7 things to do before you graduate college | Liz Wessel | TEDxRutgers

As an young entrepreneur, Liz has learned a lot about maintaining a passion, building meaningful connections and growing a business - all in a relatively short time. She feels her pivotal point of growth was during her four years at college - in her passionate talk, she highlights seven things she believes each student should do before they graduate and how these actions will affect who they grow up to be.

As a student at UPenn, Liz had observed peers who struggled to find relevant work during the school year. Later, as a Google employee, she saw that even the largest, most well-known companies struggle to find key hires. Liz wanted to fix this problem through tech. With smarter filtering and a focus on quality over quantity, the two sides of the marketplace would finally match up. So, 18 months ago, Liz quit her job at Google to start WayUp, recently named by CNN as one of the 30 most innovative companies changing the world in 2015, with her co-founder, JJ Fliegelman. Today, they’ve got 35+ employees and the site is currently getting 1 out of 3 users hired. Liz hopes that one day WayUp will land every student their first job.

[Fire_Lightning]

8. Ask stores if they have a student discount.

[iamsolikeawesome]

This Ted Talk stressed me out. - second semester college senior

[ashishjha]

1. Send at least a Cold Email
2. Bet on 5 peoples
3. Take a practical course which intrigues you
4. Start Something new
5. Pick a professor which can impact your life
6. Go for addenture
7. Try to get at least one work experience

[briefly]

Great wisdom I wish I heard a few years ago.
1. Send an email to someone you have never met
2. Befriend 5 exceptional people
3. Take a class that gives you a practical skill
4. Start something!
5. Find 'the professor'. I.e. an acclaimed teacher
6. Go on an adventure, while you can!
7. Get work experience!
Oh, and...
8. Be grateful

[steppenfuchs]

To everyone who feels stressed out by this talk: It doesn’t matter if you can tick of anything on this list. Life is not a to-do list. It matters very little if you do these things or not. This is her path and not yours. You might never find “the” professor, start something new or send a cold e-mail. Not everyone can do it and this is fine. The core message of her is about being more proactive. Go out, find a goal (doesn’t matter how small it is) and talk to new people etc. Choose your own path that makes you happy and find your own 7 (8) things that changed your life.

[chloeparish]

I just recently "cold emailed" a student at the college I was applying to and she gave me the best advice and I ended up changing my major that I was totally set on because of her advice

[michellelao]

Wow she's so well spoken and intelligent. Love her!

[SUMITYADAV-mtxn]

Everyone wants to help college student except professors

[Ullashpodder]

Liz seems to be a very courageous and passionate person. I graduated 4 years ago and doing job since then, got a view about what i should've done 4 years ago and this makes me kinda frustrated!

[shareyourcareer]

This is actually a great list of tips! I wish more talks oriented to students were like this...simple, actionable steps to do better in your career.

[msdenise]

I mean it's also fine if you just study, don't think you have to be this awesome person doing everything. Chilling down and creating meaningful knowledge and relationships is some form of art too.

[raingirlshines]

First time hearing someone say, "I wanted to work abroad and I moved to India."

[userwheretogo]

she just seems like she has never really failed in her life. Things from her mouth are so easy.

[SuperRandomrap]

1 cold email, 2 befriend 5 people who will change the world, 3 take a class that teaches a practical skill, 4 start something like a business or a movement, 5 find THE professor(who will change your life), 6 go on an adventure, 7 get work experience as many as possible and try to find out what you want to become, 8 be grateful

[nal]

There's nothing to figure out. You are good at what you invest time and effort into. Any person can learn anything if they don't waste their time making up excuses.
Instead of asking what you're good at, spend your time figuring out what you like.

Everybody is born completely incapable of doing anything, people who become "something" have made something out of themselves instead of waiting for miracles or pitying themselves.

Plain and simple.

[shikhabhagia]

All her tips are actually good and thoughtful!!

[shawtyseint]

Thank you so much Liz Wessel. I'm so grateful to get to hear you talk. :)

[aishwaryabverma]

Love the way you spoke....was quite engaging.... Will inculcate them before graduating.... Thanks for the wonderful tips.

[rupalagrawal]

One of the best, most genuine Ted talks I have seen

[yanzhong]

Wow! That's inspiring! Thank you for your tips! I'll keep that in mind.