My excursion was a human development alumni panel put together by the department of education and hosted by Bella Rosner. It was a virtual panel that took place December 6th at 7pm. This panel was really enlightening on the different opportunities and jobs routes you can go with a degree or experience in human development. Between all the panelists there were those who went into child education, worked in corporate jobs, working in nursing and one even is applying for law school. Throughout the panel they talked about the flexibility it has due to the way human development allows you to better connect with others and form a better understanding. They also provided insight on the unique experiences that they had through the university of Maryland program and how it shaped each panelist highlighting the roles advisors and professors had in their career. The small size of the program made it easier for them to grow close and create a stronger bond with the professors which they described as vital for their individual success. I found this panel to be very informative and convincing. The importance of building connections with professors and the increased opportunities being in a small major like human development provides has proven to be very beneficial even from my brief interactions with the heads of the departments when figuring out my minor. I have noticed that all the professors in my Human Development classes have done a great job about the open door policy and provided ample time to discuss and build a relationship. I especially remember when I first was deciding on the major going to the head of the department and she took the time to highlight the importance of the major and what it could do for me. The close connections and bonds this can provide are clear and definitely a great benefit of the program at the University of Maryland. Another important aspect they talked about is the opportunities the major can provide. A big misconception about the major is that you will not have many options or the only career option is teaching but this panel said the opposite. Each panelist had such different jobs and career paths that really highlighted the flexibility the major provides. Being able to understand how and why people grow into the people they are and the way the environment can play a role in this really helps with interpersonal skills. This is so important because of the flexibility it can provide. The array of careers only emphasizes it showing the many ways in which these skills can be applied and the doors that can be opened as a result. Another key point they brought up was to give yourself time to figure out where your passions lie. Whether that's a gap year or trying out different jobs its important to see where your interests lie. Since there are so many different opportunities you don’t want to limit yourself to the first thing you see. One panelist mentioned working at a nursing home because that’s what she had always wanted to do, but after working for a summer realized she wanted to do law school instead. I would strongly agree with this advice especially as someone who has wanted to do research for a large part of my life. Research can be hard and tedious so knowing if I will truly enjoy it before I commit my life to it is extremely important. There are many opportunities out there so giving yourself time to explore and find where your passions lie can only help you and your future endeavors.
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