By Matthew Cimitile, University Communications and Marketing
As an incoming student, Samantha Greenfield had an interest in medicine but didn’t know much about working in the field or the various types of jobs available.
So she enrolled in the Innovation Scholars Career Exploration Program at USF St. Petersburg. The job-shadowing program gives first-year students a head start in exploring their interests, pairing them with a mentor to provide a sneak peek into the day-to-day activities of the professional world.
“It was an amazing program and it really helped me figure out that medicine is the right field for me,” she said.
The program not only solidified her choice to major in Biomedical Sciences, it also opened doors to new opportunities. Now a junior, Greenfield is doing a year-long internship at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in the Psycho-oncology & Emotional Development Studies Lab, which researches the emotional relationship between psychology and cancer in children.
The administrative manager at the hospital served as her Innovation Scholars mentor.
“I wouldn’t have had this internship if it wasn’t for the program. I can’t recommend it enough,” Greenfield said.
On September 14, around 70 first-year students will meet with their mentors for the first time to kick off the fifth year of the Innovation Scholars program. Professionals volunteering for the program include representatives from local businesses and organizations in St. Petersburg such as Tampa Bay Watch, Baycare Health System and Great Explorations Children’s Museum.
During the semester, Innovation Scholar students meet with mentors at least three times, shadowing their daily activities, attending business meetings and getting a glimpse of what it’s like to join the workforce. Students will also get to meet other professionals within the organization, sit in on important meetings and events and connect with company executives.
“The Innovation Scholars program really helps students confirm either that their major and career interests is right for them, or that it’s not what they expected and allows them to pivot and find a new path,” said Rita Zwiefel, internship and career experience coordinator at USF St. Petersburg. “For many students, it’s the first time they take the initiative and think seriously and creatively about their ideal type of career.”
Opportunities for shadowing range from the arts to finance to marine science and more, covering a wide variety of industries. Overall, the experience provides students with greater understanding of the organization and a perspective on what it would be like to work in specific fields.
“I thought this was something unique that would allow me to gain real world experience in the law profession while furthering my academics. This will be my first sort of job experience and I’m excited to discover more about myself and what opportunities this may lead to,” said Olivia Borek, a first-year student majoring in English who hopes to attend law school.
Nearly 300 first-year USF St. Petersburg students and professional mentors representing more than 100 businesses and organizations in the city of St. Petersburg have participated in the program during its five-year history.
Professionals say they benefit as much as students from participation in the Innovation Scholars program. As mentors teach and train students, they assess potential for future internships and roles within their organizations. It also provides an opportunity to give back to the community and pass on life lessons to the next generation.
“I wish there was something like this when I was in college,” said Sarah Stephens, the administrative manager at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital who was Greenfield’s mentor and will be returning for a second year. “It’s a tremendous resource for a student beginning their career search to talk with a professional about their interests, who can kind of play matchmaker and show them different jobs within the field that align with those interests.”