Finding the Path(s) to Success

Beyond the Gates: Finding the Path(s) to Success

Many Sewanee students are familiar with the basic details of the annual Beyond the Gates program. It takes place just before the start of the Easter term, involves a number of alumni representing different career fields, and is generally about preparing for the post-college job search. But what is attending Beyond the Gates really like? And what do people actually get out of it? 

Nicole Nesbitt, C’23, attended Beyond the Gates twice. Her first time in 2022 was as a junior for whom the job search seemed far away, whereas she showed up for her second time in 2023 as a senior currently on the job market looking for her first destination after graduation. Reflecting back on her experience with the program, Nesbitt shared her most important takeaways, including: how the idea of networking was demystified, the surprising concerns that come up after you’ve found a job, and an expansive idea of what constitutes success.

Building Your Network

“You hear the word ‘networking’ all the time,” says Nesbitt, “and the idea of it—or at least what I pictured—can seem kind of awkward.” What made Beyond the Gates so valuable, then, were the ways in which networking was built into the program, allowing Nesbitt and her fellow participants to gain experience with approaching this sometimes intimidating part of the job search while in a supportive environment. For example, experiences like mock interviews did more than provide practice answering questions, they also facilitated connections with alumni. Meals and down time between sessions also offered the opportunity to build relationships and understand the larger Sewanee community of parents and graduates. “It was so helpful sitting and chatting with alumni, even if they didn’t work in the field I’m pursuing,” says Nesbitt. In Nesbitt’s case, a conversation with one of her mock interviewers led to an introduction and a later, very real informational interview with someone currently working in her desired field.

REady for the Real World

The Beyond the Gates program also delved into some of the less-discussed, but no less important, topics that go along with finding a job. Over the course of various panel discussions and presentations, alumni and staff addressed concerns such as budgeting and personal finance, negotiating an apartment lease, making friends and finding community in a new location, and learning how to navigate a workplace’s culture. “We listened to Natychia [Redmond, student success and career readiness coach] list all of the things you have to pay for,” laughs Nesbitt, noting that some were unexpected. “But it was so important because you might not hear about that anywhere else.” Also adding a dose of reality to the proceedings: wearing professional dress to the various events. “Wearing interview attire and having the conversations that you’ll have with potential employers makes it all feel very real,” notes Nesbitt. “It’s great practice for what comes next.”

Seeing Success

Perhaps most importantly, the Beyond the Gates experience showed students that being successful can mean a number of different things. Says Nesbitt, “I really appreciated that we got to see different iterations of success with a variety of demographics, ages, and career paths represented among the alumni who were there.” Often, Nesbitt shared, students can feel like there’s a “cookie cutter” idea of what success looks like in the corporate world, which can leave some at a loss if they’re interested in more niche fields. By interacting with alumni who shared their personal stories about success in business, law, real estate, education, non-profit organizations, and more, students were able to see clearly how the educational and leadership experiences offered by Sewanee help to develop marketable skills in any area. “You see how the great experience we’ve had at Sewanee translates into opportunity,” concludes Nesbitt. “You leave the experience knowing that the path to success is there.”