Notes on #thriving.

Dear ones,

Many of my career advising appointments are on Zoom these days. Tiny windows where people speak their truth, sit with their doubt, and search for something that feels like hope. What surprises me most is how often they believe they’re failing—not because they’ve done something wrong, but because everyone around them looks more successful, more confident, more put together. They compare themselves to curated snapshots and draw harsh conclusions: “I’m the weak one. I’m behind. I don’t have what it takes.” But here’s what I know—they’re not weak. They’re waiting. Waiting to discover their inner warrior.

The image you see here? That’s me—transformed through a superhero filter. Not because I’ve always felt strong, but because I know what it’s like to fight for confidence and show up anyway. It’s not about pretending. It’s about practicing who you want to become… until the practice feels like truth. Your inner warrior doesn’t arrive with fanfare. It flickers in the small brave choices: asking for help, submitting the job application you almost abandoned, showing up to Zoom even when your voice shakes. It grows one step at a time, one “maybe I can” at a time. And what you see in others? It’s not the full story. What’s real is the part of you that keeps going. That part is strong. That part is rising. So let this post be your permission slip. You don’t have to feel confident—you just have to believe that your future self is waiting beyond the bend, wearing the armor you’re quietly building today.

Julia

Before you polish your resume, refresh your LinkedIn, or start hunting for openings—open your closet.

Yes, really.

There’s something powerful about beginning where you are. Something that says: I can take care of myself. I can create space. Decluttering a closet isn’t just about the clothes—it’s a micro-shift with macro energy. You toss what no longer fits. You keep what supports your now. And in doing that, you gently signal to your system: I’m ready for a change.

Sometimes the first step in a job search isn’t strategic—it’s energetic. We don’t need to know our next role before we begin. We just need movement. Organizing a closet is movement. It’s a quiet confidence boost. A win you can see. A moment that says: You’re capable of clarity.

There’s something emotionally soothing about color-coded hangers, folded jeans, and an empty donation bag. It whispers, “I’m doing something.” And that momentum—tiny, tangible—is the same force that fuels applications and interviews.

You don’t need to overhaul your life. You just need to move one item from “stuck” to “sorted.”

So if the search feels too big—start small. One hanger. One drawer. One decision.

You don’t have to know what’s next—you just have to begin

~ Maria McCarthy, Director, Advising & Career Development

Dear ones –

The public health job and practicum market is on fire right now. We are seeing students and grads landing every single day. And yet, most of you are still searching. You are not behind — you are in process. Everyone is on a different timeline. Believe in yourself and check in with advisors you trust to get a new tip or words of encouragement.

Here’s a snippet of advising sessions I’ve had this week that might be helpful to you:

• Job searching is a marathon. Some miles you feel on top of the world while others require you to slow down, rest and rehydrate. It’s all forward progress. It’s critical to celebrate the successes (ex. getting an interview, being a finalist, asking for more money – whether or not you get it) along the way.
• Your resume and cover letter are reflections of you and your work; don’t use AI to make them perfect as perfect is (honestly) boring. Make sure somewhere on your materials are characteristics or descriptors that are specific to you (ex. creative, quirky, robust sense of humor, baker, basketball player, indie music aficionado, dog lover, cat lover).
• Build up those around you – not in a performative way, but authentically. If you are thinking something positive about someone (a comment they shared in class, their reflection piece that you read, how they intervened effectively in a tough conversation between peers) share it with them! Alternatively, keep random negative thoughts to yourself. We all need more kindness, now more than ever.
• Sharing with everyone around you how anxious you are does not help you become successful any faster. Share your worries with a few trusted folks and then do your part to keep the anxiety contagion from spreading.
• There are enough opportunities for everyone. Scarcity mindset is harmful to your progress. While you may be applying for the same opportunities as people you know, there are plenty more out there. This is not actually a competition but rather a search for the opportunity that is right for you at this moment.

Keep doing what you are doing. It is working. It will work for you. As always, I encourage you to come visit us in the Career and Practicum Office.

With enthusiastic cheers from the sidelines,
Julia

Dear ones –
Things have been incredibly busy in the Career and Practicum Office this week. We’ve been prepping students and grads for upcoming interviews and talking through the process of negotiating offers. At the same time, we have also met with some of you who are feeling “stuck”. Maybe you have selected opportunities of interest but haven’t yet been able to bring yourself to apply. This is more common than you know. 

If this resonates with you, I encourage you to set small goals for yourself. Finish the draft of the cover letter and resume. They won’t be perfect; nothing is. Let them be good enough. Complete the application process for one opportunity. The worst thing that will happen is that you won’t hear anything. I promise that if you don’t apply you won’t hear anything anyway so you might as well apply. After you apply, go do something else. Take a walk or work on homework. Get a change of scenery. Apply to another role the next day. Getting the first one or two applications out often breaks through the inertia. What you will find is that the next phase of this journey is waiting to hear back. While you wait, you might as well continue to apply.

This is not about volume but about consistent action. Tailoring your cover letter and resume for each job. Applying. One student asked me how to manage her time – should she devote an entire day to practicum searching each week? We decided that one hour per day, 3 days each week would be a realistic plan. She chose the days based on her class and work schedules and added the hour to her calendar. She plans to assess after a week or two and see how it’s working and will adjust as needed.
You’ve got this. Take the next small step. Cheer yourself on.

While our SPH community is deep in searches for new opportunities, we have just passed through a convergence of holy seasons across several major religions — all carrying a shared message of hope. Whether or not you observed these traditions, spring is arriving and green shoots are emerging. Take a moment to notice them, and to feel the hope that’s present in yourself, in others, and in the world around us. Let that light in.

With care and love,
Julia

Dear ones –

As we live out the final days of March, I want you to know that we are in the beginning of peak practicum/job seeking season for students and recent/upcoming grads. Luckily, it’s also peak season for postings! For those of you who have been at it for a while, I hope this time feels like a boost in interesting opportunities.

I was so excited to witness many new connections being made at the SPH Networking and Recruitment Fair this week, as Dean Hyder did! Whether or not the organization has an opening right now that is relevant for you, knowing someone in the organization that you can reach out to as jobs/practicums become available is key. Human nature is such that people hire who they know and/or they hire from a referral from a person they know. So this is part of a longer term strategy to build your network and build your confidence.

Speaking of confidence, I observed and heard directly from many of you that you felt nervous when you arrived at the fair and then heard on your way out the door messages like, “That was easier than I thought it would be!” and “I had 3 really good conversations that I need to follow up on” and “The employers were so nice!”. These experiences are so valuable. Fairs often don’t lead to immediate results but rather the beginning of a connection that can provide value at various points in time. This type of networking is a complement to applying for jobs that are posted. In most searches, you need to employ both strategies.

Know that there are enough practicum opportunities and public health jobs for everyone and yet, the search process can be grueling. When you take a risk and really go for something you want, it’s natural to feel a bit exposed and to fear failure/rejection. And not getting one of the opportunities you applied for will happen to 99.9% of candidates!! Rejection is just part of the process; it’s not actually a commentary on self-worth unless you decide to make it that. Disappointment is a feeling like any other that comes and then goes. It’s also one that makes the future successes that much sweeter!

Learning how to tolerate all of these feelings is the work and you don’t have to do it alone. Please reach out as we are standing by ready to cheer you on, guide you, and remind you how amazing you are.

Feeling very impressed by you,
Julia

Dear ones –

In the absence of an acknowledgement from our leaders of the current state of the world, we must look elsewhere for validation of all we are feeling in our bodies, hearts, and souls. The energy of war is in the air we are breathing – the heaviness, the fear, the anger, the lack of control, the endless grief. It is within me and you and all of those with beating hearts.

Who do we look to for instructions on how to survive this time, going on about the routines of our lives when literally nothing is ordinary? In periods of darkness humanity has long turned to the poets, artists and activists of the time. So today I offer you a poem by adrienne maree brown, entitled “spell for reclaiming the moment”. She starts the poem with, “even now / we could be happy”, a radical thought indeed. She instructs us on how to use our breath to connect to the now, to our sacred histories, to the choices we will make, not only allowing us to feel life’s pleasures in the midst of the horrors all around us but urging us to do just that. She is not asking us to compartmentalize or numb ourselves but rather to be fully alive by acknowledging the existence of both the darkness and the light and staying more in the light.

She ends the poem with, “we could be another’s blessing / with our brief and epic lives / where every day / we are given the option / of love”. And here we find the instruction we can cling to as the war invades our cells: we can choose love amongst each other. Over and over again. In our cars, our homes, our streets, our neighborhoods and our conversations. We get second and third and endless chances to choose love if we happen to miss the opportunity the first time. We can get a do over if we ask for it. It is never too late to choose love.

Yes, I realize this is not a typical message for a career and practicum newsletter. Atypical times call for novel  responses. I look for hope from my barista, my mail deliverer, and the stranger on the street, why not here? I have written about the upcoming in person Networking and Recruitment Fair on Wednesday March 25^th. You can find that in the February 6^th newsletter. For more on the practicum search, see the February 13^th newsletter.

Let’s reclaim the moments of our lives together with love as our guide.

In unexpected hope,
Julia

Dear ones –

“Do not lose heart. We were made for these times.”

This is the title of an essay written by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes (poet, psychoanalyst, author) back in March 2020 and every year another outlet publishes it because it continues to remain relevant.  I offer it to you now intentionally. As you head off on spring break you may find that when given the opportunity to rest, your nervous system may start to feel again. The busy-ness subsides and all that you’ve absorbed intellectually that is happening in the world – the current wars, ICE attacks, threats to public health – it starts to land in your body. This can manifest through exhaustion, tears for no obvious reason (pick one!), a larger or smaller appetite than usual, and disrupted sleep to name a few. One of the many bits of wisdom Dr. Pinkola Estes offers in this piece is that in moments of darkness in our world, one of the most powerful actions you can do is show your soul. Be your most authentic, grounded self. For in being your truest self (notice I wrote being, not doing anything), your humanity allows others to do the same and together we become the antidote.

