Start With What’s Next

A Conversation with Meredith Tornabene, Director of Career Advising and Development

There’s a question a lot of students carry with them to college:

It’s a big question. And for many, it  comes with a lot of pressure to have the answer before you begin your college career.

But Meredith Tornabene, director of career advising and development, offered a different perspective when she sat down with The Le Moyne Way podcast.

She recalled a piece of advice former Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh shared during a visit to Le Moyne: Don’t worry about figuring out what you’re going to do for the rest of your life. Focus on what’s next.

It’s a philosophy she brings to her work with students every day.

It’s Okay Not to Know

Career support at Le Moyne begins from the moment a student arrives on The Heights. In her role, Tornabene works with students at every stage of the journey from those just beginning to explore their options to those preparing to take their next step after graduation.

And one thing she sees again and again?

Uncertainty.

Students worry they’re behind. That they should have a clear plan. That everyone else has it figured out.

But her experience shows that’s rarely the case.

“Most of your peers are in the same boat,” she explains. Some have just chosen a major to feel like they have an answer.

Being undecided isn’t a weakness.

It’s honesty.

Finding Your Direction

Tornabene’s own path wasn’t perfectly linear.

She started college pursuing journalism, drawn to writing and storytelling. But along the way, she realized that the path she was on didn’t quite fit.

What made the difference wasn’t having a perfect plan.

It was paying attention.

Through involvement outside the classroom like mentoring peers, working with advisors, and reflecting on where she felt most energized, she began to see a different direction take shape.

That led her to a career helping students navigate the same questions she once faced.

Small Steps Create Momentum

When students feel overwhelmed, Tornabene encourages them to think smaller.

Not smaller in what they want to achieve, but smaller in steps.

Instead of trying to map out an entire future, she suggests focusing on what’s right in front of you:

• Have one conversation
• Attend one event
• Explore one opportunity

“An object in motion stays in motion,” she says, “and once you start moving, clarity tends to follow.”

Those small steps build momentum.

And momentum builds confidence.

Rethinking Success

Early on, Tornabene admits she thought success meant something external: prestige, recognition, the ability to say you were part of something impressive.

But over time, that definition changed.

Now, success looks different.

It’s about doing work that feels meaningful. Making an impact. Feeling aligned with what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.

It’s also about asking better questions:

Am I doing this because it’s right for me?
Or because it looks good to someone else?

The Power of Curiosity

One of the most important mindsets Tornabene encourages is curiosity.

Not judgment. Not pressure.

Curiosity.

What interests you?
What gives you energy?
What might you want to explore next?

When you approach your path with curiosity, setbacks feel different. They’re not failures, they’re information.

They help you adjust, refine, and move forward.

You’re Not Meant to Do This Alone

At Le Moyne, career exploration isn’t something students have to navigate on their own.

From faculty and advisors to career development staff, support is built into the experience from the first day you set foot on The Heights.

But there’s one step students always have to take themselves:

Show up.

Ask questions. Start conversations. Take advantage of the resources around you.

Because the people here are ready to help. You just have to let them in.

Start Where You Are

You don’t need a five-year plan.

You don’t need every answer.

You just need a starting point.

And sometimes, that’s as simple as asking:

What’s next?