it right, sonya? Absolutely. Thank you, bernardina, you're welcome. Thank you for listening in. If you enjoyed this episode, it would mean so much to me. If you share it with a friend, a colleague or your own community. If you share it on social media and tag me, I'll make sure to personally Thank you. My two favorite places to hang out our Instagram and LinkedIn. Check out our show notes for a direct link. I'm so thankful for each and every one of you. I'll talk to you next week, adios.