From finding my voice to helping others find theirs: My journey with the LEAP Symposium

When I arrived at Mount Holyoke College, I was timid, but my ambitions were anything but small. I hoped to become a lawyer and establish a nonprofit organization, paths that would require me to speak confidently, communicate clearly and advocate for others. I knew what I wanted to accomplish, but I was still learning how to make my voice heard.

That desire led me to COLL-211 Reflecting Back: Connecting Internship and Research to Your Liberal Arts Education and the LEAP Symposium. I initially thought I was signing up for something like a public speaking class. Instead, I found an opportunity to reflect on my experiences and eventually help fellow students recognize the value of their own stories. I took COLL-211 with Senior Lecturer in English Mark Shea in spring 2024. My presentation, “Understanding the Consulting Profession While Generating Ideas To Help Impact Nonprofits and Social Justice Organizations,” explored my experience as a remote nonprofit consulting extern in collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Preparing for LEAP taught me that presenting an experience involves more than describing what happened. It also involves considering what I learned, why it mattered and how it might shape my next steps. We practiced interviewing, networking and presenting ourselves professionally. I also learned to speak about my internship with gratitude and invite questions rather than approach a presentation as a one-way conversation.

Collaborating with my panel members was equally important. We had to think beyond our individual presentations and consider how our experiences could speak to one another. When our panel discussion went well, I felt something I had not expected — joy in public speaking.

I carried that confidence into my internship with the New York State Unified Court System that summer. As I interacted with attorneys and attended trials alongside judges, I had opportunities to practice the communication and reflection skills I had developed. Speaking confidently no longer felt like an abstract goal — it was becoming something I could do. Wanting to give back while continuing to strengthen my skills, I applied to become a LEAP fellow.

Before that, I had mostly experienced LEAP as a participant. Like someone attending a well-organized conference, I had appreciated the final event without fully understanding everything required to make it happen. Becoming a fellow changed that perspective. Behind the scenes, I saw the care involved in building panels. Creating panels required more than grouping students by similar internships or majors. It also required thoughtful consideration, revisions and sometimes late nights to create groups whose experiences could form a meaningful conversation.

My responsibilities included course management, event management, copy editing, communications and individual and group tutoring. I learned to manage details while keeping sight of the people those details supported. The most rewarding part was watching students become more comfortable sharing their experiences. Students who had initially seemed hesitant grew more confident through reflection and collaboration.

One student I mentored, Marielena Savino ’27, used her funding from The Lynk initiative to attend an internship at an immigrants’ rights group. During that internship, she organized protests and engaged in rapid response, coming face-to-face with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during raids of her New Jersey community. When I spoke with her, she emphasized how grateful she was that LEAP gave her a chance to share this story with other students.

Another student I mentored shared that they had not realized how much they had accomplished over the summer until they began reflecting on it. That observation stayed with me. Sometimes, we need time and a willing listener to recognize our own growth.

My role also strengthened my project management skills. I used Google Drive, Sheets and Docs as well as Canvas and Moodle with greater purpose, developing habits I could carry into later internships. I especially appreciated having room to contribute creatively beyond my administrative responsibilities. In 2024, I collaborated with Kayla Nelson ’25, Shamya Noeen ’25 and Makoto Jasmine Nakamura ’25 on a LEAP hoodie design. In 2026, I worked with Essie Ferguson Cucchi ’27 and Anya Krisa ’27 to create a graphic T-shirt. These projects gave me other ways to contribute to the community while learning from my peers.

Throughout my experience, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Sociology and Director of Nexus Eleanor R. Townsley and Associate Director of Nexus Program Katie Walker offered mentorship and guidance. They helped me explore career possibilities and grow as a professional and a leader. Working with them showed me the impact of consistent, thoughtful encouragement.

Looking back, I realize that the thread connecting my experiences is growth. I initially learned to share my own story, then helped others tell theirs and finally understood the planning and collaboration that make those opportunities possible. LEAP helped me become a more purposeful leader. I now see leadership less as having every answer and more as creating space for others to recognize and develop their potential. 

As I continue toward my goals in law and nonprofit work, I want to carry that approach with me. Our fields and experiences may differ, but we share the work of discovering what we can contribute. I hope to keep offering others the mentorship and encouragement that helped me find my voice.