Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable

MADISON, Wis. - “Don’t be afraid to be uncomfortable!” That was one key piece of advice MD Coordinator and Assistant Dean for Letters and Sciences, DeVon Wilson, gave students and alumni at the October 26 Career Links event.

The event was an opportunity for students of color to meet and network with successful alumni of color. There were more than 50 students and 35 alumni who participated in the event.

Sean Frazier, Senior Associate Athletic Director, introduced Wilson and set the tone for the evening by saying, “If you see a person and you don’t know that person, get to know them!”

In his speech, Wilson offered advice and told the audience not to be afraid to:

• Follow passion
• Live in the gray area
• Be coachable
• Be uncomfortable
• Be committed

After Wilson’s presentation, students took the opportunity to meet and network with alumni in attendance. Valyncia Raphael ’09 said the event was an excellent resource for students, especially to be able to communicate with alumni who are doing what they want to do. She said it is “easier [to hear what they have done] than trying to figure it out on your own.”

Most students, including Melissa Mueller-Douglas x’11 and Angela Bluhm x’10, attended the event to gain networking experience before entering the job market. Douglas said the event was a “great opportunity” and Bluhm enjoyed how alumni had “a lot of encouraging things to say about going into the job market right now.”

Frazier also described the importance of alumni participation at these events, saying that UW-Madison has a lot of successful alumni and “for them to come back and share that, that’s the benefit of that experience.”

Sharveenkumar Lokanathan x’11 and Cara McCarthy x’11 said they would like to attend more events like this, because it was a great chance to practice networking.