Maria DeGenova
- Program Manager
- Joni and Friends
School Information
School: University of Massachusetts Amherst
College Major: Business
Years at College Works: 2011 to 2013
Career Information
Working For: Joni and Friends
Title: Program Manager
Industry: non-profit
College Works Career Impact
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
College Works Painting made interviewing for jobs a lot of fun. It was a great talking point. On a day to day basis in the workplace, College Works Painting has taught me not to sweat the small things and to control the controllable. I think I am a lot less stressed out than my coworkers and I am able to leave a bad day at work and not bring it home. College Works Painting also taught me the how to effectively communicate with executives in other departments in order to strategize and escalate ideas and issues across the business.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
You will be far more happy and successful when you let your own goals and desires drive you instead of the fear of disappointing others.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
College Works Painting will be the hardest thing that you have done, but it will also be one of the most fun and amazing experiences you ever had. Figure out why you are doing the internship. If you could only take away one thing, what would it be and why is that so important to you? If you remember that and can celebrate achieving that one thing, then you will be successful. The program is about being successful in all areas of your life. Finding the right work life balance may be the most difficult part. Continue to strive in your academics, social life, extracurricular activities, and in growing a business. Learning the right mixture is a life lesson you can take far past the internship.