Alumni Words of Wisdom Wall Sparks Inspiration at the Career Center

“To truly stand out, one must aspire to rise above the ordinary.” 
“Your time at SBU will be short, so enjoy every milestone and every class.”
“Be who you needed when you were younger.”

These are just a few of the many inspirational words that students will read on the Alumni Words of Wisdom Wall in the Stony Brook University Career Center. For some students, their career might not be at the forefront of their minds. However, when they see the wall, that all changes. But what exactly is the Alumni Words of Wisdom Wall, and what’s so special about it?

What started as a blank wall outside the interview suites where students can take a Zoom call or meet with prospective employers, alumni or Career Center staff has evolved into a space for students to read about the careers of others who have come before them.

“When we redesigned the Career Center, we wanted students to be able to feel comfortable and really interact within the space,” said Marianna Savoca, associate vice president of career readiness and experiential education.

“So, as the students read about the paths that our alumni have taken, they can get inspired for their own journeys.”

Each panel of the wall features a photo of the alumni, the year they graduated, their major, where they are now, and a quote that will hopefully spark interest and curiosity in students as they think about their own career paths. “The whole wall is beautiful with these beautiful quotes,” said Savoca. “But the most fun I’ve observed is students who say, ‘I didn’t realize I could do that with my major.’ Sometimes students don’t understand that just because they major in something like finance doesn’t mean they necessarily have to work in a bank.”

The Alumni Words of Wisdom Wall has evolved since it launched in 2023. With so many alumni to feature, Savoca said she wanted to make the wall changeable so that more could be featured. Each month, the panels change. Marie Parziale ’10, assistant director of alumni career services, reaches out to different groups across campus to find alumni to feature on the wall. For example, over the summer, the wall featured quotes from alumni of the EOP/AIM program, and in the coming months the wall will feature 40 Under Forty honorees and veteran alumni. “It was great to have the incoming students within the EOP/AIM summer program see the wall and read all of the quotes from those who went through the program before them,” said Parziale. “We are excited to continue collaborating with different organizations across the Stony Brook footprint to ensure all of our colleges, majors and affinity groups are represented on the wall.”

The reaction when both students and alumni see the wall is positive and uplifting. “Most of our alumni are so excited to be featured on the wall,” said Savoca. “It’s such an easy way to stay connected to Stony Brook and inspire and help future generations without physically being here on campus.” However, many alumni have returned to campus to see the wall. Earlier in the year, Luis Guerrero-Reyes ’22, a Spanish teacher at the Urban Assembly Gateway School for Technology in New York City, brought his high school students to visit campus and see the wall. “It was such a fulfilling and motivating experience,” said Guerrero-Reyes. “The visit really inspired my students, especially when they saw my picture on the wall.”

Many alumni feel honored to be featured on the wall. They are eager to impart their knowledge to future Seawolves as they embark on their own career paths. “Stony Brook University played such a crucial role in my development,” said Jonathan Conyers ’17. “It means the world to me that Stony Brook considers my words valuable to current and future students.” Conyers graduated from the EOP/AIM program and was recently named a 40 Under Forty honoree. He works as a respiratory therapist, specializing in neonates and pediatrics at NYU Langone Health. He co-founded the Brooklyn Debate League, a nonprofit whose mission is to provide speech and debate programming to at-risk communities. He is the author of the memoir I Wasn’t Supposed to Be Here and has been featured on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” and “Revisionist History With Malcolm Gladwell,” as well as in The New York Times. His quote featured on the wall is, “It’s crucial to remember that we can’t always control the outcomes, but we can always control the effort we put in. This should hold significance for you. Keep pushing forward.” He said he chose this quote to remind students that life can be unpredictable. He hopes that the Words of Wisdom Wall will inspire students to push themselves and give their all in everything they do.

“Always strive for excellence. Excellence does not mean perfection. Rather, it’s about demonstrating a strong work ethic and positive attitude while being your whole, authentic self.” This is the quote that Cindy Zuniga-Sanchez ’12, Esq. wrote for the Words of Wisdom Wall. “I want students to know that excellence in college isn’t measured by perfection, but rather excellence is about dedication and commitment,” Zuniga-Sanchez said. Zuniga-Sanchez, a 2021 40 Under Forty honoree, is a lawyer, public speaker and published author. Her book Overcoming Debt, Achieving Financial Freedom: 8 Pillars to Build Wealth shares her story of how she gained financial freedom after graduating from law school and has been featured on “Good Morning America” and in Forbes and Business Insider. Zuniga-Sanchez said she has cherished memories of her time at Stony Brook. “It’s a privilege to be part of an impressive and diverse group of alumni who share a deep connection to our university,” she said.

“My hope is that the wall inspires students to recognize their own potential and pursue their true passions.” – Zuniga-Sanchez

The Career Center offers services to students and alumni seeking career advice or help with an internship or job search. In addition to being featured on the Words of Wisdom Wall, alumni are invited to join Stony Brook Mentor Connect. The new platform allows students and recent grads to connect with Stony Brook alumni mentors for career advice and support through one-on-one meetings. “The platform has received great feedback from the mentors who eagerly joined, and we’re looking forward to having even more alumni from different backgrounds join the platform to mentor our students,” said Parziale. 

“We hope that our alumni continue to engage in Stony Brook well after graduation through either this wall, mentoring or even through opening doors for Stony Brook interns or new employees,” said Savoca. “Seawolves help Seawolves; it’s part of our DNA.”

Anyone looking for more information about the Alumni Words of Wisdom Wall or Stony Brook Mentor Connect can reach out to Marie Parziale at Marie.Parziale@stonybrook.edu. 

-Christine McGrath