Brandeis Alumni, Family and Friends

Alumni share “adulting” advice with students in new course

February 6, 2025

Students get real-world advice, preparation for post-college life

Should I rent or buy? How can I stretch my paycheck to cover bills and save for the future? Should I enroll in my company’s retirement or profit-sharing plan? How do I advocate for myself with my new supervisor? How should I handle a difficult colleague?

These are just a few of the questions facing recent college graduates as they enter the “real world.” Those questions also inspired the creation of a new course, Beyond the Loop Road, introduced in the fall of 2024 and back by popular demand this spring. The six-week course helps juniors and seniors prepare to navigate the challenges of adult life.

The unique program features weekly sessions with alumni instructors and presenters, each with expertise in one of many areas – law, workplace culture, finance, real estate, career planning, and more. Students also must find an alumni mentor with whom to confer and keep a journal documenting their progress. 

The experience is as valuable and rewarding for alumni—both as instructors or mentors— as it is for students. Edgar Ndjatou ’06, the executive director of a nonprofit dedicated to creating fair work environments, participated in Beyond the Loop Road last fall. He explained the legalities surrounding a number of workplace practices, including phone monitoring, overtime compensation, and whether it’s okay for employees to discuss their salaries. 

The goal behind his presentation was simple: He wanted students to understand their professional rights before entering the workforce. “Students have some knowledge from internships and other work experiences,” he said. “But self-advocacy is important; they don’t always know what’s legal or illegal in the workplace.” 

Course participant Marcel Harris ’26 chose Mesoud Awol ’23, an investment-banking analyst in San Francisco, as his mentor. From Awol, Harris learned about not only the many financial benefits and perks of investment banking but also its inherent demands and long hours. 

“Mesoud shared great insights on ways to make connections, how to prioritize wellbeing in a new place, and encouraged me to take risks,” said Harris. “Knowing that he took a risk and moved across the country for this opportunity inspired me to dream big.”

To learn more about becoming a guest instructor/presenter or to serve as a mentor for Beyond the Loop Road, contact Stephanie Grimes at grimes@brandeis.edu or 781-736-4039.