First two RISE Sessions!

By Katie Huge

Our first two RISE sessions -- orientations on Tuesday and Thursday -- were a huge success. The Dar Si Hmad offices worked hard to prepare for the incoming class and were excited to meet our new students. We were impressed by how quickly the groups came together and started getting to know one another.

During the orientation, the students learned about the history of RISE and why DSH started the program. There are very few programs like RISE in the area, and we are excited to offer such a unique a professional development tailored program. The orientation also touched on Dar Si Hmad’s other projects and organizational mission. Dar Si Hmad directs the largest fog collection project in the world, and we felt it was necessary that the students understood the roots of the organization and its mission of sustainability and educational opportunity.

As we went over the curriculum and schedule of the program, we mixed in a few fun icebreakers and games to get everyone talking. The students drafted their own constitution to set rules and expectations for the RISE program. This allowed them to take ownership over their group constitution, as well as to hold themselves and each other accountable.

To finish the session, the students wrote down and discussed their goals for the next seven weeks. We loved hearing everyone explain their passions and ambitions, and it really set the tone for the program.

The next week, we had our first official lesson in the RISE program. Led by Natalie Sullivan and Alex Kochenburger, the classes went over how to write resumes and cover letters. Most of the students are around the point in their careers where they are applying for jobs, graduate degrees, abroad programs, or scholarships, so it is important for them to be comfortable in this area.

The students were engaged as they discussed what a good resume is comprised of, how to distinguish between an American resume and a French CV, and how to write a compelling cover letter. We showed various examples of resumes and cover letters and students critiqued good and bad features in each one. We found that the visuals gave them a better feel for what to avoid and what to aspire to.

One of the biggest challenges for RISErs is writing formal English without being misleading or unprofessional. Because many languages have their own cultural context, there is often confusion when something does not have the same meaning when translated. We found that the students face this difficulty when writing in a professional setting, and did our best to clarify a lot of misconceptions. We hope the session was helpful in clearing up multiple misunderstandings.

The students in both the Tuesday and Thursday RISE groups are eager to improve their skills and take away as much as they can from the sessions. The lesson was a strong start to the program and we look forward to the upcoming weeks!