2013 SLC Young Ambassadors Program Alumni Dinner
The 2013 Smithsonian Latino Center’s Young Ambassadors Program Alumni Dinner took place Friday, September 6 in the Smithsonian Castle Commons. This annual event is a chance for recent college graduates of the program to meet professionals in their areas of interest as well as provide an opportunity to hone their networking skills in a smaller gathering as they start their post-college job search. Lynda Correa recounts her experience of the weekend below:
As a graduate of the Smithsonian Latino Center’s Young Ambassador Program, and a two-time attendee of the Post Collegiate Seminar, I whole-heartedly and genuinely thank the Smithsonian Latino Center (SLC) for the incredible support I’ve received throughout the years. As an alumnus the University of Southern California, a powerfully connected global network, I believe in the importance of fostering well engaged alumni groups because of their high yielding return on investment. I see the personal and professional gains I’ve made from self-maintaining my alumni group, and now that the SLC has institutionally developed a platform for alumni, I know my networking “capital” will grow exponentially.
It was a pleasure to return to the center to meet the newest class of graduating college seniors. I was honored to serve as a post-graduation “expert,” which really meant I got to tell the new class all of the embarrassing mistakes I made after college. I think the shared sense of discomfort is comforting for some recent graduates who feel like they are pioneering alone. It was nice to share with them that not only are they not alone, but they also have a growing network of Young Ambassadors who have shared their journey. The networking reception is really the grand kick-off to the Post Collegiate Seminar, a weekend long activity of events that reminds us that not only is the Latino Center’s resources available for our disposal, but the resources of the entire Smithsonian Institution as well. Now that is seriously amazing.
Lynda Correa
More information on the Young Ambassadors Program can be found here.