From uncertainty to impact

WashU senior Mason Shaver grew up in a St. Louis neighborhood where opportunities felt out of reach.

He often felt the odds were stacked against him and wondered whether he could break that cycle and succeed. When he arrived at WashU as a first-generation student, he carried the weight of ambition but not the map to navigate it.

“I had mentors in high school who told me I was capable of doing more, even when my circumstances suggested otherwise,” Shaver said. “Their belief in me pushed me to believe in myself, which is something that has shaped who I am and the kind of career I want to pursue.”

Still, mapping out a professional future was something he was not equipped to do on his own.

“I didn’t have a roadmap,” he admitted. “A lot of my peers had family connections or mentors outside of school. I didn’t; so, I had to figure it out.”

That roadmap came into focus when Shaver connected with the WashU Center for Career Engagement (CCE). Through career coaching and eventually being selected for the Pershing Fellowship in Non-Profit Leadership, he began to translate his personal and academic experiences into professional opportunities.

“The CCE helped me see that my lived experiences mattered,” he said. “They showed me how to talk about my strengths and pushed me to pursue opportunities I wouldn’t have gone after on my own.”

Last summer, Shaver interned at City Academy, a local independent school, where he worked alongside educators and administrators. The experience proved pivotal.

“My internship helped me see where I could make an impact in the lives of children,” he said. “I’ve studied educational policy and even worked in government, but I felt disconnected to the people those policies impact the most. This internship made me realize I wanted to be in spaces that open doors for others, the way my mentors and the CCE did for me.”

For senior Asia Brantley, the CCE’s support came at a time when she wasn’t sure how to move forward meshing her academic, career and personal interests and strengths. Sophomore year marked a turning point for her when she tapped into the CCE for resume guidance, mock interviews and networking opportunities—tools that built her confidence and helped her land internships, including at KPMG in Chicago and with the James S. McDonnell Foundation in St. Louis.

“When I connected with the CCE, I didn’t have a clear vision for what was next,” she said. “I am an accounting and finance major, but my heart is in nonprofit work. So, the CCE worked with me to tailor a plan. I felt validated knowing they understood what I was looking for and helped me prepare for opportunities that aligned with my values, not just what people expect from a finance major.”

Her nonprofit passion began in high school, where music and grant writing sparked her drive to pair artistic talent with financial expertise. Most recently, her time at the James S. McDonnell Foundation offered a new perspective—seeing the “giving” side of grantmaking which deepened her commitment to economic mobility, financial literacy and equitable community development.

Both students point to the practical experience of their internships as a defining moment in their career journeys. For Shaver, being invited into professional spaces he had never imagined himself in meant building relationships with educators and community leaders who continue to shape his career path.

“The connections I’ve built through my internship at City Academy opened doors I didn’t even know existed,” he said. “I now have a professional network of people who are in my corner and who know what I can contribute.”

For Brantley, the chance to apply classroom learning in a real-world setting showed her that she was ready to succeed beyond campus.

“My internship made everything feel more tangible,” she explained. “It wasn’t just theory anymore—it was real.”

What unites Brantley and Shaver’s stories is the CCE’s emphasis on experiential learning and personal growth. Beyond preparing for the job market, the CCE encourages students to reflect on their values, test new ideas and find meaning in their next steps.

“It’s not just about landing a job,” Brantley explained. “It’s about understanding who you are and how your values connect to your work.”

After graduation, Shaver intends to attend law school with a focus on child advocacy work. Brantley plans to pursue a master’s degree in finance, focusing on asset and wealth management, to ultimately become a community developer.