An Aging Services Career Steppingstone: LeadingAge Student Program

Article contributed by Derek Cheung, MHA ?| Assistant Administrator and Administrator in Training at HumanGood | 2021 LeadingAge Student Program Scholar

Attending the 2021 LeadingAge Annual Meeting + EXPO in Atlanta, GA, was one of the best decisions of my career.

I spent the summer of 2021 as a LeadingAge Summer Enrichment Program Intern at Presbyterian Villages of Michigan with Roger Myers, the CEO, as my preceptor. It was an amazing first experience with the aging services field, and through this opportunity I learned of the Student Program at the LeadingAge Annual Meeting.?The Student Program is designed for students to network with executives in the field, learn about its challenges, and improve communication and leadership abilities. I knew I had to apply for the student scholarship and participate in this amazing opportunity.

The program was jam-packed with events to further my development as a student and early career professional. Countless networking opportunities, resume reviews, leadership advice, and career coaching were just a few of the things I was able to experience. Students not only have the opportunity to speak with seasoned experts in aging services, but also other aspiring student leaders in the field. Through this conference, I was able to meet with many of my peers from the internship program and continue to learn from their experiences to this day. I fostered a great network of professionals both old and young.

I had the opportunity to attend the CEMO (Chief Executives of Multi-Site Organizations) Leadership Forum and speak about my experiences to a room full of the field’s top leaders. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and the connections I gained were priceless. I would have never been able to experience this amazing kickstart to my career if I had not applied to be a student scholar and attended the conference.

Making a career pivot towards aging services wasn’t easy. But having countless mentors that I was able to meet through the supportive team at LeadingAge made the transition much easier. I would not be here today pursuing my Nursing Home Administrator license without the connections and skills I developed through the LeadingAge Summer Enrichment Program and the student program at the LeadingAge Annual Meeting + EXPO.

Student Scholarship applications for the 2022 LeadingAge Annual Meeting + EXPO are being accepted through September 8, 2022. All student attendees, regardless of scholarship, are encouraged to participate in the Student Program. Learn more and apply here.