As for the work of searching for a practicum or job? It continues to be a source of stress for many as employers ghost, reject and occasionally offer good news. Yet this isn’t a sign of the times, but a typical search. Keep going. It typically takes 3-6 months in an active search. Keep reaching out to your network for both informational interviews and for help getting noticed in the pile of applications. If you don’t know how to do that, make an appointment with one of us on Handshake – we are working during spring break. Trust the process while doing the work. You are going to be ok because you, like all of us, were made for these times.

In hope and rest,
Julia

Dear ones –

Today I am sharing an ideal what-not-to-do example of an exchange that occurred on my LinkedIn this week:

Hi Julia. I came across your profile while exploring qualitative research roles and noticed your background. I was most recently in a research role at a hospital where I co-designed interview and focus group guides, conducted thematic analysis, and supported mixed-methods research projects. I’m exploring remote qualitative roles and would really appreciate any advice you might have about the market or teams hiring. Thank you either way!

Hi XX – This is an odd message for you to send me – we worked together! I’m assuming you meant to send it to someone else. Make sure you personalize your messages if you want strangers to reply. And most people will not reply with advice so make your ask more specific. Hope that helps. Julia

Hi Julia. You’re right — I should have tailored my message given that we’ve worked together before. That’s on me, and I appreciate you pointing it out. I did mean to reach out to you specifically. I’m exploring qualitative and mixed-methods research roles and wanted to ask whether you happen to know of any teams or organizations that might be hiring for this type of work. If anything comes to mind, I’d really appreciate you keeping me in mind. Thank you again for the candid feedback — I appreciate it.

A couple of thoughts:

• This is from an alum who graduated 4 years ago that I worked closely with to find their first job.
• The messages from this alum are clearly written by AI.
• They did not heed my advice.

Please do not do this. Any of it. If you are unsure after reading this what exactly is wrong and what the alum could do better, it’s ok! Please bring it to a career advisor or trusted mentor and talk it through. While AI can help a sentence sound better, it cannot make it be more human. Always opt to be a real person as that is where genuine connection will happen. No human is interested in supporting a bot in their job search.

Living together in our delightfully imperfect humanity,
Julia

Dear ones –

For the last few weeks, I have focused on practical strategies regarding the upcoming virtual SPH Networking and Recruitment Fair as well as the practicum search. Today I want to go in a different direction. I encourage you to spend a few minutes reading this image.

In my conversations with students and recent grads, one of the common threads is some form of the question, “Am I the only one still searching?” The feeling behind the question comes from a fear of failing, particularly in comparison to our peers. In our society, this is a very real–often unsaid–worry, ingrained in us in the early years of life in the form of ‘only the strong survive’ or ‘first is best.’ This image invites us to rethink our scarcity mindset and offers new ways to intentionally spend our energy vs. the default fear of being the one who failed.

Looking at “What is mine to tend” encourages us to focus on what is in our control. Examples include:

• What can I do in response to the feedback I am receiving from the job market?
• What can I do to buoy myself when I get “ghosted” by employers?
• How can I take better care of myself during this stressful rite of passage?
• What reminds me that I am a valued soul regardless of what I do for work?

Letting go of “What is not mine to carry” (phew, what a revelation some of these are!) can lighten your load and leave more room for you to focus on your own unique path. And as you reach each of the milestone destinations along that path, your cup will be more likely to have enough left in it to cheer for the success of your peers. Now that’s true abundance.

In the learning to tend and let go,
Julia

Dear ones –

I’m going to write about the practicum search today. For all of you job seekers, take the parts that resonate with your job search and ignore the rest.

We have heard from many of you first-year MPH students that you are stressed about finding a summer practicum. You have already sent many applications and haven’t heard anything back. Here’s what we know to be true and I hope you will read this carefully:

• There are enough practicums for everyone who needs one; this is not a scarcity situation.
• Most of the practicums have not been posted yet — we see the bulk of summer practicums posted in March and April and even into May.
• For the typical plan-everything-ahead student, it is very stressful to not know yet what you are going to be doing this summer; we hear you and we know. Try to trust us on the above.
• It is a better strategy to send out fewer applications that are tailored and of high quality to opportunities that actually interest you than to send out bulk applications to every posting. Personalization matters…leading to the next point.
• If you have never had your resume and cover letter reviewed by a professional, give it a try! CPO Drop-in Hours are Monday–Thursday from 1 pm – 5:50 pm every week in Talbot 226 East.
• You do not need to do this alone. Our practicum director, Ryan Wisniewski, will be hosting several SPH Practicum Workshops (go to link and search by “SPH”) this semester where you can learn strategies that work. Make a 1:1 appointment with a career advisor (in Handshake go to Career Center -> Appointments -> SPH Career and Practicum Office).
• We send out hot practicums on Fridays in the CPO Newsletter. Please tell your friends.
• If you are looking at practicum postings that are unpaid, apply NOW for Generation Health Funding (yes, before you have found a practicum).
• The vast majority of students do not have a practicum yet; you are not behind.
• Register for the two SPH Networking and Recruitment Fairs (Feb 24^th and March 25^th) to make professional connections.

Please know that while sending in practicum applications is the responsibility of the student, all eight of the Career and Practicum Office staff exist to support you in this process. Please meet with us. It’s ok to come to the 1:1 appointment and not know what to say or do. We will help you. If you are used to doing things on your own, try something new and get support. I assure you, that is a sign of strength.

We look forward to seeing you in Talbot 2 East or on Zoom very soon!

With excitement to support you,
Julia

Dear ones –

It’s hard to believe it’s February already. That means we are in full practicum and job search season. Today I want to share with you why it’s important for you, as a current student or recent graduate, to attend the upcoming Virtual SPH Networking and Recruitment Fair on Tuesday February 24^th.

These types of large-scale employer events aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. And when you review the list of employers, as well as the job and practicum roles they have open, you may or may not find some that interest you. Truthfully, none of that is as relevant as you would think.

Think of these fairs as an opportunity to build social and professional connections in the field of public health. For some people, this is an easy skill. For others, this sounds daunting. When you attend a virtual fair you can register for 1:1 sessions, group sessions, or both. We recommend both, and we recommend choosing 3 employers. This will be an opportunity to practice talking a little about yourself, listening to the needs of the person to whom you are speaking, and finding a connection point. Sometimes the connection is about the weather, their dog barking in the background, a shared interest in art based on a painting in the virtual background, the actual position, or something else entirely. This builds a valuable human connection.

While every year some of our students and grads report landing a position from the conversations at the fair, others have reported that they were surprised to make a great connection with an organization they never would have considered. And while it might not have led to a job (right away or ever), what it did was build the candidate’s confidence in finding commonality with a stranger. And in this country at this time, during an epidemic of isolation and loneliness, that is a real gift.

More on this next week.

With the hope of many new connections to come,
Julia

Dear ones –
We recognize that many of you are feeling stressed about the practicum or job search and are unsure of what to do. Today’s newsletter is for you.
I met this week with a job seeker for the first time who has been searching since May and is really discouraged. In describing their activity, they said, “I have sent over 500 applications, and I haven’t heard anything.”

Dear reader, please don’t ever send 500 applications.

That is not the way to get a job. In unpacking this further, I discovered that they were not using cover letters and they were applying to any opening possible in their geographic area. I share with you where we went from there in hopes that it will help you in your search:

• Reviewed resume and suggested meeting with our CPO grad assistants to get baseline feedback; career advisor will do the final review.
• Shared a sample of a cover letter and reviewed how to tailor it to showcase the skills and experience the employer is seeking; explained how this is where to demonstrate interest and fit for the position.
• Made a plan to create a list of targeted employers; next step will be to find connections by reviewing LinkedIn and organizations’ website, searching by BUSPH and alma mater. Reach out to 2 connections to ask for informational interviews.
• Reminded them that the jobs in the Friday CPO Newsletter are “hot” because these are newly posted jobs for the level of our students and graduates.
• Apply for positions that are the right fit for experience and education with a few that are a bit higher or lower if the organization and/or salary is right.

These steps are a core part of our 1:1 advising which also comes with personalized advice and support as well as tips and tricks. I urge you to meet with a career advisor using your Handshake account to book the appointment. Also, all of these steps are discussed at length in the Career PREP course which is required for the MPH program and optional for all other degrees.

Next week I will be sharing more about the upcoming virtual SPH Career Fair on February 24th.

With momentum and optimism,
Julia

Dear Students and Grads –

I am excited to write ahead of this predicted-to-be wild winter weekend in New England. I have visions of cozy nooks with blankets, warm beverages, and hours on a screen searching LinkedIn for interesting jobs and people. While I am partly joking, I am serious about making time at the beginning of a new year to think about networking and who’d you like to connect with. My colleague Caroline wrote a newsletter with many details about this at the end of last year. If you missed it, you can find it here [scroll down to Networking: Authentic Conversations].

In conversation with a recent grad this week, I asked her if she’d done some informational interviews with SPH alums. She said she hadn’t but had had some informal conversations some alums. When I asked what type of questions she asked them, it turns out we were talking about the same interaction but using different terms. Reaching out to an alum or someone else who you don’t know to ask for a time to talk to them – whether you text, email or LinkedIn message – is an example of networking. The term that we use in Career Services is “informational interview”. It sounds like many in this generation call it an “informal/casual conversation.” What makes this different from a formal interview (for a position) is that 1) the candidate asks for the meeting and 2) the candidate asks most of the questions. It’s a chance to get to know more about the person as well as the organization where they work. This is a key part of finding jobs, building your public health network, and feeling confident as a public health professional.

While there are many resources available on the SPH website as well as online that give tips and tricks for these types of interactions, we can also prepare you in advance if you’ve never done it. You can find available appointments with career advisors on Handshake (go to Career Centers -> Appointments -> SPH Career and Practicum Office -> New Appointment). We hope to see you soon.

Stay warm this weekend!

Julia

Dear Students and Grads –

Welcome to 2026. It already has different energy than 2025 and I, for one, am here for it.

At the dawn of this new year part of my job is to share with you the state of the public health job market. Remarkably, it is good news: The market remains very strong for BUSPH graduates. See the hot jobs and practicums listed below.

