Lauren’s advice to current students is simple: try everything. As someone who describes herself as indecisive, she found that working in a versatile role at Invent@NMU gave her the freedom to explore different tasks, develop new skills, and discover what she truly enjoyed doing. Embracing every opportunity not only opened doors for her career but also significantly strengthened her resume and design portfolio. Stepping out of her comfort zone wasn’t easy at first—but doing so in a supportive environment where it was okay to make mistakes made all the difference. “It was a relief to know I could learn by doing,” she says. “Those experiences were the ones that helped me grow the most.”