A senior in the city, preparing for the real world

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Ryan Diew speaks to a panel of entrepreneur experts at Colgate’s Entrepreneur Weekend 2016.

Editor’s note: Ryan Diew ’17 is already preparing for graduation next May. In a series of posts during the upcoming academic year, Diew will track his progress through the Center for Career Services’ Real World program — signature events and workshops that prepare seniors for life on the other side of the commencement stage. Real World events are also powered by the Colgate Professional Networks.

Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Colgate Seniors in the City event in San Francisco. Seniors in the City is a networking program — part of the Center for Career Services’ Real World series — that provides students, parents, and alumni with a venue where they can talk and make lasting connections in order to help ease the transition after graduation.

I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area (Oakland to be specific — Go, Warriors!), so I was impressed and incredibly excited to meet so many Colgate alumni who have ventured out west.

I was able to connect with professionals working in careers that intersected with each of my school activities, interests, and experiences: I am a computer science major and a member of the Colgate Men’s Basketball team. I am also a part of Link Staff and Colgate’s Google Student Ambassador. Most recently, I founded my own company, Trippie, through Thought into Action. Trippie is a mobile application that helps travelers better navigate airports. (We expect to be in the App Store this Fall, so be on the lookout!)

I had the opportunity to interact with athletes and fellow entrepreneurs, as well as professionals who have worked for some of the biggest tech companies in the world. In addition, I was able to strengthen connections with classmates who are also interested in starting their professional careers in the Bay Area.

One of the reasons Colgate is so special is because of its amazing alumni network. During my time at Colgate, I have been afforded numerous opportunities and have made many lasting connections. This was reinforced multiple times at Seniors in the City, when an overwhelming majority of alumni encouraged us to reach out to other alumni for opportunities as well as advice. They emphasized that Colgate grads would be more than excited to help if we reached out. A simple LinkedIn message or e-mail introduction could really change a life. Seniors in the City underscored the beauty of the Colgate connection. Colgate alumni really look out for one another.

It’s great to know that, based on conversations I had in San Francisco, I will enter the professional world having forged strong relationships and alliances with those who are also transitioning into the “real world.”