The other part of my job is to offer you hope in a time of uncertainty. While it may not be included in my job description, I believe it is a requirement for all who carry hope to offer it to others. I tend to strengthen my own hope by reading the words of the activists and poets. So today I offer you the January 30, 2025 column by the wise and wonderous adrienne maree brown entitled, Murmurations: Dawn of a New Beginning. While written almost a year ago to this day, it reads as if for our current moment, “As all of these crises unfold around our precious globe, we are learning to persist in the work of living. We can simultaneously feel the end of the world as we’ve known it and the beginning of what will be shaped by us.” The full article (like all of her work) encompasses truth and pain, hope and beauty, and love and action for each soul who chooses to partake. For me, her words are both a balm and an invitation to connect to the collective of human goodness that is ever present.

I am sending you love and light and an offer of support. You can find available appointments with career advisors on Handshake (go to Career Centers -> Appointments -> SPH Career and Practicum Office -> New Appointment). I hope to see you soon.

With grounded care and hope,

Julia

Happy 2026!

For all in a job or practicum search, there are some great tips out there for being successful in this current market. You may have already learned these in Career PREP but it’s good to read from other sources who have been hiring recently. Sharing a post we found this week:

General Tips for Job Seekers from a Hiring Manager:

• You have 30 seconds to put your best foot forward. Don’t waste time on an AI generated cover letter or telling me about all of the tasks of a non-relevant job you had 5 years ago.
• Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date.
• For the love of unicorns, do NOT use long paragraphs of text or huge lists of bullet points on your resume or cover letter. No one will read this.
• Don’t squeeze so much on the page that there are no margins.

To read more of Alissa Hauser’s tips on LinkedIn, go to https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7414130843025305600/

You got this! Book an appointment with a BUSPH career advisor using Handshake if you’d like support.

~Julia

Dear lovely students and grads –

As we come to the end of 2025 and publish this final CPO Newsletter of the year, I want to offer three thoughts:

1. There will always be a need for the work of public health. Public health is an essential field regardless of what politicians say or choose to fund and the field has been unpopular with politicians many times throughout history. Trust that all you are learning and have learned will serve you well for your entire career. These skills are transferrable and taking the public health framework into other industries (if that is a path you choose) can only be a positive.
2. The importance of (our SPH) community. As we head out into the world this holiday season, I am reminded that I am part of something special: My SPH Community. It is one of many communities that I am a member of if you include family, chosen friends, faith community, volunteer community, online communities, etc.…and it is one that I feel immensely connected to.  I say all this to remind you that you, too, are part of this special community. If you have moments of loneliness or feel a lack of connection in the coming month, please remember this. Whether you are a student or have recently graduated, there are so many people who are here for you and will delight in hearing from you. If you don’t feel strongly connected, make yourself a promise that you will take a risk in the new year and make one or two new connections. You can always start with a career advisor as an easy first outreach. We want to get to know you and that one relationship can take you far.
3. The ripple effect is in full force. I truly believe that the more grounded and full of love we are within, the more grounding and loving vibes we give off to the world around us just by being ourselves. I invite you to take time as the year ends and another begins to fill your cup in whatever way you choose. The human experience involves hardship and joy, often at the same time. Remembering in the midst of difficulty that there is also much to be grateful for can be a superpower and a beacon of hope for others.

I look forward to our work together in 2026. And I wish you love and joy and rest during this holiday season.

With a full heart,
Julia

Hello dear students and graduates –

Can you feel it in the air? It’s the annual time of winding down… in academia, yes, but also in the broader world. There is a lot of talk about doing things in the new year and less about the next couple of weeks. Final exams are in full swing and job searches are slowing down. Our collective energy is fairly worn out and yet there is a bit of buzzy excitement for this time when much of the economy and culture in the US takes a collective rest. Many academic institutions, nonprofits and even some businesses close down for the week between Christmas and New Years regardless of whether one celebrates these holidays.

I encourage you to fully embrace this time. Give yourself a break in all of the ways you can. Offer that break to others where possible. Slowing down is a natural process, especially in climates where there is winter. As the ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, noted, “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”

As we arrive at the darkest day before the light starts to slowly return, letting your body and mind rest without judgement is a radical act of self-care. And if we make the time to take care of ourselves it will enable us to get back out there to do the work we want to do in the world in the new year.

With encouragement and grace,
Julia

Hello dear ones –
This week I’ve heard two interesting messages that I’d like to share with you on this frigid Friday.

The first one came during a career panel where two MPH alums from ’12 and ’18 shared about their career trajectories from graduation. As you can imagine, they both have significant work experience these years later and both have recently, in the past 3 months, landed positions at a new employer, thus sharing in the experience of job searching in 2025. What they experienced may surprise you: they were not offered interviews for every application they submitted, nor did they get a job offer for every search for which they were a finalist. They admitted how hard it was on their ego, yet were able to reframe it for themselves as good practice at telling their stories (a key piece of the job search) and a good way to expand their network with all the interviewers they met in the process. In fact, one shared that they got rejected for a position and then several months later was contacted by the hiring manager as they had another position open and ended up hiring her! So, the initial rejection turned out to be a win in the end.

The second message came when I met with a graduate who has been in a job search for 6 months and is not getting the traction she expected. She asked me what I thought about taking a month off from the search (she is working a restaurant job that brings in needed income) because her mental health is starting to suffer. This from a high achiever who tends to “do more” when things get hard. And yet here she was listening to her truth that at this time, her body and spirit were telling her she needs to do less. She expressed interest in getting into the holiday season – baking, being with friends, things that bring her joy – and coming back to the search in the new year. What an example of going against the grind culture to choose oneself when things are really hard!

I share these experiences in hopes they may be of use to you in your own search, whether it be a practicum or job. Searches are not easy ever, let alone right now. You are not alone. You can take a break. You can make the search work for your needs as they evolve. You can get support (by booking an appointment directly on Handshake).

Wishing you all the best as you finish up Fall classes.
Warmly,
Julia

Dear Students and Grads –
As we head into the holiday season, the theme that resonates for many is gratitude. This year in particular, gratitude may be something that feels harder to grasp with the state of the world and the stress in our lives. So I offer you this: Gratitude is a practice. If you put energy into it, you will find more and more to be grateful for. It’s never too late to feel gratitude.

Start with the inside: Yourself. Can you be grateful that you are showing up for your life on a regular basis? Grateful that you asked for help from a tutor or professor? Grateful that you expressed your authentic feelings (even if it was a little messier than you would have liked)? Grateful that you prioritized sleep or exercise or healthy eating? Feeling grateful for oneself helps to shift any negative voices that live rent-free in our heads into more supportive ones. Practice.

Then move to the outside. Can you feel grateful that your computer is reliable, that the TA explained the assignment more clearly, that the one tree near campus is still clinging to its leaves… any and all of it.

Holidays can be complicated for many of us, so by grounding yourself in gratitude, it can shift your energy into a calmer state of being, making any challenges with travel, family dynamics, or loneliness, just a little bit easier to manage.

I can tell you that my colleagues and I are really grateful that you are part of the SPH Community.

Wishing you a restful and joyful break,
Julia

Hello dear ones –
As the government begins to reopen, there’s some encouraging news for us. Some of the world’s wealthiest people are giving their money to public health causes. Melinda French Gates announced $250 million in grants to over 80 organizations that provide health care for women worldwide. One local recipient, Health Imperatives here in Massachusetts, received $2.5 million to support reproductive and comprehensive healthcare for women and families.

Meanwhile, Warren Buffett is donating billions to five charities this year, with most of it going to the Gates Foundation, a major funder of global health initiatives. Regardless of how you feel about private philanthropy’s role in healthcare, this funding will make a real impact, especially at a time when the US government has stopped funding many of these services.

What does this mean for you? Jobs. As part of any job search, a key piece is to follow the funding. Organizations receiving these grants will likely be hiring in the coming months. Explore the other 79 organizations supported by Melinda French Gates, see which align with your interests, sign up for job alerts on their career page, and follow them on LinkedIn.

We’re continuing to see students and alumni receive interviews and offers. Keep your momentum going before the usual year-end slowdown and don’t hesitate to reach out if we can help.

With hope,
Julia

Dear lovely students and grads –

Happy November and Scorpio Season! I hope you’re adjusting well to the time change and shorter days. This transition can take more out of us than we expect, so if you’re feeling a bit tired this week, you’re not alone.

I also hope you were able to attend some of the recent practicum or alumni panels. A big thank-you to our incredible student and alumni speakers who shared their experiences so generously. One common takeaway is that every practicum or first job offers valuable lessons. Sometimes the biggest insights come from discovering what you don’t want, whether it’s the industry, remote/in-person nature, job duties, etc.. That knowledge is just as important as finding what you love.

Another big takeaway I hear every year is the importance of flexibility. Have a plan, follow it, and if things don’t go as expected, adjust. For example, you’ve applied for every summer opportunity in Handshake for 3-4 weeks without hearing back from any of them. It’s time to try something new — get your materials reviewed by the CPO team, connect with an alum who works at an organization of interest, or review the past practicum database for more ideas.

Remember, you’re not in this alone. The Career & Practicum Office offers group workshops, 1:1 advising, and plenty of other resources to support you. And don’t hesitate to reach out to faculty; many are eager to support you and help connect you with opportunities.

Julia

Hello dear ones –

As we enter this special time of year, I wish everyone who celebrates a safe and Happy Halloween and/or Happy Samhain. For those celebrating the Day of the Dead, may it be a time of peaceful remembrance. And as we turn our clocks back, I hope we all enjoy an extra hour of rest as we settle into the shorter days ahead.

This week, I’ve spoken with alumni, recent graduates, current students, and prospective students, and I want to share some incredibly hopeful takeaways.

