Empowered Voices – Guiding and Learning From the Next Generation

By Nancy Beller Simms

Many adults working with young children imagine what they’ll become—firefighters, movie stars, or World Series champions.  I have a different vantage point working with college-aged adults on the precipice of choosing their career path and entering the job market.   This age group is exciting and energizing. They’ve identified their academic interests and have begun to understand how finances work. They also know more than they think and understand less than they admit.  Above all, they’re motivated to graduate and pursue meaningful careers.

This fall marks the fifth semester of an innovative partnership between Empowering the Ages (ETA), led by Leah Bradley, and the University of Maryland’s Information Science program at the Universities at Shady Grove. Dr. Galina Reitz teaches an upper-level course culminating in a research project, and ETA volunteers serve as “consultants,” who guide each student group through six or more collaborative sessions during the semester.

I look forward to every new group. These students are often community-college transfers, highly diverse, and frequently first-generation college students or immigrants. They want to succeed—and eagerly embrace opportunities that strengthen their skills and confidence. Their lived experiences shape their ideas, making the process of choosing a research topic both eye-opening and inspiring.

Past project examples include designing a website for budget-friendly meal planning with local pricing data and investigating the student job search through peer interviews.

As the semester progresses, new ideas and creative presentation approaches emerge. I learn right alongside them—especially about the latest technology tools, including AI and design software. My consulting role often extends beyond project feedback to coaching on communication, professional relevance, job searches, and even a preview of office dynamics to come.

Presentation Day is a highlight. Nerves run high, energy builds, and students give it their all. When the applause hits and the high-fives start, the pride is tangible—for both students and senior consultants.

Every semester, students thank me for my support—but I thank them just as much. This experience is unlike anything found in a traditional classroom, and I’m grateful to be part of it.

And one more thank-you to my students—I used AI (a skill they taught me!) to help polish this piece.