By Mahdi Mahi
On Oct. 23, students filled the Apex gym building to explore the academic programs Lehman offers at the college’s annual Undergraduate Majors and Minors Fair. Hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Academic Advisement (OUAA), the fair was designed to help students discover different majors, minors and career pathways that match their goals and interests. The event featured staff, advisers and student representatives who handed out pamphlets and answered questions.
For Aliyah Alisa, a nursing major, the event was a great aid. “I already knew I wanted to go into nursing, but talking to the faculty helped me understand what classes I should focus on and how to prepare for the clinical...It made me feel more confident about the path I've chosen.”
Alisa added that the fair also helped her build a network of support. “I spoke with a few upperclassmen who told me what to expect during clinical rotations. Hearing from other students who had gone through the same experience makes it feel less intimidating.”
Some students came to confirm their choices, while others were searching for direction. Mariana Ceesay, a computer information systems (CIS) major, said she wasn't sure if she had chosen the right field, but the fair helped her see the possibilities within her major. She explained, “Before coming to the fair I thought CIS was just about coding. After speaking with one of the faculty I learned it’s a mix of technology and business. There are so many career options from data analysis to system management. That made me even more excited about what I'm studying.”
For Aliyah Alisa, a nursing major, the event was a great aid. She also discovered valuable information about development opportunities. “One of the department advisers told me about the internship programs that connect[ed] with my field. The fair really opened my eyes as it’s not just about taking classes, it’s about getting experience that prepares us for real jobs.”
For Eric Santiago, a business administration major, the fair provided a clear picture of how his coursework connects to his career goals. He shared, “I've always been interested in business and entrepreneurship. I got to talk to the faculty from the economics and business department who explained how the courses I'm taking now
build the foundation for management and finance careers.” That made him think more seriously about going to graduate school after Lehman.
Santiago said the event also revealed new academic options he hadn't considered before. “I didn't realize there were so many different paths in business administration. Learning that I could focus on marketing or management made me feel like I have more control over shaping my education.
Sakib Uddin Shiker, a psychology major who works as a college assistant for the Office of Undergraduate
Academic Advisement, worked at the fair. He remarked, “My advice [for] students would be to plan ahead and not
wait until the last moment on anything. They should be getting early advisement before registration starts and
should pick their majors ASAP so that their goals are clearer and can lead to a smoother journey.”
Beyond academic exploration, the fair fostered a strong sense of community, with students from different
disciplines sharing experiences and supporting one another. “Even though we all have different majors, we’re
going through similar experiences trying to find what fits best for us,” Ceesay said. “The fair showed me that college
is not just about getting a degree. It's about exploring who you are and what you want to become,” Alisa said.
“It's nice to know that Lehman gives us the tools to figure that out.”
