One of the students on the finance track, economics major and psychology minor Luke Purinton ’28, said the trek gave him confidence in his liberal arts education. He heard from employers and alumni working in the industry that Bowdoin prepares students to think critically, write effectively, and to move into positions of responsibility. “The broad education we’ve amassed not only gives us a strong foundation across disciplines but also equips us with the soft skills to work well on a team,” Purinton said.
Aurélie Nishimwe ’26, a psychology major and cinema studies minor, joined the social impact trek as it aligned with her aspirations in education, filmmaking, and making a difference. Nishimwe recounted a conversation her group had with a CEO about his preference for hiring people with a liberal arts degree versus a more industry-oriented one like marketing. “The CEO answered that with a liberal arts education, students are taught how to learn, and most careers require this willingness and ability to learn new things every day,” she said.
Shannon Kim ’28, an environmental studies and sociology major, joined the non-tech tech trek because she’s interested in pursuing a career in innovation and design, possibly as a brand strategist, program manager, or architect. She said that San Francisco, as an epicenter of design, seems like a great place to land.
“I’m looking forward to working towards life in San Francisco by taking small steps to advance my knowledge of the industries out there,” she said. “My main hope is to continue nurturing the relationships we made in SF and continue to get excited about what life looks like post-grad.”