As a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Yasir Hirsi was learning a lot about computer science, but he knew an internship would help him translate his skills from the classroom to a career. When he learned that College Possible could connect him with a professional for additional career mentorship, it seemed like the perfect way to refine his skills and receive more guidance on his next steps. “I was excited about spending one-on-one time with someone in the corporate world who had been on the same journey I’m on right now,” Yasir said, “trying to navigate a job search and make connections.”
Yasir was paired with Austin, an account executive at Stripe and member of College Possible Chicago’s Auxiliary Board who had gone through the internship application process himself and had plenty of wisdom to share. “Yasir is a very proactive student who was ready to take the next step professionally,” Austin explained. “I really enjoyed working with him.”
Over the next few months, Austin worked with Yasir on building out an elevator pitch, practicing networking and refining his LinkedIn profile. As Yasir began applying for internships, they talked about when to follow up with recruiters and how to send professional emails to them. “From our first meeting, Austin was friendly and open,” Yasir said. “The best piece of advice he told me was that applying and interviewing for jobs can be overwhelming, but with practice and repetition, it gets easier.”
With Austin’s guidance and countless practice interviews, Yasir secured a highly competitive internship through CareerSpring FORWARD, a partner of College Possible Chicago. He spent three weeks of the summer working on data analysis for YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. “It was amazing to gain connections in a professional setting and work on a real-world project,” he said.
When the internship ended, Yasir wasn’t done learning. He began looking for his next opportunity to continue gaining experience in data and technology. Yasir is still in touch with Austin, sharing updates and receiving encouragement. “What I learned from Austin went a long way,” Yasir said. “If you’re a College Possible student considering the career mentorship program, you should go for it. You never know what doors it will open for you.”
Studies show that students who can connect their education to a future career are five times more likely to believe college is worth the cost (Strada, 2022). Through this program, career workshops and individual support, College Possible students have access to the connections and resources needed to graduate college ready to enter the workforce.
College Possible Chicago students have been paired with professionals for this year’s career mentorship program. If you are interested in becoming a mentor in spring 2026, contact Keri Foley.
