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MONDAY, JULY 7, 2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
ALUMNI
Recent graduates explore summer opportunities
AMELIA ARVESEN news@kansan.com
Interning
On Capitol Hill, 2014 graduate Kellie Henderson works as a Foster Youth Intern for the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, which places people with foster backgrounds in various Congressional offices to work on policy related to foster care.
She attends training workshops and meetings during the day to learn about public policy and at the end of July, she will present a policy report in front of Congress.
She is among 11 others with foster-care upbringings from across the nation who have the opportunity to influence public policy and change the current system for those with similar
backgrounds.
"I wanted to improve the statistics for fosters to hopefully lead a path for them to realize that they have an ability to go forth with their dreams too," Henderson said.
Receiving her master's degree in social work was a step toward her own dreams. She entered the foster care system when she was 14 and her report is focused on providing information to youths who are just entering the system, something she wished she'd had.
The internship offers a small stipend but this opportunity, she said, has been essential for her working experience. Eventually, she said she wants to return to school, possibly for a law degree.
"Everything seems impossible until it's done," Henderson said.
Working
When Channel 5 asked Lindsey Mayfield to work as a news producer, she said she couldn't decline the offer. She had interned at the Kansas City, Mo. station during her senior year and already felt comfortable there, but experienced a great difference between internship and employment.
"There are far less pats on the back and far more expectations," Mayfield said.
Since graduating in May with a journalism degree, Mayfield said she hasn't had second thoughts about her education choice and is already finding fulfillment in her career.
For the first time, she's figuring out health insurance and the benefits that come with full-time work. She said it's also been strange focusing on one task everyday as opposed to dashing
from class to class.
When most people are beginning their days, Mayfield is ending her shift at 9 a.m. She said she justifies working a backwards schedule by caring for what she does and remembering how hard she's worked to get there.
On weekends, she visits her family in Overland Park and spends time with
co-workers in a social setting. Mayfield said it's nice to unwind around the people who understand what she goes through five days a week.
"I feel like I've finally found my people when I started working." Mayfield said. "I realized that they were very
SEE GRADS PAGE 9
CAREER STATISTICS FROM THE THE UNIVERSITY'S 2013 COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES DESTINATION SURVEY
68. 4 percent of graduates reported they were employed full-time
21. 7 percent reported they were pursuing additional/higher education
— 2.7 percent are employed part-time
- 6.9 percent reported they were still actively seeking employment
72. 8 percent of graduates are working in the Kansas-Missouri area
52. 9 percent of graduates are earning between $25,001 and $45,000
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♦ KANSAS UNION LEVEL 2 ♦ 1301 JAYHAWK BLVD. ♦ LAWRENC, KS 66045 ♦ (785) 864-4640 ♦
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