Building Futures, Not Check Boxes

The start of a new Career Internship course always carries a special kind of energy. Students aren’t here for busy work, grades, or misaligned assignments. They’re here because they want to connect their academic selves with the professional world. And when that intent meets opportunity, the results are transformational.

What excites me most is the mindset I see: students are leaning in. They’re ready to build brands, not just resumes. They’re ready to create experiences, not just fill out applications. They’re eager to showcase their durable skills—communication, adaptability, curiosity, collaboration—the very things employers across industries are asking for.

This is not theory. We’ve seen it play out again and again across conversations on the Disrupt Education podcast.

• Derrick Griffin (Episode 1) showed us that students thrive when they’re trusted with real-world projects like Coca-Cola marketing campaigns and hospitality partnerships. It wasn’t about a grade; it was about experience that led him to entrepreneurship.
• Isaac Morehouse (Episode 101) reminded us that careers aren’t found, they’re built—and it starts when students are given space to create projects, solve problems, and prove themselves outside of rigid classroom scripts.
• Maureen O’Shaughnessy (Episode 251) called out that learners aren’t widgets. They need belonging, agency, and experiences that honor their individuality—not a factory model that measures time over talent.
• Alli & Peter (Episode 301) explored how students like Derek Griffin, Kelvin, and Dan each forged their own paths beyond school by relying on durable skills and persistence. From selling t-shirts in high school to creating businesses after graduation, their stories prove that authentic experiences—not check boxes—are what build futures.

The pattern is clear: when we stop checking boxes and start creating opportunities, students rise. They don’t just prepare for the future—they begin shaping it.

That’s what this internship course is all about. A safe place to take risks. A launchpad for identity-building. A community where every project, every connection, every reflection is part of a student’s unfolding story.

This semester, I’m not just excited. I’m all in. And so are the students.

Because the future of education isn’t about grades—it’s about growth. It isn’t about compliance—it’s about confidence. It isn’t about worksheets—it’s about work that matters.

The doors are open. The students are ready. Now, it’s time to build.

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