The SFC Crew
Tip Fallon | Tip@SpeakingforChange.com
My game plan for college was to milk it for all it was worth. I studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland – College Park. Outside of class I served as a co-founder and president of a fraternity, co-president of a cultural student org, and was an RA. And in the blink of an eye, it was all over and I was in the real world learning to do my own laundry.
After graduating, I took a job I enjoyed a lot as an engineer – but I wanted to push the envelope a little. After about a year and a half, I left to start a nonprofit with a few other recent grads to serve disadvantaged teens. Not long after, I started speaking to students on campuses about tools to success. Next thing I know, I’m writing a book, and Speaking for Change has grown from this to include our two awesome team members who share this passion, below. I think total speech count is over 25; I haven’t counted in a while. This was over the period of about two years.
Today, with the foundation for Speaking for Change and I Got Heart in place, I am working at a management consulting firm in the DC / VA area. I still speak occasionally; if you have an event in the DMV area I would be happy to talk about it.
Jessica Swendiman | Jessica@SpeakingforChange.com
I’m Jessica, a recent college grad as well, and here to help you make the best of your college experience so that you’re not roaming around after graduation day like a lost puppy. I want to help you find a balance between making college the best time of your life while also using it to prepare yourself for the ‘real world’ that everyone keeps telling you to watch out for.
As for my background, I’m from northern California and went to school at UC Santa Barbara. The beaches and boozing were quite different from the mountains and small-town life that I was used to, so I know all about difficult transitions. I graduated in two and half years–not something I’d necessarily recommend–with BAs in English and Geography. Not knowing what to do next, I enrolled in a graduate program for teaching and got my MEd and teaching credentials. I finished that program in a year completely sure of the fact that I did not want to be a teacher. So what did I do? I moved to Japan to teach English.
In Japan I had time to think about what I wanted to do while having a life-altering experience and working only 40 hours a week, much less than the 70 hours a week I was putting in during grad school. After a year in Kyoto, I moved to DC, where I am today. I’m now trying to find out what is meaningful to me and do that, part of which is helping you through Speaking for Change. From someone who has been down the traditional track toward success, I recommend that you reconsider it. And we’re here to help you do just that.
Anshu Khetan | Anshu@SpeakingforChange.com
I’m Anshu, the college student on the Speaking for Change team, helping us to stay current with what’s on the minds of college students. By communicating with college students and being one myself, I can assure that you’ll get the information you need when you need it.
I am a History and Philosophy double major at the University of Maryland, College Park. I aspire to go to law school and hope to be a professor of law in the long run. As a senior of college, I have already experienced much of what college has to offer, so I know what you have been through, what you are going through, and most importantly, what you are going to be going through. I’ve been to the parties, joined a Greek organization, struggled through different majors, and learned the loopholes. If you ever see me on campus, let me know what you want to know more about, or just ask for advice. I aim to please.
