Graduating Student Reflections
As the academic year was coming to a close we asked a few of our graduates to reflect on their time in OS . Despite the hectic close to their year , a few of them took us up on the offer .
Jake Gustaveson ( OS ‘ 16 )
My experience in OS has been a core part of my undergraduate years . Academically , OS allowed me to shape my track toward my passions in Healthcare and Social Justice while also providing me with a solid foundation in the study of organizations . My professors always made me feel comfortable in seeking out their mentorship whether it was geared toward academic , professional , or personal interests . I valued the empowering community within the program , where as co-chair of the Organizational Diversity Initiative , I was primarily involved in the diversity and inclusion efforts within OS . In this capacity , I was supported by my peers and the administrative staff to enhance OS This pairing of academic and extracurricular empowerment has truly made OS a positively formative experience .
On hearing the news of my acceptance into OS , I was thrilled that such a unique and selective department had welcomed me , yet I was aware that I was an unusual fit . Many of the philosophy , history and classics students that shared my courses were puzzled at my decision : why had someone wanting to be a writer and a theorist chosen a program for consultants and business leaders ? OS provided me with an interdisciplinary platform free of the constraints of a traditional department . I chose courses from a variety of fields , took agency in the Honors Program , developed my skills as a TA , and put ideas to work as a part of the Organizational Diversity Initiative . Looking back , I can see that I gained a new eye for the impact of organization in systems of education , and grew in my ability to analyze and better the organizations in which I participate .
Jess Hasper ( OS ‘ 16 )
Julia Kortberg ( OS ‘ 16 )
The OS faculty and advisors supported me throughout my academic journey , as my concentration pathway evolved from political organizations to empowerment within organizations . OS and the Barger Leadership Institute provided me with funding to support internships as a Legislative Coordinator in Washington , D . C . and as aTransportation Policy Researcher through the Detroit Community Based Internship Program . They also supported study abroad opportunities including a Spanish language program in Málaga , Spain and a Business Development / Marketing internship at a startup in Munich , Germany . Finally , I have received phenomenal academic advising and career counseling , which has led me to my next step as a Venture for America Fellow in Detroit . Thank you OS !
When I first entered OS , I wanted to be an entrepreneur . Through OS , I was introduced to new concepts , such as linking entrepreneurship with nonprofit studies . The unification of these two fields led me to my most exciting experience as an undergraduate : volunteering at a nonprofit in rural India . There , I performed social research on the empowerment of rural women and worked on projects that would have a long-term impact . It is clear that the journey does not end here , though . After talking with numerous OS alumni all over the world , I can see that they have continued to apply OS ’ s theoretical and practical discipline with a high level of compassion and intentional thought . As I graduate , I am excited to join this impactful group and I hope to provide mentorship to other OS graduates in the future .
Aubrey O ’ Neal ( OS ‘ 16 )
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