Episode 4: Your Classes, Your Campus, Your Future: Making It All Connect

Guest: Swati Chopra: Associate Professor of Creative Arts, Mount St. Joseph University

Ever sat in class, worked on a group project, or finished an assignment and thought, “When am I ever going to use this?” You're definitely not alone. In this episode, Swati Chopra, Associate Professor at Mount St. Joseph University, joins Christin to talk about why the things you do in college matter long after the semester ends. They talk about the skills students are building in class without always realizing it, what group projects can actually teach you, and why getting involved on campus can have a bigger impact than you might expect.

Swati also talks about the importance of building relationships with faculty and taking a more active role in your education. And if you don't have your entire future figured out yet, that's okay. College isn't necessarily about having every next step planned. It's about becoming someone who knows how to keep learning when the next step isn't so clear.

Key Takeaways

This Week's Main Character Challenge

Pick one assignment you've completed this semester.

Think back to what it actually took to get it done. What were you trying to figure out? What part was difficult? What did you have to learn along the way? And if you had to do it again, what would you change?

You might find that the assignment taught you more than the subject matter. Maybe you had to work through a problem, communicate with other people, or figure something out when you didn't have all the answers.

That's experience, too.

Keep the Story Going

Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to Main Character Energy so you don't miss the next conversation, and share it with a friend who needs a reminder that college is about more than checking boxes on a transcript.

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Own your story. Build your future.

Connect with Christin

Episode 3: Tell Me About Yourself: How to Talk About What You’ve Done

Ever been asked, “Tell me about yourself,” and suddenly forgotten everything you’ve ever done? You’re not alone. In this episode, Katie Lake, Senior Talent Acquisition Recruiter at Premier Health, joins Christin for a conversation about how to talk about your experiences without sounding rehearsed or like you’re bragging. Together, they talk about what recruiters actually want to hear, why the impact of an experience matters more than having the “perfect” experience, and how a little preparation can make those career fair and interview conversations much easier.

Take 10 minutes this week and write down three experiences you've had during college.

They could be a class project, campus job, leadership role, volunteer experience, athletic experience, clinical, or anything else you've been involved in.

For each one, ask yourself:

What did I actually do?

Then say your answers out loud. Don't worry about sounding perfect. You're not giving a speech—you're practicing how to talk about the story you're already living.

Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to Main Character Energy so you don't miss the next conversation, and share it with a friend who could use a little help figuring out how to talk about what they've done.

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Mount St. Joseph University Career Center

Episode 2: Your Story, Your Skills: What You’re Actually Qualified For

Ever looked at an internship or job posting and immediately thought, “There’s no way I’m qualified for that”? You’re not alone. In this episode, Wendy Riordan, Talent Acquisition and Development Specialist at Q Laboratories, joins Christin for a conversation about what employers actually notice—and why students often overlook the skills they already have. Together, they talk about transferable skills, confidence, the value of part-time jobs and campus involvement, and why being qualified is about more than checking every box.

Find an internship, co-op, campus job, leadership opportunity, or job posting that interests you.

But don't ask yourself, “Am I qualified?”

Instead, ask:

“What evidence do I already have that I could learn how to do this?”

Look at your classes, jobs, teams, organizations, volunteering, and other experiences. You might have more to bring to the table than you realize.

Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to Main Character Energy so you don't miss the next conversation, and share it with a friend who might need the reminder that they have more skills than they think.

Main Character Energy

Episode 1: You're the Main Character; Let's Talk About Telling Your Story

Guest: Jessica Schueller, Associate Director, Mount St. Joseph University Career Center

What does it actually mean to own your story when you’re still figuring out what comes next? In our first episode, we talk about why the Career Center created Main Character Energy, what career readiness really looks like beyond a resume or first job, and how students are already building valuable skills through classes, jobs, activities, and everyday experiences. We also unpack the pressure social media can create around career timelines and success—and why your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. 

Your story matters—and it's going to be a good one. Main Character Energy, from the Career Center at Mount St. Joseph University, tackles the real questions, awkward moments, big decisions, and unexpected challenges of college, work, and figuring out what's next. New episodes every Wednesday. Find us wherever you get your podcasts.