As I reflect on my time at MSU, I can’t help but wonder: What will I do with my degree? All of us have different goals for the future, but how far can our experience here take us?

For John Hill, an MSU degree brought him to where he is now – Vice President of Network for Techstars.

I hate spoilers but I’ll tell you right off the bat – it took hard work and a unique selection of jobs after college for John to be in his current position. As a journalist, Hill worked in the Lansing area before coming back to MSU and assisting students in building their network and finding internships.

One thing that Hill recognized was a lack of resources and networks for students when finding their future full-time jobs or internships. As I’ve learned through articles, podcasts and even my experience visiting the hatch, a problem can be solved with help from a big idea.

Hill found that LinkedIn had become a major resource for students to utilize in terms of expanding their networks, but it lacked an alumni factor to connect with people who had the same degree from the same university. Hill was able to visit Silicon Valley to pitch his ideas, and landed a job as a higher education Evangelist for LinkedIn. His belief that “relationships matter” derived from his experiences at MSU, and it all began with the simplicity of an idea to solve a problem.

Today, John works to help other young entrepreneurs accomplish their goals. The companies he’s helped launch blew me away, and his innovative thinking and networking experience still lend a hand to MSU students today.

Personally, I’ve utilized the alumni feature on LinkedIn and it’s extremely helpful. Thanks to ideas like those of John, I’m able to find a Spartan nearly anywhere in the country. I’ve lived in Michigan my entire life, and I think it’s very comforting to know that no matter where I end up, I will have a network of Michigan State alumni by my side.

Another thing that really stood out to me after having a visit from Hill in class was the vast realm of opportunities available to journalists. His background from MSU allowed him to use his creativity and knowledge on media towards pitching major companies and organizations with new ideas, and essentially led him to the position he’s in today.

I can’t help but wonder – where will my degree take me? In such a short amount of time, Hill has worked in so many amazing positions – all from his journalism background. It is very aspirational to say the least, but it mostly gives me hope for a future filled with creativity, problem solving and a world of innovation.