• Our alumni continue to amaze me with their generosity and commitment to giving back to current students, the school community, and each other. Current students, I encourage you to attend upcoming alumni panels (found in Handshake under Events) regardless of your certificate.
• Our recent grads who are job-seeking are doing it. They are navigating the stressful processes and finding success. They are finding organizations that are hiring, landing interviews, and receiving offers. AND they are clear that this is not easy. The search requires patience, perseverance, humility, flexibility, confidence, and faith. But even on the hard days, they’re showing up and succeeding.
• Our BUSPH students continue to impress, sharing practicum experiences and moderating the discussions, asking thoughtful questions, and supporting each other as they plan their practicum/job searches, all while balancing typical grad school and anything-but-typical worldwide anxiety.
• Our prospective students are more committed than ever to public health. Their enthusiasm, even amid federal disinvestment in the field, is both invigorating and reassuring that the work of public health must and will go on.

Taken together, I am reminded of the words from esteemed poet June Jordan, “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for” …to improve systems, make structural changes, demand equity, and make our world better for all. I hope you remember this when you are feeling low. You are part of a powerful force for good, and our numbers are great.

In solidarity and hope,

Julia

Dear BUSPH Students, Happy Friday!

I’m excited to share some valuable insights from our recent Health Communication Alumni Career Panel, designed to support your growth and #thriving as you navigate your public health journey. These tips relate to all certificates and career paths — real-world advice to help you get started, keep you motivated, and boost your confidence.

7 Alumni Tips for Students:

1. Trust Your Education: You’ve done the work, so believe in it. Your classes, projects, and practicum experiences build the foundation you need. You’re not starting from scratch — you’re starting from the knowledge and connections you develop at BUSPH.
2. Storytelling is Your Superpower: Facts inform, but stories move hearts. Add the human element—use emotion, context, and lived experiences to illustrate your passion and make your message stick.
3. Don’t Stress About Job Titles: Public health careers rarely follow a straight line. Focus less on the title and more on what you’ll learn, who you’ll serve, and how you’ll grow. Every experience adds value. Sometimes employers will adapt a job description to fit your skills. And apply even if you don’t feel 100% ready—you probably are.
4. Learn as You Go: Nobody expects you to come into a new job or practicum knowing everything. Most learning happens on the job — every meeting, message, and even mistake is an opportunity to grow. Be gentle with yourself as you navigate these steps.
5. Build Transferable Skills & Embrace Multiple Perspectives: Strong writing, clear communication, cultural humility, and adaptability are your power tools. Collaborating with people from different disciplines, communities, and experiences creates better solutions and opens new ways of thinking. These skills will carry you through any public health role.
6. Tap into Your Community: You are part of a vibrant and generous BUSPH community offering deep expertise and diverse perspectives. Alumni, classmates, faculty and staff are here to support you. Check out BU Connect and LinkedIn, ask questions, attend events—lean on your people.
7. Communicate Creatively and Inclusively: Make sure your public health messages reach everyone. Use simple, respectful language, and reach your audience where they live—LinkedIn, TikTok, podcasts, reels, whatever works. Lead with empathy and keep your “why” front and center.

One of my favorite alumni quotes from this week’s session: “You are going to be OK.” This isn’t just a comforting phrase; it reflects what our SPH data shows and what our alumni and employer partners tell us. Others have been in your shoes, full of nerves and doubts. Hearing this assurance from them may make it easier to for you to say with confidence, “I’m going to be OK,” and truly believe it.

Your path is unique and the challenges you face now are part of a bigger story. Remember, you’re never alone in this – your community and the Career & Practicum Office are here to support you every step of the way.

Keep believing in yourself. Stay curious. You are the future of public health, and we’re rooting for you!

Caroline, CPO Director of External Relations

Hello dear ones –

The topic of rejection has come up in our office this week. How are you feeling about the possibility of rejection, particularly in practicum or job search process? The idea of taking a risk and putting yourself out there feels scary for many of us. And yet, rejection is a rite of passage into your true self. Rejection is a part of being human.

I know the fear can be so big that it can prevent you from trying. It can keep you stuck in a place where you can’t move forward because of the fear of failure. I have seen it among your peers (and mine!). And yet, here is the truth: every single human experiences rejection – countless times – in their life. You will too. And the sooner you can walk straight towards that fear and go for it, the sooner you will see that you will be ok no matter what happens.

You may be searching for the first time (use job or practicum interchangeably as it applies to you) or you have done this before. The job search process is one of the most stressful things in a human’s life, mainly because it is inherently full of rejection. This is as true at the start of one’s career as it is in the peak. You will be hard pressed to find someone that you’ll meet in life that has gotten every job they interviewed for. You will never be judged poorly for getting rejected for a job. It is just part of the process. And most times, when you look back on a job rejection from a time in the future, you see why it was a good thing you didn’t get that opportunity!

To that end, I propose that we celebrate the rejections as much as the successes. Because in order for you to be rejected it means you tried, you went for it. And THAT is the huge success. Most of the time you can’t control what happens, only the effort that you put into it. If you put the energy and commitment into the trying and then release it into the Universe, that is a huge win.

I invite you to go against the masses and believe that your life – even during this time in the world – is going to be glorious. Believe that any path you take will teach you multiple lessons and give you many gifts. And believe that if you trust your instincts – not the voices from the outside – you can live in more ease and contentment regardless of what is going on in the world around you.

Wishing you a wonderful long weekend.

In joy and courage,
Julia

Dear ones–

It finally feels like Fall and I’ve heard a lot of folks talk about their favorite Fall things in Boston including pumpkin spice flavored everything, great sleeping weather, hiking outdoors, and the vibrant colors of the trees.

If you are struggling to find joy in your world these days, I offer you the strategy that I use the most in low moments: I get down to basics and find small things to be grateful for. A few of my go-tos: my pillow (which makes me smile thinking about it); my cats who seem to know when abundant feline love is needed; and hooded sweatshirts. That’s a lot of gratitude right there and it usually pulls my mood one level up and out of any gloom.

For jobs and practicums there are also things to be grateful for (see Handshake for more info):

• Practicum Panel Week October 27^th – November 4^th
• Alumni Panels in several functional certificates this month (with even more coming)
• Resume and cover letter review drop-in hours weekly: M/T/W/R from 1pm – 5:50pm in Talbot 2E

Once again, you don’t have to do any of this alone – share the joys and/or lows with someone else as that act of being in relation with another often has a buoying effect. When in doubt, head into Talbot 2East and find a kind soul.

Wishing you many reasons to feel upbeat this week.

In all things cozy,
Julia

Dear students and graduates –

Here is my wisdom to share this week (and I wish I had thought of it):

It’s so easy to think other people have it better than you – whether it’s their job/practicum, their certainty in their certificate, their housing, their friend group, any and all of the things we compare to other people. If this resonates for you, you are not alone in this feeling as it is part of the human experience.

If/when that feeling hits you, I invite you to take a moment to find the little things you are grateful for in your world. And then take some intentional time to identity things about your current situation that you might be able to change to make it just a little better. Sometimes the most impactful thing – and the one that we have complete control over – is our attitude.

As always, you don’t have to do this alone. Reach out to your trusted people at BUSPH or beyond to support you in this reflective work. It often helps to share it with someone who cares.

Wishing you a happy start to Fall and Libra season, a great time to spend the energy on the activities and people that light you up.

With joy,
Julia

Hello, dear ones –

I often get asked by students, “How do I know I am making the right decision? What if I choose the wrong certificate? Or select the wrong practicum/job?”

Here is what I know to be true based on my life experience and from the countless conversations with your peers. There is no wrong decision. There may be decisions that are an easier path, with more flow. That will get you closer to your purpose on this earth. But if you are meant to do something, you will find it regardless of the path you take to get there. And you will learn and grow so much on every path.

When students ask me about the right decision I tell them this: The fastest way to finding the “right” decision is to listen to your gut. Which, in all of the noise in this world, is often the most difficult voice to hear. Because of that, I encourage you to find someone who can reflect back to you what your instinct is telling you. Hint: Career advisors are really good at this!

If it’s helpful use these 5 steps:

Step 1: Share with that person what lights you up

What is your heart calling you to do (ignoring the outcomes for a moment)?

Step 2: Sit in that for a few moments.

Describe it in detail. What does it look like? Feel like? Sound like? What will you be doing? With whom? What is this energy of possibility? What could it mean for you and the world? Take a few notes.

Step 3: Now share with that person what is making you nervous

What are other people’s voices saying in your head and in your world (actual or perceived/anticipated)? What are your fears and doubts about the choice that lights you up, including the possible outcomes?

Step 4: Sit in that for a few moments.

Describe it in detail. How do the fears feel? Are they yours? Be honest with yourself. Maybe they are. Maybe they’re not. No judgement. What would happen to you if the fears came true? What would that feel like?

Then imagine you went with a safer option. How does that feel? Make some notes.

Step 5: Make a decision. [It doesn’t have to be in that moment and it’s often better to sleep on it.]

Dear one, you get to decide. You get to take a safer option if that is best for you in this moment. You get to listen to other people’s voices if that is what you feel you need to do. You get to go for your own dream in this moment if you decide to. Remember, whichever path you take will (eventually) get you to where you need to go. If something or someone is meant for you, they will find you. It will come to you. It will never be too late if it’s meant for you.

And you will have the support of the Universe as you go. If you ask for it, you shall receive it. There is so much support if you are open to it. Here at SPH. Outside. Take a breath and try to quiet the fear a bit and shift into a mindset of abundance. The world has convinced us that the resources are scarce and if we don’t make the right decision we will miss out. It’s not true. There is enough for us all. Enough money, enough jobs/practicums, enough success, enough love. All of it.

With compassion from a true believer in abundance,

Julia

Dear ones –
You’ve made it through a full week of classes – congratulations! You have the roadmap of what the Fall will look like and you are in full “go” mode.

New beginnings, whether it’s a new program or a new semester in an ongoing program, bring opportunities to do things differently. What are your hopes for this time? New friendships? A more robust public health network? A new skill (or two)? Strong grades? Successful job applications? Building healthier habits to sustain you through the stressful times? There are so many possibilities that can further your growth.

