Tufts Blogs

Sophomore year is difficult. It is a journey full of struggles, expectations, and uncertainty...especially when looking for a summer internship. First of all, if you are worried about getting an internship the summer after sophomore year, there is no need. Everything is going to work out. Opportunities for sophomores are so far and few, that even thinking about it will take you a long way. 

This summer, I had the opportunity to work at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (JPMC) through the Advancing Black Pathways Fellowship in the U.S. Private Bank. The fellowship was a 5-week program designed to give rising juniors insight into the world of financial services. All fellows nationwide spent the first week of the program in New York, learning about the values, culture, and history of the firm. Candidly, the idea of my first day of work was daunting. I was afraid I would not know enough about finance to be able to hold a conversation with my peers, let alone any full-time employees. This was also my first experience in the corporate world, and I was convinced of the stereotype that everyone would be unwilling to speak to me or answer questions because I was an intern.

Contrarily, I was pleasantly surprised. This was a beautiful and insightful experience. The Advancing Black Pathways Fellowship operates in tandem with the Advancing Hispanic and Latinos Fellowship, so it was truly amazing to be surrounded by so many intelligent peers of color from various walks of life. Over the course of a week I was able to network and connect with over 300 like-minded individuals. The next four weeks of my fellowship were spent in the Los Angeles office. I had always imagined after deciding I wanted a career in finance, that I would be in New York, but LA was the perfect place for me. For starters I was home, which meant I saved money on housing. But, private banking is a highly entrepreneurial line of business so it was interesting to see how I could apply my personal network and knowledge of the surrounding area to the work I could end up doing in the future. Additionally, the LA office is infused with LA’s culture which made it a comfortable place for me to grow. The office placed high value on being your authentic self, and truly cherished diverse backgrounds. It was especially meaningful for me to have two black managers that were instrumental in guiding me through my time in the Private Bank. Each week of my fellowship was filled with teach-ins, coffee chats with everyone managing directors to analysts, and senior speakers sessions from leaders within the firm. My summer at JPMC, culminated in a group presentation that allowed me to demonstrate all the knowledge I had gained over the summer to the entire office. 

The following are takeaways that I think are valuable from my experience including recruiting to working at JP Morgan: 

1. All you need is one. When applying, you will likely hear “no” more than you hear “yes." Do not be discouraged. One yes is all you need to get your foot in the door.
2. Do some research. In my experience, when people look into internships they are looking for big names or well-paying jobs. I did the same thing. However it is important to know what the company values, so that you can evaluate how well they live up to those.
3. Write down everything, then review it later. It is important to be willing to learn, but it is more important to have a plan for it. One piece of advice I received for this fellowship was to write everything down. It was extremely difficult but equally valuable. Each day, I would go home after work, and type up questions, important ideas, as well definitions for words I did not know. Quickly, I was able to pick up on the office language and hold meaningful conversations about the work I was doing.
4. Honesty will take you far. This is applicable in many facets. It is okay not to know things. There were many times where I was told the firm would teach me everything I needed to know, and this could not have been more true. In many cases, I felt my sole job at the firm was to simply learn. Saying “I’m not sure yet” or “I don’t know. Do you think you could explain?” opens the door for more opportunity to understand and genuine curiosity.
5. You are meant to be exactly where you are. Entering the corporate world as a person of color is daunting and it is easy to feel imposter syndrome, especially when doing a “diversity program.” However, one thing I realized was that the firm would not make this investment into me if they did not find the program valuable or successful. I had all the tools and resources necessary to succeed, as long as I believed in myself to do so.
6. Where you invest your love, you invest your life. This has been my favorite quote for a long time, and every year it proves true. When doing an internship, it is important to enjoy the work you are doing. If you cannot visualize yourself doing the work it is okay to pivot. In one of my coffee chats, I was told it is important to “find a career, not a job.” A career is something that you love, and you can get up every day to do. Find something that fits your personality, something that you love, and a way to turn that passion into a career will present itself.

I will always be grateful for my summer at JPMC, and thankful for all those who invested in me and fostered my growth this summer. Next summer, I will be returning to the firm to work in the Private Bank in my hometown, Pasadena, California.