PPP Retreat: Program Analysis

Last weekend, 22 sophomore PPP students joined faculty, upperclassmen, and the Center for Faith & Justice at the Quaker House for the 2017 PPP Retreat. The Retreat provides PPP students an opportunity to engage directly with faculty, their cohort, and upperclassmen on the issues important to the growth and prosperity of the program. This year’s PPP Retreat investigated key questions about how to fully engage in the program and discovered new tools for discerning both about summer internships and future after college. Our hope is for students and attendees to benefit from learning more about the PPP program’s history, future, and resources our strong community has to offer each student.

The following sections are reflective of the Retreat
Colella and Dr. Beaupre opened the 2017 PPP Retreat with an interesting insight into the creation of the Program. They also introduced the possibility of a new law track, due to the growing class sizes and strong interest in studying law following undergraduate study at Xavier. The discussion was favored among sophomores as it offered a better understanding of the unique and transformative program they are a part of.
Following the discussion, Dr. John Fairfield gave an inspiring talk about life, resilience, and finding one’s vocation. Fairfield’s talk is always a student favorite as it strengthens the bond between him and the students. In sharing his personal story, Dr. Fairfield ensures sophomores that there is nothing wrong with being unsure of one’s future direction. He advises students to find a vocation they are passionate about, one that you will never be able to do justice, and find one that constantly inspires you to improve.
On Day 2 of the Retreat, we welcomed back PPP Alums Adam Clark, Rebecca Hollis, Rahiel Michael, and Joe Leonard to discuss life after PPP and to provide sophomores an idea of the types of careers that are possible with a PPP degree. The panel addressed an array of topics, ranging from resume tips and networking to job transitions and the skills that these PPP grads utilize on a daily
Sean opened with his first internship experience and discussed his biggest regret since college. The talk was favored among students because it emphasized the importance of leaning into discomfort and putting yourself into situations you would not otherwise find yourself in. When you dive in and engage it can have the most rewarding and enlightening outcomes.
Following, students engaged in an internship breakout session with Dr. Beaupre and PPP Alumni Adam Clark. It is highly encouraged that in the summer between the end of their sophomore year and the fall semester of their junior year, students take on internships, whether that be locally in Cincinnati, back in their hometowns, or in the nation’s capital Washington D.C. The sophomores found this session particularly beneficial because it got students thinking about their summer plans, while allowing them to brainstorm the types of internships that best fit their skills, values, and varying interests.
Improvements for Next Year’s