I encourage you to be intentional about whatever you choose to manifest and put your energy into at this time. Make a commitment to it. To yourself. Take some bit of action towards your goals every single day. As the saying goes, nothing changes if nothing changes. What do you need to do today to get to where you want to be?
My advice is to seek out someone to support you in these changes. Whether a peer coach, a new healthcare provider, a career advisor, or a friend who can serve as an accountability partner, having someone to guide, provide, advise, celebrate successes, be there in the low moments, or share a cup of tea will make the journey a little more manageable and maybe even more enjoyable. If this is your first semester at BUSPH, know that there are so many people here that can be of support to you. Your professors, advisors, Graduate Student Life team, and all of us at the Career & Practicum Office are here for you.

In the coming weeks life will continue to get even more busy for you. I hope you seek out joy in the little things and I really hope you find a yummy cup of tea (or coffee).

With excitement,
Julia

Welcome (back), students! We are so excited to see you on campus. Your presence is very powerful for the SPH community. In fact, you bring us joy just by being here. By being you.

I say this every year, and if you haven’t yet discovered, I hope you will soon find out that most of us who work at BUSPH are here because we are called to work with people during their graduate student journeys in public health. In other words, our professional calling requires that we are a part of your journey. That makes us invested in you before we even know you, let alone once we make a connection with you IRL! That intentional interconnectedness is one of the things that makes BUSPH such a special place.

What this means for you is that you don’t have to do anything to warrant our care and attention. You don’t have to get an A on a project. You don’t have to fail your exam. You don’t need to be the best at anything or be the one who struggles most. You get to be you in all of your glorious imperfections. I realize that it is not easy to be our authentic selves in this overly critical world and that learning to trust this type of being will take time. At this moment during the first week of classes, time is on our side.

So over the next week, I invite you to ponder how you can be more of your true self here. Oh, and while you are pondering my invitation, please know that when our attempts at radical welcome fall short of your expectations – which they inevitably will – know that we are being our gloriously imperfect selves too. What a community we will become together!

With delight,
Julia

Dear ones –

We have come to the time in the academic year when things slow down a bit. In that spirit we will scale back our weekly SPH Career and Practicum Newsletter. Because we know that job searches are still happening in full force, we will continue to include hot jobs and practicums and relevant career advice. I will not be writing my column over the summer and there will be a few weeks that the newsletter will be on vacation.

That said, the SPH Career and Practicum team is still available to support you this summer. Our office is open daily from 9am – 5pm and you can book directly on Handshake with advisors, or you can email SPHCareerOffice@bu.edu with questions and requests for assistance. If you are a recent graduate, we often are asked if you still have access to services and I can assure you, we are here for you as long as you need us!

In this slower paced summer season, I encourage you to follow these rhythms in every way that you can. Seek out ways to relax, go barefoot, wear only one layer of clothing, be spontaneous, work smarter and not harder, and go after what brings you joy. Remember that the experience of being a human is not an easy one and is often quite stressful. That is true no matter what is happening in the larger world. The human experience is also full of beauty, humor and love when we open ourselves up to it. I invite you to do just that.

Wishing us all a summer of being and not just doing.

In love, light and laughter,

Julia

Dear ones –

As we head into the long weekend that signals the unofficial beginning of summer, I want to share a topic from my conversations with grads this week that feels important for the whole community right now. When you are in a job search, it feels like there is always more to do. More jobs to apply for, more contacts to network with, more inquiries to make about your previously submitted applications. It often feels that the reason you haven’t landed yet is because you haven’t done enough. I have been asked multiple times by incredibly talented, highly qualified candidates who are working objectively hard in their searches, “What should I do now?”

To be honest, they have not liked my answer. Yet it feels really clear to me based on the fear and tightness I experience in them, that the answer is to not “do” anything else related to the search. But rather accept that they have done enough in this moment and feel proud and accomplished that they are conducting a thorough, smart job search. And now it’s time to rest and play – go outside, watch a show, play with your pet, see a friend, talk to your grandparent.

The unrelenting drive to do more without celebrating all that you have done is a symptom of the capitalistic system. There is no humanity in capitalism. So you, as a candidate, have to intentionally claim your humanity by grounding yourself in what you and your gut feeling know to be true… you are enough. You are going to be ok. This is a stressful process and you can’t do it 24 hours a day.

The job that you do in the workforce does not equal your value as a human being. We have been taught to feel that way in every part of our lives so it is really difficult to believe, especially when you are in the vulnerable position of seeking a job. Spend some time thinking about this over the long weekend as we head into a new season. It’s ok if you don’t believe it. Even just challenging your assumptions will bring you closer to your humanity. And hopefully you will start to feel in your cells all that you have accomplished thus far. As always, I encourage you to make an appointment with a career advisor to support you in this difficult process.

I wish you a long weekend full of laughter, contented silences, and experiences that fill your cup.

Together in our humanity,
Julia

P.S. More grads have landed this week!

Julia

Dear ones –

Commencement Weekend 2025 has arrived. For many of you this is an incredible milestone in your life. For others, it’s a foreshadowing of what is yet to come. I encourage you to sink into all the goodness in this ritual – whether it’s yours or someone else’s – including the celebration of achievements, the pride in overcoming, the gratitude for support systems, the inspiration from professors, advisors and peers. Let it lift you in hope for your personal future and our collective futures. Because regardless of which atrocity the news is reporting, there are always so many good things happening simultaneously. Let this weekend serve as a reminder that we are complex human beings capable of holding and witnessing difficult truths and delicious pleasures at the same time.

As for the public health job market this week, it continues to persevere! The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has announced a full hiring freeze as of May 27th which is always challenging. For those unfamiliar, this happens every couple of years and usually lasts 4-6 months. In spite of that our grads continued to get new invitations to interview this week and several have received offers. Use this knowledge as a light if your job/practicum search feels a little dark at the moment, as the data remind us that you will soon light the way for others.

In hope and light,

Julia

Dear ones –

Graduation season is upon us, which is a really joyous season for so many people. What is often hidden is the stress it can bring to those who are not sure what their next step in life is. [Note: This is the MAJORITY in public health.] I’m going to use this space today to share a few tips for you whether you are the graduate or are attending someone else’s graduation.

Your job is to prepare for the conversations that will inevitably take place. You will be asked by multiple people what you are doing now, whether it’s a summer break in your program or life after graduate school. You can dread these convos all you want, but they are going to happen. Why not approach them from a position of strength by taking control of the narrative. Some examples:

Question: Congratulations on your graduation! What are you doing next?
Answer: Thank you so much! I am so excited to finish the program, it’s been a [wonderful] experience. I am in the midst of a job search and it’s going well*. Most graduates in public health find a job after graduation; that’s the norm for the field. We have an [awesome] career office that supports us all summer so I’ll be sleeping in, binging shows, and job searching this summer.

Question: Where are you doing your practicum?
Answer: Great question! I am in the midst of finalizing my summer plans and I’m excited to nail it down now that the semester is finally over.* What are you doing this summer?

*It’s ok if most days you do not feel like the search is going well. Fake it till you make it, channel your inner optimist, take my word for it that you will land, or find another way to tap into your upbeat self. If you respond positively, they will respond in kind. And having a positive conversation will keep your vibes high vs making you feel even more stressed than you already might. When all else fails, deflecting is also an effective technique as most people want to talk about themselves.

I want you to know, we have all been in these circumstances and I guarantee you are not the only one. Project positivity and believe it as much as you can. Then when you’re ready, work with a career advisor and we will support you in making your positive thinking a reality. The market continues to be hot for our students and grads and the interviews are coming, even for those that haven’t heard much before now. Keep at it!

Congratulations, Graduates!
Julia

Are you being ghosted? By employers, I mean.

Dear ones – it sure feels that way. You’ve submitted countless applications and haven’t heard a word, not even a rejection. You’re insulted. And you may even feel disrespected, frustrated, angry, and despairing. The very least they could do is reject you…. Believe me, we know.

The truth is this is how the workforce has been doing things for years now. Sometimes you get a rejection but most often, you just don’t hear anything at all. There is no closure. It’s hard to know when to stop feeling hopeful that you might hear from a recruiter and move on. It can be very demoralizing if you let it.

Here’s the good news: It’s not about you. Truly, it has nothing to do with you. Why is that good? You can stop taking it personally. This is the way the US job market is working at all levels. For senior executives and early career professionals alike. So what can you do about it?

• Expect not to hear back. Stay hopeful but know that for most applications you won’t hear anything and it has nothing to do with your application.
• Don’t take this personally. Really. The more you do, the more negative energy you will absorb. In most instances, the organizations have not even seen your materials so continue doing what you’re doing including tailoring your materials and including a cover letter for all applications, even those that don’t require it.
• Get support. Even if you succeed in not taking it personally, it’s still really hard to do all this work and not hear back. Talk to a career advisor. We will offer you tips and tricks to getting noticed which will likely include upping your networking game.
• Learn from it. When you’re the one hiring, remember how this felt. Take the extra moment to send a quick note saying you’ve moved on with other candidates. Break this cycle.

What we have seen is that after a period of not hearing anything, candidates start hearing back from multiple employers in the same week. Staying the course is key. As always, you don’t have to do this alone. Please make an appointment with us. Our students and grads continue to land!

With certainty,

Julia

Dear ones –

I hope you are feeling ok. I’m going to focus on the good news this week as the bad news is easily accessible in other spaces. So many of our BUSPH job seekers are interviewing right now, including quite a few in final rounds. We had a global health organization, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) come on campus virtually to share their employment opportunities with our community. And we have more and more practicum opportunities posted with so many students getting interviews and offers. That is a lot of good.

When you are tempted to read more about the cuts to the federal public health workforce, I encourage you instead to get on LinkedIn and read some of this week’s comments from those in the field. There are so many displays of care, concern, love, solidarity, community, and support. Real, practical support in the form of grass-root job boards, reposts of opportunities, and recommendations of peers who are seeking work. This is your public health community.

When the worst happens, it so often brings out the best in humanity. And that love and care can be as contagious as the fear. I invite you to make a conscious choice to let all of the goodness in. To trust it. To trust your path. And when in doubt, join us at one of the many protests that are happening on Saturday, April 5th around the country. You will feel the power in our collective and realize how not alone you are.

