A student with a keen interest in business and a dedicated golf player, Sydney is in the midst of an exciting, pivotal moment that will shape her future: navigating the prospects of colleges she may commit to studying and playing golf at. Next year, she envisions herself attending a college somewhere with warm weather (hopefully in Florida) where she can study business marketing and entrepreneurship.
In addition to being a hard-working student athlete, Sydney is deeply involved in volunteering and leadership in her community, notably through her role coaching younger students and serving as a school ambassador at The First Tee, an organization that helps kids learn golf and core life skills and values. Her long-term goal is to combine her various passions–for entrepreneurship, community, and golf–into her own business in the golf industry.
One day, while browsing the internet and thinking about her future during a gap in her busy schedule, Sydney stumbled upon CareerVillage.org and decided to explore the platform.
Discovering CareerVillage While Planning for the Future
With a few clicks into the CareerVillage.org, Sydney decided to see if professionals might have some insight, and asked her first question:
A fitting first question for her to post, considering Sydney shared:
“I’ve always wanted to start my own business… I love the idea of building something of my own, working directly with people, and following my passion.”
Sydney’s entrepreneurial spark showed up early. She previously ran her own jewelry business, selling handmade pieces at craft fairs and donating a portion of every sale to support families at the Ronald McDonald House. Although she has always had this natural inclination toward leadership and business,and community impact, Sydney noted that it wasn’t a result of growing up surrounded by entrepreneurs. “The funny thing is that no one really in my life has experience with business,” she shared.
At first, Sydney didn’t know what to expect from the responses to her question, but hoped for the chance to learn about business from real professionals’ experiences. “I wanted real advice from people who had already done it,” she explained. “Not just textbook answers.”
What she quickly discovered was thoughtful guidance and a reassuring boost of confidence to follow her passions. Within a short time, she received multiple in-depth responses and realized just how big and supportive the CareerVillage community is.
“I was honestly surprised [by] how fast people replied, and how detailed their answers were. People shared full stories about their lives and careers. It made me feel really special, like people genuinely cared.”
While she’s grateful for the support and wisdom of her family, golf coach, and teachers, she shared that when it comes to preparing for her career, “I haven’t gotten nearly as much insight as I’ve gained from CareerVillage.”
Looking Ahead to an Entrepreneurial Future
In reflecting on her experience learning from professionals on CareerVillage, she recognized how “a digital platform has its advantages.” Even if you have someone to ask questions face-to-face, the advice they think of on the spot might not be as thorough as “if they actually see a question written out… with more time to reflect and think about what they want to say.”
As the organized student she is, Sydney has diligently bookmarked all the answers she received from professionals to refer back to in the future. “Having it written down makes it more of an impact because you can save it.”
And that advice is making an impact indeed. Sydney already made the decision to switch her major from marketing to business administration, after learning the “degree will help me get a job that better suits my interests, so that I can ultimately have a fulfilling career!”
Among a series of thoughtful, personal, and practical answers from all different professionals, the one she’ll carry with her the most is a reminder to never let a fear of failure get in the way of carrying forward with her passion.
As Sydney prepares to step into college, competition, and the early stages of her entrepreneurial journey, she carries with her more than advice: she carries confidence. Through CareerVillage, she found a community of professionals willing to share their stories, encouragement, and hard-earned lessons, helping turn uncertainty into possibility.