Sometimes the programs that help us find our footing in education are the very ones that shape our professional futures. For University of Montana senior Andrew Curran, his journey with TRIO Upward Bound has evolved from a middle school inspiration into a foundational career roadmap.
Andrew is set to graduate this fall. By combining academic work-study roles with hands-on undergraduate research alongside Dr. Anh Nguyen, Andrew has spent his college years developing into a trusted leader, mentor, and advocate for the next generation of college students.
Here is how Andrew leveraged experiential learning and campus support systems to navigate academic challenges and discover a meaningful career path.
The Strategy: Stacking Lifelong Mentorship and Leadership Opportunities
Andrew’s path is a masterclass in long-term engagement with student support programs. Inspired by his sister’s positive experiences, Andrew joined Upward Bound (UB) in high school to plan for college early.
Instead of leaving the program behind once he arrived at college, he consistently pursued new roles within it, building a robust layout of professional milestones:
- From Participant to Peer Leader: After participating in after-school tutoring, workshops, and community service during high school in Missoula, Andrew completed his fourth summer with UB as a “bridge student”—entering college feeling fully prepared.
- Multi-Year Residential Leadership: During his first year of college, academic coordinator Jacinda Morigeau invited Andrew to apply to be a Residential Advisor (RA) for the summer program. By the end of this upcoming summer, Andrew will have served as an RA for an impressive five summers, stepping into high-responsibility community management and peer mentorship.
- Academic Work-Study and Tutoring: Since the fall of 2024, Andrew has worked as an academic-year work-study student for the program. This role took him back into local high schools—including Big Sky, Sentinel, and Hellgate—to serve as an after-school tutor.
- Undergraduate Research and Campus Support: To balance his human-services experience with analytical skills, Andrew actively pursued undergraduate research with Dr. Anh Nguyen. He also balanced his workload by utilizing TRIO Student Support Services for academic support.
Overcoming Roadblocks: The Community That Brought Him Back
Andrew’s academic journey wasn’t without hurdles. After his first summer serving as an RA, financial challenges forced him to take a break from college. During his time away, he faced deep uncertainty about whether he wanted to continue his degree or shift his focus elsewhere.
During this pivotal moment, the power of a supportive campus network made all the difference. The director of TRiO Upward Bound invited Andrew back for a second summer as an RA and provided the institutional support he needed to apply for classes at UM. With their guidance, Andrew successfully restarted his academic journey.
Now, working intimately within the program as a work-study student, Andrew has discovered a clear professional calling. While he hasn’t finalized his exact next steps after his upcoming graduation, his time on the frontlines of student support has shown him just how much he enjoys helping others succeed.
“Working with Upward Bound has helped me grow in unexpected ways,” Andrew reflects. “I’ve developed strong leadership skills and earned the trust of students who seek my advice… I now have the opportunity to help students the way the program once helped me.”
Career Lessons from Andrew’s Journey
- Campus networks are safety nets. Building genuine, hard-working relationships with supervisors and program directors does more than add to your list of references. When life or financial hurdles disrupt your path, a supportive campus community can provide the advocacy you need to get back on track.
- Mentorship develops core management skills. Serving as an RA for five summers and tutoring in local high schools are major leadership milestones. Through these roles, Andrew continuously refined his communication, active listening, and problem-solving skills—competencies that are highly valuable in counseling, education, and institutional leadership.
- Your student jobs can reveal your career path. Andrew’s work-study role wasn’t just a way to earn a paycheck; it was a hands-on career trial. If you find yourself deeply fulfilled by a campus job, pay attention—it might be pointing you directly toward your future profession.
Take Action on Your Career Journey
- Looking for your own supportive campus community? Explore student employment, work-study roles, and peer mentorship positions on our “Find a Job” page or find a UM community that is uniquely you on our “Communities” page.
- Navigate your academic path: Connect with an ELCS Career Coach to talk about mapping out your career goals, or translating your student leadership into a post-grad job search.
- Get involved on campus: Check out the 500+ UM student organizations on GrizHub and find one that connects you to your passions and interests.