With care and love,

Julia

Dear ones –

I am focusing today’s note on the practicum search as we are knee-deep in practicum season. That said, all of this can be applied to a job search if that is what you are currently doing.

Every year in March and April many MPH students report feeling anxious about the practicum search. Did you notice that I wrote “every year”? It is not unique to this class or even this time in the world. Searching for a required internship is full of unknowns and internal questions: Who will hire me? Will it be paid? Will it be what I want? Is it the right opportunity? Might it lead to a job offer at the end?

You may start out feeling confident as you’ve had other internships / jobs before and are sure you can do it again. And then you send out applications and don’t hear back. Doubt starts to creep in and your internal monologue shifts: I am competing for opportunities against my peers who have more experience. I am an international student and employers don’t want to hire me. Am I good enough? Am I going to be the first student to not get a practicum ever?

Your brain is playing tricks on you which is what our brains do. While your confidence has shifted, nothing else has. Please let me assure you after doing this for 11 years that most students go through a version of this. And then it works out. Usually with a lot of effort on your part because that is what is required to find a job. There are enough practicum opportunities for everyone. There is one for you and you will find it. What would make it less stressful is for you to trust the process and believe in yourself. It’s ok to have low moments, that is healthy.

One of the biggest gifts you can give yourself is to learn to tolerate the feelings of fear, insecurity, and not being in control. This requires a lot of grounding and positive self-talk. We can help you with that if you’re not sure where to begin.

We know that many people will give you advice and part of your learning is to determine which advice to internalize. Try following the advice of advisors who know the field, the market, and the employers. We will tell you not to send out 100 applications. While the quantity of applications is important, quality, timing, and choosing opportunities that are a fit are equally important. Meet with an advisor and have them review your materials and your search strategy if what you are doing isn’t working.

When you take a risk and really go for something you want, it’s natural to feel a bit exposed and to fear failure/rejection. And not getting one of the practicums you applied for will happen to 99% of students!! Rejection is just part of the process; it’s not actually a commentary on self-worth unless you make it that. Disappointment is a feeling like any other that comes and then goes. It’s also one that makes the future successes that much sweeter!

Learning how to tolerate these all of these feelings is the work and you don’t have to do it alone. Please reach out.

In confidence,

Julia

Dear ones –

I saw this example of a rejection posted on LinkedIn and I share it with you to draw attention to the circled line written by an HR recruiter to a qualified candidate, “Please know that not receiving a screening call is not a negative reflection of your background or experience; there were so many talented people we were unable to talk to.”

It’s so easy to take rejections (or “ghosting”) by employers personally. Rejection stings and when you receive multiple, they can start to erode at your confidence. This feeling is part of human nature. And yet, now more than ever, it is critical that we remain grounded in all that we, as public health professionals, bring to the world – our skills, lived and work experience, personality, equity lens, and ability to advocate fiercely for what is just. I encourage you to trust in this process as our grads continue to get interviews from multiple employers, some after months of not hearing anything. It is working. This is the process of finding employment.

After spending the last few days at a conference of schools of public health, I am more certain than ever that we were made for this time. Lean on each other. Acknowledge your vulnerability as it is your superpower. To paraphrase a popular meme, you are a dragon slayer in a time of dragons. Find and feed your fire!

In deep appreciation,

Julia

Dear ones –

In honor of today’s full moon and total lunar eclipse in Virgo, I invite us to lean into two of the many themes for this time: 1. work to silence our inner critic and 2. expect the unexpected. While neither of these are an easy behavior change to make, the Universe is supportive right now. So what can you do?

· Begin to silence your inner critic: Assess your relationship to perfectionism and self-criticism. Practice replacing the old negative script with one that you might use with a favorite person. I advise writing key words on a sticky note and putting them around your space as it’s easy to forget to pay attention when a habit is so ingrained. It can be as simple as, “Be kinder to yourself” or “the magic is in our imperfections.”

· Expect the unexpected: When there is so much uncertainty in our lives one of the best things for an individual (and therefore the collective) is to regulate our nervous system so we can flow with the changes that are not in our control. The way to regulate is to first be aware of what your body is feeling. Are you tense, closed off, tight, fluttery, activated, defensive, lonely? These sensations may be below the surface for people who are high functioning. I invite you to actively do things that soothe you. Whether it’s a cup of a warm beverage, choosing to be cozy in your home, being with someone that makes you laugh or watching a favorite movie or show, these can have a positive impact on your nervous system. The result is that over time we are capable of handling unexpected (or expected) stress in a healthier way.

As for the job/practicum market this week – it continues to be really good to our job seekers! We heard from 5 who landed jobs and more who landed practicums. And that is in addition to those who are getting first, second, and final round interviews. A couple of these were folks who felt last week like it wasn’t going to happen for them. If this is you, keep doing what you are doing as – I assure you – your turn is coming!

Holding hope for us all,

Julia

Dear ones –

“Do not lose heart. We were made for these times.”

This is the title of an essay written by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes (poet, psychoanalyst, author) back in March 2020 yet is still wildly applicable in this moment. [Google the essay!] One of the many bits of wisdom she offers in this piece is that in moments of darkness in our world, one of the most powerful actions you can do is show your soul. Be your most authentic, grounded self. For in being your truest self, your humanity allows others to do the same and together we become the antidote.

As for the work of searching for a practicum or job? It remains grueling. There continues to be a combination of silence and rejection from employers. Yet this isn’t a sign of the times, but a typical search. Keep going. It typically takes 3-6 months in an active search. Keep reaching out to your network for both informational interviews and for help getting noticed in the pile of applications. If you don’t know how to do that, make an appointment with one of us on Handshake. Trust the process while doing the work. You are going to be ok because you, like all of us, were made for these times.

In hope,
Julia

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. 
– Martin Luther King, Jr

Dear ones –

Another week has gone by and the uncertainty in our world continues. I share the quote above from the great Martin Luther King, Jr as a reminder to us all that the light and love within us will get us through. Amidst the fear, worry, and anger, as public health and people in our communities are under attack, it is an invitation to us to find the good within ourselves and others. I have spoken with students and grads this week that are really struggling with the state of the world. And in their struggle, they shared that they are grounding themselves in the goodness in their lives as a way to find strength and hope. The steadier we are in ourselves, the more we shift the world around us in a positive way.

As for the public health job market, it continues to be strong for our graduates right now. We have worked with recent grads to negotiate offers this week! Still others are getting interviews. This is happening in real time. As you look to ground yourself, let this knowledge be part of that which steadies you. You have support and we are here for you. There is a path for you of love and light.

In grounded hope,
Julia

Dear ones –

I hope this finds you holding on while living this bumpy ride. Holding on to yourself, your loved ones, the truth, the trees, your animal babies, your sense of humor, your joy. Today I am excited to share with you something else we might want to hold onto in these uncertain times.

Our outgoing Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy who, when he left office in January with the Biden Administration, left us with a final publication, My parting prescription for America, which is not a research report but rather a reflection from his experiences, both professional and personal. He posits that, “the loss of community has become one of the defining challenges of our time. In response, we need a fundamental shift in how we build and prioritize community.” He goes on to offer that what makes community possible are 3 core elements: relationships, service, and purpose. And one core virtue: love. After close to 30 years as a public health professional I am confident in saying that bringing love into this conversation is not only not typical, it’s actually radical. And if ever there was a time in the world that called for radical thinking, feeling and action, it’s now.

As we move through February, I will be using this framework for many of my writings as my gut tells me that this definition of community – with explicit love – will move us forward (and fit nicely into Valentine’s season).

As for the job market – it continues to be very, very strong in many sectors of public health (federal government and global health notwithstanding). I am finding many interesting jobs shared by people on my LinkedIn feed that are not actually posted on LI. That means it is important for job seekers to be “following” people at organizations of interest. “Connect” with people in your network and “Follow” those of interest who are not. And continue to take comfort in the fact that, regardless of your certificate or specialty, a degree in public health is in demand.

Be kind to yourself (and others) this week. And please reach out if we can help you.

In solidarity and (dare I say it) love,

Julia

Dear ones –

This week has brought new challenges to the field of public health. I will use this space to update you on what we are seeing in real time. In addition to the overall federal hiring freeze we saw last week, we have seen a significant layoff or freeze of funding to the international aid community in Washington DC over the past few days. This has affected thousands of workers including BUSPH students and alumni. In the Career and Practicum Office we have heard from some of these affected folks and have reminded them of what I want to also remind you: The skills of public health professionals are vast and varied and are transferrable to many different employers and issues.

To be clear – there continue to be plenty of public health jobs in the US. Those who have specialized in global health can obtain positions in domestic health. Program and project management; quantitative and qualitative data analyses; program development, implementation and evaluation; strategy, operation and fiscal management; these are highly sought after skills in for-profit, nonprofit, and state and local governments. Our graduates continue to land new positions.

As you move through this uncertain time in our world, I encourage you to find ways to ground yourself. We need each of us in this work. When you need support, please reach out. When you are feeling hopeful, please offer support to others. From my personal experience, we will each have days of needing support and days of being able to offer support. It’s ok if you are in one state more than the other. We are in this together. The power of public health has always been in the people. I continue to be so grateful that I am part of the BUSPH community.

In solidarity and hope,

Julia

Dear Students and Grads –

Welcome to you new ones in each category – congratulations to those joining SPH and congratulations to those leaving us.

It is part of my job to tell you that at this moment, the public health job market remains very strong. The major change in the market we have seen this week is the implementation of a hiring freeze at the federal level. That means that any internship or job that has a start date after January 20th, or applications for positions, have been officially frozen, whether at the VA in Boston or at the CDC in Atlanta, and anywhere else. All federal jobs. Please reach out if this affects you and we can support you. SPHCareerOffice@bu.edu. All other hiring remains a go!

