Written By: Danielle Jeffers, VP of Workforce Innovation

Learning to FISH: Awkward Conversations, Humble Pie, and Real Growth

There’s a moment in learning that no worksheet, slide deck, or perfectly formatted slide deck can prepare you for.

It’s the moment you have to talk to someone you don’t know.
An adult.
With a title.
Who might ask you questions.

Suddenly, you’re very aware of your hands.

I learned early on that “selling yourself” is hard—and I learned it the hard way. Early in my career, I thought networking meant talking. A lot. Mostly about myself. I walked into conversations armed with my resume, my accomplishments, and my enthusiasm… and then proceeded to say all of it. Out loud. Without pausing. For air.

I thought I was being confident. What I was actually doing was delivering a one-person TED Talk no one asked for.

I didn’t ask good questions. I didn’t listen. I lacked humility. And shockingly (truly shocking), those conversations didn’t always lead anywhere. Over time, I learned an important lesson: real connection isn’t about proving how impressive you are—it’s about being curious, listening well, and letting the conversation breathe.

That lesson didn’t come from a class. It came from trial and error. From awkward moments. From replaying conversations in my head and thinking, “Wow. I should have asked literally one question.”

That’s exactly why the FISH program exists.

FISH is a 6-month program designed to help students learn these lessons now—not five years from now at a networking event with free cheese and name tags. Students don’t just learn Workforce Readiness Training (WRT) in theory; they practice it in real life. We guide them through employer outreach calls, help them prepare, and then… we let them do it.

It’s uncomfortable. It’s real. And it works.

At the heart of the program is the FISH framework:

Find Direction – Who am I? What do I like? Where am I going?
Initiate Connections – Yes, that means actually reaching out to someone.
Showcase Value – Learning how to talk about strengths without turning it into a monologue.
Hook Opportunities – Following up, building relationships, and seeing where conversations can lead.

Along the way, students stumble. They talk too fast. They forget what they planned to say. They overshare. They undershare. And then—just like the rest of us—they learn. They try again. With better questions. Better listening. And a lot more confidence.

As Benjamin Franklin said, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn.”

FISH is about involvement. It’s about letting students experience the awkwardness with guidance, learn from it, and come out stronger. Because confidence doesn’t come from memorizing answers—it comes from having the conversation, realizing you survived it, and knowing you’ll do better next time.

Learning through doing isn’t always easy.
Sometimes it’s awkward.
Sometimes it’s funny (later).

But it’s real.
And that’s why we FISH.