For high school and college students nearing graduation, the thought of entering the job market can feel daunting. It’s one of the reasons Future Institute was created–to provide a network of support to help alleviate the stress of navigating life after high school.
Students like Horizon Science Academy Cleveland High alumna Zariah Mitchell have turned to our Future Leaders Initiative (FLI) program to best position themselves to land a job out of college. After sharpening her skill set as a young professional, Mitchell was recently hired as an IT Assistant at Walter Haverfield Law Firm.
Mitchell, now a junior at Kent State University, credits the effectiveness of the program for helping her advance early in her career.
“The Future Institute program has been incredibly beneficial for me as a full-time student and an aspiring professional in Information Technology,” said Mitchell. “The program provided valuable resources and mentorship that directly contributed to my academic success and career development. The workshops on time management and career planning were particularly useful, helping me to balance my schoolwork with my job and other personal goals.”
Described as a “go-getter” by the people who worked with her, Mitchell has made the most of her time in the FLI program. She was paired with one of FLI’s mentors, Serpil Caputlu, who offered her guidance throughout the 2023-24 school year. Along with other beneficial program requirements, each college student in the program must meet with their assigned mentor at least three times during their junior or senior year to monitor their progress.
For Mitchell, the three meetings with Caputlu were crucial for her getting a job at Walter Haverfield. In their first meeting, the two discussed where she wanted to go in her career and how to find internships. The following meeting, they focused on how to build a resume and an effective LinkedIn profile and went through how to prepare for job interviews. Their final meeting went over how to improve body language and job interview responses.
Mitchell’s hard work and Caputlu using her connections to put her mentee in the same spaces as seasoned professionals in the IT field culminated in the junior landing a job before graduating college.
“The networking opportunities within the program allowed me to connect with industry professionals, giving me insight into potential career paths and the confidence to pursue my ambitions,” said Mitchell. “Overall, the Future Institute program has been instrumental in equipping me with the skills and support needed to thrive in both my studies and future career.”
Future Institute is proud of what Mitchell has been able to accomplish since graduating from HSA Cleveland High and is excited to continue to help young minds reach their fullest potential.
"We are thrilled to share the success story of one of our Future Leaders Initiative (FLI) graduates, who recently secured a job thanks to the invaluable guidance of Ms. Caputlu, one of our dedicated mentors,” said Future Institute’s Relations Coordinator Hakan J. Barberson. “This achievement highlights the transformative power of our mentorship program, which provides participants with essential support and networking opportunities.
“We are proud to see our alumni thriving and making meaningful strides in their careers."
Interested in becoming a mentor at the Future Leaders Initiative Program? Sign up here.