The other part of my job is to offer you hope in a time of darkness. While it may not be included in my job description, I believe it is a requirement for all who carry hope to offer it to others. I tend to strengthen my own hope by reading the words of the activists and poets and this week is no different. So today I offer you the January 20th blog post by the wise and wonderous adrienne maree brown entitled, “it is our turn to carry the world”. This post encompasses truth and pain, hope and beauty, and love and an action for each soul who chooses to partake. For me, her words are both a balm and an invitation to connect to the collective of human goodness that is ever present.

I am sending you love and light and an offer of support. You can find appointments with advisors on Handshake. You can join us for a free community lunch on Wednesday, January 29th from 12:30 – 2pm in Talbot 2 East. I hope to see you soon.

With deep care,

Julia

Dear BUSPH Students,

Welcome to the Spring 2025 semester! Whether you’re returning to campus or joining us for the first time, we’re excited to support you as you embark on this next chapter. This semester is filled with opportunities to grow, learn, and connect—both academically and professionally. Remember, the entire SPH community, along with the Career & Practicum Office, is here to support you every step of the way.

We have several in-person and virtual recruiting events this semester, including the highly anticipated SPH Career & Internship Fairs. These are a fantastic opportunity to connect with employers hiring for jobs, internships, practicums, and fellowships nationwide. Over 30 employers are already registered, with more signing up daily. Last year we had over 100 employers join us, and we look forward to connecting you with our alumni and employer partners!

Save the dates, register, and follow the career fairs on Handshake for updates on participating employers. Need a resume review or want to practice speaking with employers? Let’s connect. I speak with employers and alumni daily, and they consistently praise BUSPH students and grads as standout, highly skilled, and competitive candidates for practicums and jobs.

We can’t wait to see all that you’ll accomplish this semester!

Warmly,
Caroline

Dear lovely students and grads –

As we come to the end of 2024 and publish this final CPO Newsletter of the year, I want to offer three thoughts:

1. Let’s support each other in not borrowing trouble. We know there will be sizeable changes in US policy and culture in 2025 and we don’t know yet what they will mean for public health jobs. The market is still hot (minus the dip for the last half of December that is true every year) so we will assume it will continue that way for the foreseeable future. If and when that changes we will absolutely communicate it to you along with advice on navigating the landscape.

2. There will always be a need for the work of public health. Public health is an essential field regardless of what politicians say or choose to fund and the field has been unpopular with politicians many times throughout history. Trust that all you are learning and have learned will serve you well for your entire career. These skills are transferrable and taking the public health framework into other industries (if that is a path you choose) can only be a positive.

3. The ripple effect is in full force. I truly believe that the more grounded and full of love we are within, the more grounding and loving vibes we give off to the world around us just by being ourselves. I invite you to take time as the year ends and another begins to fill your cup in whatever way you choose. The human experience involves hardship and joy, often at the same time. Remembering in the midst of difficulty that there is also much to be grateful for can be a superpower and a beacon of hope for others.

I look forward to our work together in 2025. And I wish you love and joy and rest during this holiday season.

With a full heart,
Julia

Hello dear ones –

I have been reflecting on the conversations I’ve had in the last month with many of you about the future of public health. What will it look like in 2025? What will the jobs be like? And what about the state of federal health policy? We don’t yet know.

I wonder if in these months of transition we might take a different approach to our uncertainty. What if we turn inward and ask ourselves what it is we truly want to do next? Not what we thought we wanted but what we actually want to do as of today. And, even more importantly, determine if we are aligned in our efforts to get there. This self-assessment requires honest inquiry and the courage to face the truths we uncover.

In exploring this topic recently in my advising sessions, your answers have taken some of you by surprise. Right now, many want to do less. No extra internship. No long travel over break. No unpaid research experience in the Spring. For some who had wanted to pursue a job in the private sector that pays higher than other sectors, you are now longing to work in and with your community. For others, it feels too intense to work in your community and are craving a job where you can be a level or two removed. These are truths! They are likely not forever truths but they are true today.

I can’t help but wonder if more of us were to seek to live in our today truths, might we create a ripple of contented, peaceful energy during this interim time that will shore us up and help us maneuver the bumps that will inevitably come our way? It feels possible and I, for one, am game to try. Wanna join me? (Feel free to book an advising appointment using Handshake if you’d like support!)

Wishing you the best in your final days of Fall classes.

With hope,

Julia

Dear lovely students and grads,

Many of us go into this holiday break from school or work with a vague notion that we will use this time to rest. And then we travel, we cook and bake, we try to meet the social demands of our families and friends, we get lured into the Black Friday madness, and in the back of our minds we feel the pressure of a deliverable that we were planning to work on during the break. And without realizing it, the break is over. And while there are often moments of joy in all that I described, we often get to the other side still feeling tired.

My colleague, Justine, shared something she saw on IG:

X posting from jspark3000: My therapist, instead of saying “Happy holidays,” says, “May you have a gentle holiday.”

Her reason: The holidays are not happy for everyone. The hope is that they’re gentle for us, that we are gentle on ourselves.

This is what I wish for you all – a gentle holiday. Filled with just the right mix of fun, stress, joy, rest, food and laughter.

With gratitude for you all,

Julia

The ebbs and flows of ambition

Dear Students and Grads –

This week I have had some very interesting advising conversations with your peers. In thinking about what is next for them (in jobs, internships, or life in general) the conversations all centered in one way or another around ambition. Here are three examples:

• One recent graduate had received two strong job offers with one position that will undoubtedly push her out of her comfort zone, giving her new skills, visibility and experiences quickly, while the other will entail doing a bit more of the work she’s done in the past although with added responsibilities. She shared that her gut was saying that after working full time for 2.5 years while going to grad school in the evenings, the latter position sounded better, although she felt like she’d be letting herself and her family down a bit if she didn’t go for the higher profile position.

• A second year student shared her resume with me and on it I saw a profile of someone who had graduated with honors from an elite undergraduate institution, was excelling academically at SPH, and who had done 5 amazing internships in the past 3+ years. When I asked what she planned for Spring 2025 ahead of her May graduation, she paused and said, “I’m really tired. I may want to be a barista and not use my brain.”

• A new student shared that she was so excited about the MPH program so far and couldn’t wait to get a summer practicum at a consulting firm. She is already interning at a public health firm in DC part-time and is ready to take on more.

It is clear from their resumes and experiences that all three of these people are ambitious. And yet, they are all in different places in their lives. I would argue that ambition isn’t a characteristic that you either have or don’t have – as many will have you believe – but rather a state of being that either drives you at a given moment or doesn’t. And not being driven by ambition doesn’t make you less successful or less worthy. What I heard this week is that sometimes choosing the less ambitious path will get you the closest to your own version of success and, certainly contentment.

When in doubt, my advice is to give yourself permission to accept wherever you are and choose alignment with your gut feelings. Over time, as your feelings change, so too may your ambition.

Wishing you a restful weekend!
Julia

Hello dear students and grads –

I wonder how you are doing on this side of the intense week? My sense is that the range and level of emotions we are feeling is robust. If you haven’t already read Dean Galea’s note On Understanding, Patience, and Finding Clarity to Do Better, I offer it as a way to begin digesting the election as both a human being and as a human being invested in public health. I’ll highlight where he calls for “Patience with the moment, with each other, with ourselves.” I do this because what I know to be true from more than a decade in a profession where I get to have 1:1 conversations with people about their hopes and dreams is that 99% of us are the harshest of critics when it comes to ourselves. Because of this, I encourage you to truly offer compassion, tolerance, and patience to yourself right now. Whether you are feeling desperate to do something or feeling unable to do anything at all. Whether you are craving the presence of others or can’t stand the thought of people. Whether you are in mourning or in celebration. Honor wherever you are.

The job (and practicum) market has been and is very good. And it’s ok if you can’t seem to care about any of it today. Opportunities will be here tomorrow. And the next day.

Today, take radically good care of yourself. The kind of care that requires you to think intentionally about what you will do. Why? Because creating a world where all humans are valued and loved is an inside job. In order to care about others, we have to care about ourselves. Loving yourself today – your most frustrating areas for growth included! – is actually the first step in creating a more loving, just, and healthier world. ❤️

In solidarity and love,
Julia

Happy Friday, Students and Grads!

As we begin November and anticipate Election Day in the US, I know many of us are swirling with emotions. If that is you, you are not alone. There is so much to be hopeful for! Stay in this as much as you can – be with people who bring you joy, who uplift your spirit and who can talk about the hope and possibility that is on the horizon. While there may also be a backdrop of anxiety as well as some fear, it’s key that we don’t stay in it. Let’s each do our parts to keep positives vibes the next few days and as the votes are being counted. For me I find it’s a good time for creative outlets – crafting, making art, and writing to name a few. And also, offer acts of service big and small. This could be doing your roommate’s dishes, picking up a piece of trash outside, or offering someone in need a hand. Finally, when all else fails to keep me positive I escape into a good book, series, or uplifting music.

Finally, check on your loved ones and offer kindness to yourself as much as possible. If you would like to be in community the day after the election, please plan to attend the Post – election debrief with Dean Galea at 3pm on Wednesday November 6th in Hiebert Lounge or online.

Together we go forward.

With hope,

Julia

Hello lovely students –

And that’s a wrap on Practicum Panel Week! We were so excited to see so many of you at these events asking great questions and soaking up the wisdom of your peers. Speaking of that wisdom, here are a few highlights from the week:

“Every small skill you acquire is a stepping stone to something greater. In the internship process, it’s not just the big achievements that matter but the resilience to embrace each task, learn from every moment, and push forward when things get tough. Growth happens in the details, and persistence transforms challenges into opportunities.”

“Your practicum is meant to be an opportunity for you to apply yourself outside of your coursework. Apply to programs and positions to expand your horizons and learn about the industry you want to join. Make connections. Talk to people. Collaborate. Lean in and learn. That’s how you get the most out of it.”

“Don’t wait until you panic to ask for help. The school has so many amazing resources to guide and support you. Take advantage of them while you are here. You don’t have to do this alone!”

I want to reiterate the last one – we are here to ensure the process works for you. Making an appointment with an advisor is not a weakness or even admitting that can’t do it yourself. Rather, it’s taking advantage of the expertise that is part of the BUSPH experience. Just as you’d ask a professor a question in class, you are asking a career expert for the tips that make the process more effective. Hope to see you on Handshake!

