By: Andrew Dinh
MHS WorkAbility, Latino Student Union, and Horizontes visited LinkedIn on Nov. 16th, Latino Student Union advisor Monica Rivero said. On the field trip, students were introduced to the workplace environment.
LinkedIn employees shared stories about their lives and how they overcame challenges, Rivero said. The employees sought to show the youth how they could pursue careers in technology through their studies.
“LinkedIn has an initiative that seeks to connect with low-income young people not typically represented in certain careers,” Rivero said. “LinkedIn coordinates these events with NovaWorks, an organization that works intensively with youth who need professional guidance.”
Junior Ariana Jimenez, a member of LSU, enjoys attending educational field trips with the club, Jimenez said. She gained insight about the workforce after interacting with LinkedIn employees, she said.
“I enjoy visiting companies and making connections,” Jimenez said. “The stories of the employees from the field trip taught me that not trying is failing.”
Junior Neyda Flores, a first-year member of LSU, learned about the diversity of jobs that helps the company function, Flores said. Students learned about how LinkedIn operates and the benefits that companies offer, she said.
“I’ve had opportunities to attend similar outings to companies before, and I’ve always left inspired and excited for my future,” Flores said. “It’s also very important to take opportunities to network with people in fields you are interested in looking to be a part of one day.”
Although Flores networked with LinkedIn employees in the tech sector, she is still unsure of what career she would like to pursue, Flores said. However, Flores is in no rush, opting to focus on figuring out what field she loves enough to devote her life to, Flores said.
“After talking to professionals, it’s very easy to get caught up in excitement for what your future can look like,” Flores said. “What the speakers said gave me confidence and made me realize that I shouldn’t brush off things that I didn’t think I was good enough for. If I want something that seems impossible to achieve, I just have to go for it knowing that I will.”
