Building Skills Through Student Advocacy
March 17, 2026
Ready to Roar In Action: Student Stories
At LSU, career readiness happens everywhere. In this series, students reflect on how their campus involvement connects to the Ready to Roar career proficiencies and helps prepare them for life after graduation.
Carrying Student Perspectives
When I stepped into Student Government, I wasn’t looking to lead. I was looking to understand. What I found instead was a responsibility to represent — standing in the gap between students and the systems that shape their experience.
Communication, to me, is less about speaking and more about representation. In many meetings with administrators, employers, and campus partners, not every student voice is present. Sometimes students do not know how to express what they are feeling, or do not feel comfortable doing so. In Student Government, I learned that communication means carrying those perspectives with you and making sure they are considered.
People can tell when you care beyond the conversation. I’ve had to learn how to speak
differently depending on who I’m talking to — professional with employers and faculty,
clear and reassuring with students. Communication isn’t repeating the same message; it’s making sure everyone understands equally.
Leadership Through Presence
Leadership isn’t always starting something new. Sometimes it’s supporting what already exists and being present long enough for someone to feel comfortable asking for help.
One moment that shaped this for me was helping with the Tailored Tiger “Too Good to Geaux” event. Students came expecting to grab clothes and leave, but
many stayed and talked — about interviews they were nervous for, majors they were
unsure about, or not knowing what they were doing after graduation.
Leadership has also meant bridging the gap between faculty and students through Workforce Development initiatives. Leadership doesn’t stop when a title ends. The way that I advocate for and support others will follow me into many situations in my career.
One part of leadership that people don’t always talk about is the doubt that comes with making decisions. You don’t always know if the decision you made was the right one or if the initiative will succeed, but you still must stand behind it, because leadership also means accepting uncertainty.
Advocating for the Student Experience
Through Student Government, I’ve also come to understand civic engagement as advocacy. As director of Workforce Development, part of my role is helping connect
students with career readiness resources and opportunities to engage with employers.
In meetings with advisors or faculty, one concern I often raise is that students know resources exist on campus, but they struggle to connect those resources to clear next steps in their careers. Civic engagement means bringing that reality into the room and advocating for clearer outreach so my community can access opportunities while they are happening.
Because I was once unaware of many of these opportunities myself, I see this work as a responsibility to help create a clearer path for students who come after me. Being civically engaged means recognizing the challenges within my community and taking the initiative to help address them.
Standing in the Gap
My career path includes a future in cybersecurity, which focuses on understanding how systems are structured and knowing what to do when they fail. Through Student Government, I’ve developed skills that translate directly into that work.
Communication has taught me how to listen, represent different perspectives, and ensure information is understood. As a leader, I have been challenged to make decisions and support others even when the outcome is uncertain. My work with civic engagement has shown me the importance of advocating for people and making sure systems work better for those they serve.
To me, being Ready to Roar means learning how to stand in the gap for others — to represent, to support, and to help people realize they belong.
About the LSU Career Center
Our team is committed to ensuring every student has ample opportunities to gain experience, grow their network, and communicate their aptitude for a chosen career long before graduation. We believe LSU students are unparalleled in their potential to step into leadership, solve problems, and elevate the workforce for the benefit of all.
Ready to Roar Career Proficiencies
At LSU, you’ll gain the knowledge and experience to succeed in any field. With a blend of professional experiences, academic pursuits, and involvement opportunities both on and off campus, you'll graduate Ready to Roar.