Welcome to IPC Pathways
A career exploration program at
Immanuel Presbyterian Church, McLean, VA
What is IPC Pathways?
IPC Pathways is a career exploration program at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, McLean, VA. It is designed to benefit youth and young adults – whom we call seekers — who have a connection to Immanuel, whether or not they are members.
The program has been operated since fall 2017 at Immanuel by The Harraseeket Foundation. Harraseeket is a 501(c)(3) public charity whose mission is to support career exploration programs for communities like Immanuel. The program is operated in consultation with Immanuel’s Spirituality & Learning Committee, Youth Ministry Committee, Immanuel staff and an Immanuel advisory board that includes several seekers.
Learn more about the program at About IPC Pathways.
Get Involved
We want everyone at Immanuel to participate in career mentoring conversations. We also need volunteers and donations!
Mentor Spotlight
Some of the mentors in the Immanuel Presbyterian Church Pathways program are sharing the stories of their career paths. Here is one mentor’s story of how she became a small business owner and what landscape design means to her.
Feedback from Seekers and Mentors
In tracing back over my career path with my seeker, interesting threads of connection emerged within the different jobs that I've had over the years that I don't think I saw at the time as I transitioned from one job to the next. That clarity cued up some perspective in my seeker that, despite confusion and overwhelm in contemplating career paths, if they allowed inner guidance to prevail in steering them towards first jobs, seeds of growth would be sown that could be cultivated from one job to the next, each position with potential to amplify their innate talents and gifts. I saw that I had stayed true to my deep interests and passions and that I was able to flourish in positions that at first glance didn't seem to be the perfect fit.
I had such a dynamic exchange with the seeker I met with. Their energy and commitment really inspired me.
My connection with [my mentor] was very successful! Through him I got to meet with three program leads at the National Academy of Sciences. Including the head of the new Climate Change program they are trying to set up. They said that I might be able to find a position open over this summer, and if that happens then I have a good chance to land it since I got my foot in the door way ahead of time. Thanks so much for the connection.
I was so glad to have the opportunity to meet with my mentee to answer a few questions, provide insight, and learn more about what he wants to do and what drives him. It was tremendously rewarding to meet such a bright, motivated young person and help him move toward his goals, and it feels good to pay forward all of the assistance and guidance that I was lucky enough to receive when starting out. I’m looking forward to continuing the mentorship role with him and others as time goes on.
My first conversation with my mentor was incredibly organic, supportive, and fun. I learned a valuable perspective from her, that career paths aren’t always linear and are often enriched by your openness to opportunities. I intend to carry this with me on my career journey, and have greatly enjoyed our newly fostered relationship and correspondence.