Meet Our HU Students: Sabrina Iaria

Name: Sabrina Iaria 

Hometown: Long Island, New York

Major(s): Foreign Language Education in Italian Major, General Business Minor

When you were young, what did you think you wanted to be "when you grow up?"

Honestly, I have always wanted to be a teacher. I have always loved the classroom setting and the idea of guiding students towards the future. There have been times where I have had second thoughts about my choice, but in the end I know that this is what I am supposed to be doing.

What career do you hope your first job after graduate will be?

Ideally, I would like to find a teaching job on Long Island. I hope to find a school that I really like as opposed to constantly switching from district to district. That way, I have the potential to move up to a higher position, such as the chairperson of a foreign language department.

What experience have you had so far that you think is best preparing you to reach that goal?

I have always tried to get involved with students in any way that I could. For years, I have been observing classrooms in order to have the full teaching experience. However, recently Hofstra has given me the opportunity to tutor on campus. I feel that being able to teach the Italian language to a student will give me the experience that I will need to lead a class.

What advice would you have for others who are pursuing this same career?

 In order to be successful in this field, experience is definitely required. Education majors should definitely take advantage of the required observation hours in order to be the best teacher possible. In addition, networking is incredibly important in any field, but that goes without saying.

Who at Hofstra has had the biggest positive impact on you?

I could not choose one person that has impacted me because Hofstra, as a whole, has greatly affected my life. I would have to say that the Italian Department has significantly helped me in becoming who I want to be in the future. In addition, the entire staff at the Career Center has definitely given me the experience I need to venture off into the real world. 

Interested in being a featured student or know someone you want to feature on #MeetOurHUStudents? Email us at careercenter@hofstra.edu with the subject line 'Meet Our HU Students'.  

My #1 Tip for Undecided Students

My executive director recently left a gift on everyone’s desk. Who doesn’t love spontaneous gifts, right?  It was a copy of the New York Time’s bestseller “Steal Like an Artist.”  It’s a little book, quick read and very visual.  As a busy woman, it was my kind of book! There were so many little gems of advice that I found myself nodding along in agreement with each page I turned. The author, Austin Kleon, proves you don’t have to write a lot to say a lot. 

The book gives 10 tips about how to be creative. I love them all, but one resonated with me because of my role as a career counselor. Tip #5 is “side projects and hobbies are important.” I tell this to students in appointments all the time. When students come in saying things like “I feel lost,” “I feel so undecided about my future,” or “I need to chose a major but I don’t know how,” I start to ask them about the things they do for fun.  I ask them about their hobbies, their passions.  Inevitably after I ask that question, they will follow up with something like  “I like _____ but don’t know how to make a career of that.”

This is where Kleon gave me the “aha moment.”  He advises that we don’t need to worry about connecting the dots in our life as they happen.  In fact, we should do a few things that we love no matter if they seem connected or not, relevant or not, even purposeful or not.  He says, “Don’t throw any of yourself away.  Don’t worry about a grand scheme or unified vision for your work […] what unifies your work is the fact that you made it.  One day, you’ll look back and it will all make sense.”

So, I am going to “steal like an artist,” and give you some of my best advice with some help from Kleon.  If you want to choose a major or your career, keep those hobbies.  Find time for your side projects.  It might not make sense going forward but it will all make sense looking back.  

Deanna Rodin, Associate Director