“The effort to set yourself up for a career come graduation is not an overnight feat. Looking back, I continue to see and hear about the great work people are doing who were both guest speakers at Forge and participated as a student. You get out of the experience what you put into it. Get excited. Get creative and, for God’s sake, get out of your comfort zone!”

“Get your work out there, and make sure it’s your work. It’s important to recognize trends, but you won’t stand out if you replicate trends and don’t have your own style.”

“Strive to learn more. Being a one-trick pony doesn’t help you much. Try to have two or three interests — pursuing and striving to be the best you can be at those will help you build a solid foundation and maintain longevity in your career.”

“Use the connections created at Forge! Email and set up coffee dates with all of the guests, and build those relationships. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and enjoy the great opportunity!”

“Follow your heart — it’s the conductor of life, just trust it. When you lead with deep passion, the rest will follow. That is not to say you won’t be lost or confused, as that is literally all of life, but it is alright to be afraid and/or unsure of what happens next. You will make a TON of mistakes and will often have no idea what to do, but that is when you ask for help from your peers!”

“I would tell a future/present Forger or anyone to never stop chasing your dreams, continue to put yourself out there even when you’re afraid, and it will all work out.”

“My advice for a future Forger would be to trust in themselves, but always stay humble! I didn’t think I had what it takes to be a Forger, but I gave it a shot and made it, so I could have trusted in myself from the beginning.”

“If I could give any advice to any future Forger, it’d be to embrace it! Realize the speakers you’re hearing from are some of the greats in their fields and learning how to think and speak like them can make YOU one of the greats. Keep an open mind about each topic you hear about. It’s really an amazing experience that has been crucial in my career thus far. Put yourself out there, apply and grow!”