Lex Howard, UNCG Student Contributor
As a senior at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, I’ve learned that college is about more than earning a degree. It’s also about discovering your interests, developing new skills, and preparing for life after graduation. But one question many students face is: How do we gain real-world experience before entering the workforce?
For me, the UNCG Career Accelerator has been one way to answer that question. Through its Digital Marketing track, I’ve earned professional certifications, worked on a brand-related project, and developed skills that connect my education to my career interests. My experience showed me how valuable it can be to explore opportunities like this while you’re still in college.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
One of the things I appreciated most about the Career Accelerator was its focus on practical skills. As students, we spend plenty of time attending lectures, completing assignments, and preparing for exams. Having opportunities to apply what we learn is just as valuable.
Through the Digital Marketing track, I earned four certifications: AI Professional Skills, E-commerce Marketing, Intercultural Skills, and Social Media & Search Skills.
These certifications helped me explore everything from online marketing and digital tools to communicating across cultures. They also gave me skills to highlight on my resume and professional profiles.
As a Hospitality Management and Tourism major, I can see how these skills apply beyond marketing. Hospitality, business, entertainment, and tourism all rely on effective communication, customer engagement, and understanding different audiences.
That’s what makes this kind of learning valuable: you can connect it to your own interests and career goals, even if your major isn’t directly related to the track.
Putting My Skills into Practice
One of the most exciting parts of my Career Accelerator experience was exploring projects and opportunities involving recognizable brands like Fenty and Crocs.
Through the program, I worked on a project involving Fenty. I also participated in a Crocs Early Talent Competition that I discovered through the Career Accelerator’s Instagram account. Both gave me opportunities to explore my interests outside of a traditional classroom setting.
As someone interested in digital marketing, content creation, and creative strategy, these experiences have made me even more excited about where those interests could take me.
They also reinforced something I want other students to know: you don’t have to wait until graduation to start pursuing your professional goals.
Every project is a chance to practice a skill, learn something about yourself, and build experience you can talk about with a future employer. You still have to put in the effort, but having specific examples of your work can help you explain what you bring to the table.
Exploring New Career Interests
One thing I valued about the Career Accelerator was the chance to explore career interests through hands-on projects, professional skill development, and certifications. The virtual format also meant I could participate alongside my other college responsibilities.
You don’t need to know exactly what you want to do after graduation to benefit from exploring something new. Sometimes, trying something is how you discover what interests you.
You might be a business student curious about e-commerce, a communications student exploring social media, or a hospitality student interested in digital branding. Whatever your major, developing additional skills can help you explore more possibilities.
For me, the program was a way to take a more active role in preparing for my future while still in college.
If you’re interested in the Career Accelerator, keep an eye on your UNCG email for updates about future opportunities, or ask your academic advisor whether the program might be an option for you.
Invest in Yourself Before Graduation
As I prepare for graduation, I want to know that I did more than complete my coursework. I want to leave UNCG having explored opportunities, challenged myself, and taken meaningful steps toward my future.
My experience with the Career Accelerator has helped me connect what I’m learning in college with the skills I want to use professionally. Earning certifications, working on the Fenty project, and participating in the Crocs competition have encouraged me to keep learning, creating, and pursuing my interests.
My biggest message to fellow Spartans is simple: take advantage of opportunities to learn and grow while you’re in college.
You don’t need to have your entire future planned out. Start by exploring something that interests you, asking questions, and seeing where it leads.
Your degree matters, and so do the skills and experiences you build along the way. The Career Accelerator has helped me build both.
So, Spartans, keep an eye out for future opportunities to participate. In the meantime, keep exploring your interests, asking questions, and building experience wherever you can.
Don’t just work toward graduation. Work toward your future, too.
