Genevieve Cawthorn

Did anyone ever oppose your career plans when you were young or push you in a direction you did not want to go?

Coming from a Filipino family, the expectation is that you will become a nurse. Nursing never really interested me. I was different. I wanted to be an attorney. It all started in the 6th grade. We had a class project where the students had to hold an in-class debate about the childhood story, "The Tortoise and the Hare." My 6th grade teacher was so impressed with my debate performance that she pulled me aside afterwards and told me I would make a good lawyer. She suggested I consider going to law school and pursuing a career in the law. In high school, I did well in english and government classes - all indicators that a career in the law would be a good fit. When it was time for college, I told my parents my goal was to get into law school. My mother did not approve. She wanted me to be a nurse. Before starting my college journey, she had me talk to my aunt over the phone to try and convince me to major in nursing. My aunt was telling me about my cousin and how she enjoyed her career and was making good money. I told her I wanted to pursue law and then she asked, "So what will you major in? Political Science? That's what lawyers usually major in during college." (This information is true, but there is no required major for applying to law school. In other words, you can be a Psychology major, Engineering major, or ANY major and still apply to law schools). Back to the story- I responded, "I don't know what my major will be, but going to law school is what I want to do." From there, I took her advice and majored in Political Science. This exposed me to some pre-law courses I really enjoyed. It strengthened my desire to pursue a career in the law. Towards the end of my college career is when my mom and other family members became more accepting of my choice. They saw how well I was doing and knew this is what I wanted to do. Now that I am a practicing attorney they are all happy and proud of my success. Although it was annoying frustrating at first that they weren't accepting early on, I didn't let it get me down. I understood that for my family, pursuing a career in nursing was the only thing they understood as being a successful career. I was also the first lawyer in the family, so it was something they really didn't understand. They didn't realize other career options can lead to successful careers as well. It was up to me to prove that to them. If there is something about a career path that excites you, go for it. Even if you get push back from family members or other people, don't let that change your mind. More importantly, if someone like a teacher or counselor points out you're good at something and suggests you explore a career related to your strenghts, listen to them. Explore that idea. You never know where it might take you!

How did you start building your network?

I started building my network in college. I went to a private university where I was able to get to really know my professors. Some I had for two or more years. I made sure to keep in touch with them during law school and even afterwards. I was also very involved in college. From participating in Mock Trial to Phi Alpha Delta, I was meeting people and making friends. I also did a few internships where I got to meet with practicing attorneys and kept in touch with them as well. They key is to remember that your network starts with your inner circle, aka your family and friends. It's not just about people who are "above" you like professors and professionals. If you are the first in your family to pursue higher level education, it can be hard to rely on inner circle for professional support. You might not have the right connections from the get go, but this is something you can work on and gradually fix. People you meet in college, during your internships, at events, when you volunteer or where you work are all part of your growing network. Someone you meet at the nearby Starbucks or CVS can end up being a good connection. Being friendly and sharing your story with people can go a long way. If you connect with someone, the more likely they are to help! When I was in law school, I had to work extra hard to build my network. Being a California native attending a law school out-of-state, I knew it would be more difficult to try and find a job back home in Los Angeles. During my breaks, I would reach out to alumni from my school who worked in the LA area. I would ask to meet with them while I was in town. I would also attend any local law events or volunteer where I could meet other attorneys. If I met anyone and connected with them, we would exchange contact information. I would send a follow-up email and send invites to connect with them on LinkedIn. Always try to connect with someone on LinkedIn! Make sure to stay in touch. If you see an article or learn about something that relates to their profession or interests, shoot them an email, ask how they're doing, update them with anything you've been up to. Like things they post on LinkedIn. Building your network is all about relationship building. In order to maintain a relationship with someone, you need to stay in touch. You need to have things in common. It might seem intimidating at first to go out and try to talk to strangers, but the more you do it, the easier it gets. With the ease of technology, you can email a total stranger without having to worry about first walking up to them as a stranger. If you attend networking events, just know you don't have to talk to everyone there, just a handful of people is usually good. If there are speakers or presenters you are interested in, don't be afraid to talk to them afterwards. Sometimes a person can be a good connection, but they just need someone like you to find them. Think of it this way, most people in college are not reaching out to people from their high school to see if they need help. But let's say someone from your high school reaches out for advice on applying to your college or pursuing your major, wouldn't you make the effort to help them? Of course you would! Remember that no one likes to feel used. Meeting someone for the first time and saying, "Hi. I need help finding a job," might turn them off. Ask for help in more general terms - like learning more about their profession and seeing if they have any advice or tips for working in that field. Also important - if you meet someone that offers to help, take them up on that offer! Don't be shy! I can't tell you how many times I have offered to help someone out and they are too shy to reach out. Or worse, they don't follow up. Be responsible when you make a connection.