As more and more young Memphians are mapping out what moves to make to close in on their career goals, the NexGen Internship Program acts a catalyst during their transition from pupils to professionals.
Meet NexGen Hayley Harris, Choose901 Alumni, graduate of Crosstown High School—and current student at the University of Memphis.
I am Hayley Harris, a dream chaser, born and raised in Memphis, TN. According to the Enneagram, I’m an Originalist, which I feel is very accurate. The arrangement of words excites me, from lyrics in music to poetry and books. Although I want a business-forward career, art is very important to me, and I spend a lot of time filling journals with lines of poetry and drawings.
We Sat down with NexGen Hayley Harris to talk shop about her Nexgen Experience at City Leadership.
Your Nexgen fellowship is wrapping up, but let's rewind to the beginning. What did you hope to get out of this experience?
When applying for NexGen my mind was focused on diversifying my résumé. Additionally, I wanted to gain more certainty around my pursuit towards a marketing career, and the possibility of spending a lot of time in an office setting. I’m using this time to develop the social skills that would be beneficial in office culture. Lastly, I hope to become more confident when discussing work I’ve completed and presenting new ideas.
I'm sure there are young Memphians out there that hope to acquire similar skills. What advice do you have for the next group of NexGen fellows?
The advice I have for the next group of NexGen fellows is to push themselves.
NexGen exists to further your development, so this is the time to try new things and make mistakes. Be receptive to advice, criticism, and lessons.
I'm sure there are young Memphians out there that hope to acquire similar skills. What advice do you have for the next group of NexGen fellows?
The advice I have for the next group of NexGen fellows is to push themselves.
NexGen exists to further your development, so this is the time to try new things and make mistakes. Be receptive to advice, criticism, and lessons.
Memphis advances when we work together to pour into rising young talent, like NexGen Hayley Harris, who are fearlessly forging their own path.
We are always looking for new opportunities for our next round of NexGen interns! Interested in learning more about the program? Want to play an active role in building a better Memphis?