Happy weekend!

Julia

Hello students –

This writing is going to be about the practicum search ahead.

We are hearing from many of you that you are starting to get stressed about the practicum search and you don’t know where to begin and you want to start planning. I am thrilled to share that you are right where you need to be – your timing is perfect!

First, if you haven’t already, I encourage you to attend the workshop entitled, “SPH: Thriving in the Practicum Process – Navigating Stress With Success”. This workshop is offered multiple times so if this one that I linked to doesn’t work for your schedule, please register for another. This will give you the overview of the process and answer your questions. Students report feeling much less anxious after attending one of these.

Second, next week is Practicum Panel Week and we are hosting 8 different student-led, in-person panels on a variety of practicum topics you including Policy and Advocacy, Government, Community Health, Research and more. This is a great opportunity to learn from students who just finished their practicums and hear their advice. The last one is a virtual panel of Practicum Supervisors so you can hear what they expect and offer in a practicum experience. I linked to a few of the panels but they are all in Handshake under events when you search by SPH. All of them are in person except for the Practicum Supervisor Panel and I would say that they are worth coming to campus for even if they are on days that you don’t have classes.

Finally, I encourage you to start working on your resume and cover letter format. The Career and Practicum Office provides drop-in support Monday-Thursday from 1pm-6pm every week in the Talbot 2 East wing. Students report feeling much more confident about the practicum search process when they are happy with their materials.

All of this to say, you are not alone in being unsure what to do to prepare for your practicum. Every single student feels unprepared or anxious to some degree. If you put in the time now, it will pay off in the end.

I look forward to seeing you at the practicum panels next week!

Warmly,
Julia

Hello dear ones –

The topic of rejection and how to support people in the experience has come up in our office this week. How are you feeling about the possibility of rejection, particularly in a practicum or job search process? The idea of taking a risk and putting yourself out there feels scary for many of us. And yet, rejection is a rite of passage into your true self. Rejection is a part of being human.

I know the fear can be so big that it can prevent you from trying. It can keep you stuck in a place where you can’t move forward because of the fear of failure. I have seen it among your peers. And yet, here is the truth: every single human experiences rejection – countless times – in their life. You will too. And the sooner you can walk straight towards that fear and go for it, the sooner you will see that you will be ok no matter what happens.

You may be searching for the first time (use job or practicum interchangeably, as it applies to you) or you have done this before. The job search process is one of the most stressful things in a human’s life, mainly because rejection is built into the process. This is as true at the start of one’s career as it is in the peak. You will be hard-pressed to find anyone that has gotten every job they interviewed for.

The US culture is organized around the principles of capitalism and scarcity that posit we have to be the best to get an opportunity because there aren’t enough opportunities. I am here to share with you that it’s just not true. There are enough opportunities. There is one for you. It may not be in the location you want or at the pay grade you want or with the title you want, but there is one for you. And I can bet that in the course of your life, when you look back on the job you got or school you went to, there will be something in that experience that contributed to the person you are today.

To that end, I propose that we celebrate the rejections as much as the successes. Because in order for you to be rejected, it means you tried, you went for it. And THAT is the huge success. Most of the time you can’t control what happens, only the effort you put into it. If you put your energy and commitment into the trying and then release it into the Universe, that is a huge win. And if you are open to feedback from an organization that rejects your candidacy after interviewing you, you can ask if they can provide feedback so you may improve. You won’t always get it, but it can be a gift when you do.

I invite you to go against the masses and believe that your life is going to be glorious. To believe that any path you take will teach you multiple lessons and give you many gifts. And that if you trust your instincts – not the voices from the outside – you can live in more ease and contentment.

Wishing you a wonderful long weekend.

In joy and courage,
Julia

Hello delightful people –

I hope the beginning of October is going well for you.

Here’s what I’ve heard this week:

• Students who attended the Careers in Governmental Public Health Panel enjoyed it so much! They networked, listened and learned a lot.
• Several May grads who were frustrated in their job search just two weeks ago are now interviewing, and three others have accepted jobs!
• First semester students are starting to think about their practicum search which is right on time as we get ready to host Practicum Panel Week throughout the week of October 21st.
• Finally, I’ve heard a lot of folks talk about their favorite parts of Fall in Boston including pumpkin spice flavored everything, great sleeping weather, some beautiful leaf colors, and the annual debate (in the US) of this year’s Halloween costume.

I understand it’s not all positive in life right now, and yet I wanted to make sure I highlighted some of the joy-filled things going on in the lives of SPH community members.

If you haven’t felt much joy these days, I offer you the strategy that I use the most in low moments: I get down to basics and find things to be grateful for. A few of my go-tos: my pillow (which makes me smile thinking about it); my cats who seem to know when humans in my life are human-ing and thus offer me abundant feline love; and my morning chai latte. That’s a lot of gratitude right there and it usually pulls me one level up and out of my gloom.

Once again, you don’t have to do any of this alone – share the joys and/or lows with someone else as that act of being in relation with another often has a buoying effect. When in doubt, head into Talbot 2East and find a kind soul.

Wishing you your favorite Fall things this week.

In all things cozy,
Julia

Dear students and graduates –

Here is my wisdom to share this week (and I wish I had thought of it):

Too many people think the grass is greener somewhere else but grass is green where you water it, remember that.

It’s so easy to think other people have it better than you – whether it’s their job/practicum, their location, their friend group, any/all of the things we compare to other people. And you are certainly not alone in feeling this way as it is part of the human experience.

If/when that feeling hits you, I invite you to take a moment to find the little things you are grateful for in your world. And then take some intentional time to identity things about your current situation that you might be able to change to make it just a little better. Sometimes, the most impactful thing – and the one that we have complete control over – is our attitude.

As always, you don’t have to do this alone. Reach out to your trusted people at BUSPH or beyond to support you in this reflective work. It often helps to share it with someone who cares.

Wishing you a happy start to Fall as we move into October!

With joy,
Julia

Hello, lovely ones –

I often get asked by students, “How do I know I am making the right decision? What if I choose the wrong certificate? Or select the wrong practicum/job?”

Here is what I know to be true based on my life experience and from the countless conversations with you. There is no wrong decision. There may be decisions that are an easier path, with more flow. That will get you closer to your purpose on this earth. But if you are meant to do something, you will find it regardless of the path you take to get there. And you will learn and grow so much on every path.

When students ask me about the right decision I tell them this: The fastest way to finding the “right” decision, is to listen to your gut. Which, in all of the noise in this world, is often the most difficult voice to hear. Because of that, I encourage you to find someone who can reflect back to you what your instinct is telling you. Hint: Career advisors are really good at this!

If it’s helpful, use these 5 steps:

Step 1: Share with that person what lights you up

• What is your heart calling you to do (ignoring the outcomes for a moment)?
• What makes your heartbeat quicken with excitement?

Step 2: Sit in that for a few moments. Just be in it. [Trust that you will make space for the rest of it.]

• Describe it in detail. What does it look like? Feel like? Sound like? What will you be doing? With whom? What is this energy of possibility? What could it mean for you and the world?
• Write down a few notes to capture these feelings so you can remind yourself of them at a later time.

Step 3: Now share with that person what is making you nervous

• Describe it in detail. How do the fears feel? Are they yours? Be honest with yourself. Maybe they are. Maybe they’re not. No judgement. What would happen to you if the fears came true? What would that feel like?
• Then imagine you went with a safer option. How does that feel
• Make some notes.

Step 5: Make a decision. [It doesn’t have to be in that moment and it’s often better to sleep on it.]

Dear one, you get to decide. You get to take a safer option if that is best for you in this moment. You get to listen to other people’s voices if that is what you feel you need to do. You get to go for your own dream in this moment if you decide to. Remember, whichever path you take will (eventually) get you to where you need to go. If something or someone is meant for you, they will find you. It will come to you. It will never be too late if it’s meant for you.

And you will have the support of the Universe as you go. If you ask for it, you shall receive it. There is so much support if you are open to it. Here at BUSPH. Outside. Take a breath and try to quiet the fear a bit and shift into a mindset of abundance. The world has convinced us that the resources are scarce and if we don’t make the right decision we will miss out. It’s not true. There is enough for us all. Enough money, enough jobs/practicums, enough success, enough love. All of it.

With compassion from a true believer in abundance,

Julia

A Message to Thrive.
Starting afresh, by doing

You’ve made it through a full week of classes – congratulations! You have the roadmap of what the Fall will look like and you are in full go mode.

New beginnings, whether it’s a new program or a new semester in an ongoing program, bring opportunities to do things differently. What are your hopes for this time? New friendships? A more robust public health network? A new skill (or two)? Strong grades? Successful job applications? Building healthier habits to sustain you through the stressful times? Making a connection with someone at SPH that can support your journey? There are so many possibilities that can further your growth.

I encourage you to be intentional about whatever you choose to manifest and put your energy into at this time. Make a commitment to it. To yourself. Take some bit of action towards your goals every single day. As the saying goes, nothing changes if nothing changes. What will you need to do to get to where you want to be? These don’t have to be big changes, as even the smallest of stones causes a ripple when tossed in the water. And you certainly don’t have to do it all on your own.

My advice is to seek out someone to support you in these changes. Whether a peer coach, a new healthcare provider, a career advisor, or a friend who can serve as an accountability partner, having someone to guide, provide, advise, celebrate successes, be there in the low moments, or share a cup of tea will make the journey a little more manageable and maybe even more enjoyable. If this is your first semester at BUSPH, know that there are so many people here to support you. New students, you will have received an email from your Thrive Liaison this week to check in with you. We want to hear how you are doing. Returning students, continue to advocate for yourself and reach out! Your professors, advisors, Graduate Student Life and Career & Practicum Office team are here for you.

In the coming weeks life will continue to get even more busy for you. I will share some advice on how to discern which opportunities to say yes to and how to stay grounded. Until then, I hope you find joy in the little things and I really hope you find a yummy cup of coffee/tea.

With excitement,

Julia