With finals season approaching and graduation on the horizon, students gathered April 15 on Zoom for a professional development workshop, “Reflect, Revise, and Rise.”
Hosted by the Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement, the event allowed students to step back and consider the full scope of their academic and extracurricular experiences this semester. Presenters aimed to guide students by using skills from their academic and extracurricular involvement and shaping them into strong resume content.
Led by Maira Jorge, experiential learning coordinator, the session was part of a broader effort by the Mays Center to support students’ career development beyond the classroom.
Director of Experiential Learning Krystina Irvin and Associate Director of Career Services Myles Lofland also attended the Zoom meeting.
“(It’s) taking these skills that you learned in your classes and really taking them on a personal approach but also professionally developmentally, and how you can really apply that to the rest of your careers,” Jorge said. “Be encouraged to really put your learning out there, to put your skills out there and go for more, not just keep it in the class.”
The workshop was structured around three key concepts: reflecting on personal growth and accomplishments during the semester, revising career materials like resumes and cover letters to better highlight those experiences and preparing to rise to future opportunities such as jobs internships or graduate school.
Jorge guided participants through an icebreaker, asking them to list out their first paid or unpaid job. Students were encouraged to think beyond traditional academics and think about the transferable skills learned when working or volunteering at those jobs.
“You wanna be able to take your experiences that you’ve had throughout the semester, learn how to use reflection practices, and at the end of this, how do we take our skills and showcase them to the rest of our community?” Jorge said.
Throughout the hour, the workshop maintained an interactive format. Jorge encouraged attendees to type responses in the chat, share ideas with each other and ask questions. The tone was supportive and upbeat, with Jorge, Lofland and Irvin offering individualized feedback and encouragement.
Students also learned about resources at the Mays Center, including one-on-one resume reviews, mock interviews and Handshake, the university’s platform for connecting students with internships, jobs and career events.
Lofland emphasized the importance of tailoring each resume to specific opportunities rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all format.
“We live in a world today of what we call skills-based hiring,” Lofland said. “It’s not just knowing what skills you have, not just listing them in your job search letters, and your LinkedIn profiles, but knowing how to articulate those experiences.”
Beyond professional development, the workshop acknowledged the emotional challenges of transitioning between life stages.
Presenters said the session would be especially helpful for those who had recently completed or are going to complete internships, service-learning classes, or leadership positions.
By reframing everyday experiences as resume-worthy skills, Jorge and Irvin said they hope students leave the session feeling more prepared and empowered to take on what’s next.
According to the Mays Center website, the Reflect Revise and Rise workshop is one of several events offered year round to support students’ transition from classroom to career. Organizers said they plan to continue offering similar programs in the upcoming academic year.
For more information about events hosted by the Mays Center, visit the center on the first floor of the Science and Technology Building, call 210-784-1356 or email mays@tamusa.edu.
