Amanda Canavatchel ’14 was among the 13 College of Arts and Sciences students who traveled to New York City to participate in the Winston Fisher Seminar. The psychology and biology major plans to go on to medical or graduate school, but says her experience with the seminar gave her a new lease on life in business. Here’s what she had to say:

1.)    Why did you apply to participate in the Winston Fisher Seminar?

Throughout my undergraduate career, I had only envisioned two potential career paths for myself: go to medical school, or apply to graduate school in the hopes of getting my Ph.D. By participating in the Winston Fisher Seminar, I hoped to explore other potential career paths, network with Syracuse University alumni, and most importantly, do something that was out of my comfort zone. As a student without any experience in business industries, I hoped this to be an eye opening experience!

2.)    What was the most rewarding part about participating in the Winston Fisher Seminar?

Honestly, it is very hard to choose one aspect of the Seminar I found the most rewarding! Every meeting we attended, people we met, and activity we participated in contributed to an awesome experience. If I had to choose just one thing, I would say the most rewarding part of the Winston Fisher Seminar was hearing all of the stories and advice the alumni had to offer. They all had such interesting paths to get where they are today, insightful advice, and strong connections to Syracuse University.

3.)    What one or two things did you learn that you think will most positively impact your academic career and post-collegiate career?

Most importantly, I learned how my liberal arts education could transfer into almost any field I choose. The alumni we met, along with Winston Fisher himself, showed us just that. My coursework in the College of Arts of Sciences, and my experiences as a Syracuse University student has provided me with invaluable critical thinking, problem solving, and analytical skills. These skills will benefit me greatly in any career path I choose.

4.)    What was your favorite part of the entire experience?

My favorite part of the experience was the interactions I had with my fellow WFS participants, our Syracuse University alumni hosts, and the wonderful SU staff and faculty members that lead us through our journey. My fellow participants began as students who did not really know each other; by the end of the Seminar, I am happy to say we all became very close. There is something about working toward a common goal together that will cause you to be fast friends. The alumni we met were very enthusiastic and willing to teach us not only about their specific industry, but how to market ourselves to potential employers. Finally, this Seminar would not have been possible without the passionate SU staff and faculty who guided us throughout this experience.