Campuses:
My name is Brad Wilson and I’m a junior at the University of Minnesota in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences. I’m in their Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management program. I came into the U with an interest in renewable energy. One activity that the U offers, that has really given me a lot of great experience is the Mentoring Program here in CFANS. And the mentoring program has connected me with a working professional who works everyday in the field of renewable energy, his name is Mike. He works at 3M in their wind energy division. And so for meeting him and talking to him and continuing to network with him, I’ve gotten a lot of great information on renewable energy; I’ve learned a ton. I’ve learned about internship opportunities. And it’s just been great having someone to talk to and bounce ideas off of.
Another thing I do outside the classroom is volunteer with the Advocacy Committee up in Minnesota Renewable Energy Society. And that was basically just going out there and saying hey I’m interested in renewable energy, what group can I find to get involved with that can teach me something and through that I’ve learned so much about renewable energy. I’ve met so many great new people and made so many contacts; it’s been a very valuable experience.
Pursuing my interest outside the classroom has kind of allowed me to test it out to see, okay I’m interested in renewable energy let me get involved in some of these things outside the classroom to see if it really does fit. And it’s allowed me to learn more about it, be around people who do it for a living, and find out what it’s like to be involved with this as a long-term career. And that’s really allowed me to check into it with more detail and find out, yeah, this is what I really want to be doing, this really is where my goals lie.
I think one of the things you’re going to get by immersing yourself outside of the classroom that you may not necessarily get inside is just the professional communication; being around people who do this stuff for a living that want to share, seeing how they communicate with their peers. It will really prepare you to do well in interviews, to go into a job full steam, and just be successful outside the classroom.
