Looking for a New Direction?

Like other Unwind contributors, this is my last week as a student at OU.  I also have my last final on Friday, and plan on wearing my cap and gown to the test because it is right before the University-wide Commencement Ceremony.  I’ll let you know how it all pans out next week and show you the pictures!  This week, however, I wanted to take the chance to encourage those who don’t know what to do with their life.  It is for those who are graduating this week (congratulations, by the way!) AND those who are still in school but are unsure how spend their next years.  Obviously, you have to do some soul searching to find out what exactly you are passionate about, but there is one opportunity at OU that helped me realize how to apply the things I have learned in a real work setting; and even if you do not have a chance to engage in this particular opportunity, there are plenty to be found just like in and around Oklahoma.

The opportunity I speak of is the Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth for OU, or CCEW for short.  It is an entrepreneurial internship that pools talented students from every possible degree-granting program on campus.  It’s purpose is to expose students to the emerging enterprises at OU and in the great state of Oklahoma, give students the basic skills to ignite a passion for entrepreneurship, and to keep these talented individuals in the state.   I think it’s genius. What better way is there to teach people about the real world than to give them a living breathing entrepreneurial project that requires hands-on impact.  It could be writing a grant for a nanocompound to be used for preventing blindness.  Or it could be negotiating terms for a licensing agreement for a really cool waterproof cotton technology.  Who knew such groundbreaking stuff could exist here!  And what’s more interesting is you too can be a part of the emerging wealth of Oklahoma.  It doesn’t matter what major you are; Journalism, Chinese, Psychology, even Fine Art majors have found success and discovered new passions through engaging in this program and others similar to it.

This is just one of many things that exist out there.  For those graduating, perhaps you may want to look into working with the Oklahoma Center for Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) or i2E, a local technology catalyst and business generator.  There is a wealth of opportunity for creativity, innovation, and inspiration on our own front porch, you just have to dive in.  Let me know if I can help!

Happy Graduation!!

Chris

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