Being an NSU Shark is something to be proud of. Whether it is your first year or your last, eventually, you will leave NSU, ready to swim into deeper waters and get the career of your dreams. Ever wondered what alumni have done after college and how NSU prepared them for the working world? Hear from some of our alumnae and see how being a Shark impacted them and what they are doing now.
Nicole Suarez, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, class of 2019
What made you choose NSU for your college education?
“Initially, I was going to apply to NSU for my undergraduate studies, but wanted to be farther away from home… However, after a semester alone in a dorm in the middle of nowhere, I decided that being home was the best place for me to be. After taking a tour and seeing how incredible the programs at NSU were and how welcoming and beautiful the campus was, I felt that this was the right choice for me to pursue my undergraduate studies.”
What are you currently doing now after you have graduated?
“Immediately after graduating from NSU, I was accepted into an international private school abroad in Abu Dhabi as a Kindergarten Class Teacher and Grade 2 Art Teacher. While I was teaching, I was also pursuing my Professional Teaching Diploma at Abu Dhabi University. Due to [COVID-19], I chose to leave my position and come back home to Florida where I have been pursuing a few projects such as working as a Study Abroad Maximized Coach, where I am not only assisting students during this stagnant time to study abroad, but also elevating their mindset to believe it is possible and they are more than capable of making their dreams a reality. We are actively recruiting coaches to be a part of our team… If you have any questions about our mentorship program, do not hesitate to reach out to me through Instagram: @nic_gin.”
How did NSU prepare you for your field?
“NSU provided me with the experiences of a lifetime. I was not only able to create an incredible study abroad opportunity for myself, but I had multiple opportunities to network at the many conferences NSU held, whether on campus or through cross-country travel. I was quite involved with clubs and organizations… During my final year, I had the great opportunity to work as an editorial intern at NSU’s Office of Publishing and Creative Services, which helped me immensely in not only editing the publications that came through but [being] able to take a tour of the publishing process and see the intricacies of how it all worked from beginning to end…
In short, NSU prepared me to take risks and gain incredible independence and confidence to go after what I wanted.”
Yaima Selles-Ghanem, Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing, class of 2012
What made you choose NSU for your college education?
“I had heard about how prestigious NSU’s nursing program was and wanted to graduate from a university that has a great reputation. I wanted to go to a school that was going to prepare me as much as possible for the real world of nursing.”
How did NSU prepare you for your field?
“NSU provided me with amazingly prepared and knowledgeable professors. The school also had a great curriculum and respected hospitals for when I had to do clinical rotations. Because of the experience I got, I was lucky to graduate from NSU and already have a job in a hospital. I also felt confident going into the field. Now, I am a travel nurse, and I feel even more confident with each hospital I work at and that would not have been possible without the foundation NSU provided. It’s something that I will carry with me throughout my career.”
What advice do you have for any incoming freshmen or graduating seniors?
“Be proud you are graduating from NSU. You are being prepared for what’s to come in your field. Always carry with you the confidence you gain from being an NSU Shark.”
Daniela Karaki-Suarez, Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice, class of 2020
What made you choose NSU for your college education?
“Knowing that I wanted to find a master’s program that also allowed me to work as a graduate assistant, I researched programs that focused on building practical experience in working with students. Back when Jackie Foran worked as a Career Advisor here, she invited me to come tour NSU when I was still an undergraduate student at FIU. I absolutely fell in love with the culture of the Career Development office and the opportunity to have a close-knit cohort of students in my program. Plus, I am from Miami-Dade County originally, and moving to Broward County just felt like an entirely new, exciting world to me. Those from Miami know what I mean.”
What are you currently doing now after you have graduated?
“As a proud Shark alumna, I am so proud and happy to be working as a Career Advisor in the NSU Center for Academic and Professional Success… My unique focuses involve conducting both Athletic and Veteran Career Drop-Ins with our specialized student populations… I am also able to conduct career-related presentations regularly and you can find me hosting monthly “Wake Up, Pre-Health Sharks!” webinars with other pre-health experts.”
How did NSU prepare you for your field?
“Academically, I learned so much about student development theories [involving] understanding students’ unique backgrounds and disarming them. Professionally, my experience as a graduate assistant Career Advisor gave me tons of practical experience on how to promote student success, build confidence and guide students towards their goals and dreams… NSU has encouraged collaborative techniques that showed me how to work alongside my students to help them in becoming their own agents for success.”
Sarah Pravder, Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences, class of 2019
What made you choose NSU for your college education?
“Aside from NSU’s excellent athletic training program, I was born and raised in South Florida and really enjoy living here. Also, three of my cousins graduated from NSU, and my sister is currently attending NSU Law School… [With my degree in athletic training,] I am currently working for Memorial Healthcare Systems U18 Sports Medicine as an Athletic Trainer at Pompano Beach High School.”
How did NSU prepare you for your field?
“NSU prepared me for my career in athletic training through their extensive clinical rotations where I was able to experience valuable hands-on learning [that] coincided with my academic curriculum. I was able to participate in multiple rotations over the course of three years, which included athletic training settings such as high schools and colleges.”
What advice do you have for any incoming NSU freshmen or seniors who are about to
graduate?
“I would advise students to select a major that they find very interesting and to research the job market. It is also important to network and make connections along the way to create future opportunities such as internships or employment upon graduation.”
