The path after graduation can lead anywhere. For one alumna, that path led to Paris, France.
Claudia Velasco, class of 2013 accounting major, is now living in Paris and working for EMC Corporation.
The company focuses on data analytics, cloud computing and virtual infrastructure for major companies.
Velasco obtained an internship at EMC through an internship matching system called Sponsors for Educational Opportunity. After the summer internship, she received a job offer.
She began working for EMC immediately after graduation and spent the first year working at their headquarters in Boston. In July of this year, she moved to the Paris office for a six-month company project.
During her time abroad, Velasco has visited England, Spain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. She still hopes to travel to Istanbul, Turkey and Marrakech, Morocco before her assignment is up in December.
“Everything is so close in Europe and I am trying to take advantage of it, even if I come back broke and have to sell my belongings,” Velasco said.
Along with travel opportunities, living in an entirely different country presents an opportunity to spread the gospel.
“When you’re talking to people from so many different backgrounds and beliefs, you have to decide why you believe what you believe in and why it’s so special that you want to share it with others,” Velasco said.
In the future, Velasco wants to work with the Hispanic community.
“My passion lies with low income, undocumented, hard-working immigrant communities in the southern states,” Velasco said. “My current job is on the complete opposite spectrum and I have no idea how the two will connect, but I know I am right where I’m supposed to be at the moment.”
Velasco attributes her success in the career field and her current place in life to working hard, taking advantage of every opportunity and relying solely on God’s purpose for every situation. She said she is thrilled with her position in life right now and looks forward to the next step, wherever that may be.
“The 8-5 life isn’t always peachy. It can get monotonous, even when you having an amazing interesting job in a different country,” Velasco said. “That’s why it’s so important to gain motivation from things that really matter. I may not change the world in the way I pictured, but if I can make an eternal impact on someone’s life, then it’s all worth it, no matter what my day-to-day job is.”
