Darren Lai '19 Advises Class of '24 to Shoot for the Stars

What's your current career role? 
I’m an associate at Fidelity Investments, working in the personal investing unit. I’m currently obtaining my securities licenses and training to become a licensed trader working with clients on the retail side. 

Your graduating class voted you to "Most likely be a future Olympian." How is that going? 
Outside of work, going to the gym keeps me sane. I have been living an active lifestyle and trying to exercise as much as possible by lifting and playing basketball for fun. I also got into snowboarding a couple years ago and I’m enjoying being out in the mountains this season! 

You completed several internships. How did they help you to be successful?
I believe that internships are cornerstones to professional development and are incredibly significant. In general, they provide you with a more holistic view of various industries and help you narrow down your interests. Internships also give you an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to actual real-world scenarios. This hands-on experience hones your problem-solving as well as your critical-thinking skills. Getting an internship is good, but maximizing the time you have at the firm to the fullest by networking and pushing yourself each and every day is just as important. 

To be even more transparent, internships give you the credentials you need to set you up for success once you graduate from college. You can leverage your internship/job experience in your resume to package yourself better. In essence, internships could act as a springboard.

What did it mean to you to win the Bishop Dagwell Award your senior year?
The Bishop Dagwell Award meant a lot to me. The education at OES has truly played a pivotal role in shaping my core values and moral compass. Those values are part of who I am, and I use them frequently for decisions in my everyday life. I am thankful that these foundations were built early on in my life at OES with the help of faculties and mentors, and I know for a fact that these principles, values, and morals are here to stay.  

What is your fondest memory of OES?
My fondest memory was the time that I got to spend with my fellow dorm students, which included having every single meal together in the cafeteria, playing basketball on the weekends, going out of campus for food, studying, hanging out in the dorm office, etc. I made some of my best friends in life through my time at OES and truly enjoyed the time that I had with all of them.

Do you have any advice to the seniors graduating this year?
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, shoot for the stars, and enjoy the path to success!