HOW DID YOU GET HERE?
For as long as I can remember, I thought my dream job was to be an elementary school teacher. After graduating from college in 2013, I accepted a 4th grade teaching position as well as a head softball coaching position in the South Bend Community School Corporation. Through coaching, I recognized how much I loved walking future college students through the learning curve of their future (i.e. picking a college, thinking about what they would want to study, helping them identify jobs/organizations/volunteer opportunities to add to their resume, etc.) and came to the realization that the teaching profession was not a career I could see myself staying in long-term. In the midst of my early 20's career crisis, a friend encouraged me to reach out to my college's career center to help me in the midst of my exploration. Through that experience, I not only felt a sigh of relief that I was not the only 20something who had experienced the disappointment of not loving what I thought I wanted to do, but I realized that career consulting (along with other higher education positions) could be a great alternative career to teaching/coaching. I eventually left my job in K-12 education, earned my masters in Higher Education and Student Development, and accepted a position at Purdue working in the Division of Summer Session. I directed many of the students I supported to the CCO often and had heard wonderful things about this team. When a position opened up in the CCO, I took a chance to apply and fell in love with the work and the team!
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE CCO?
The incredible group of people that I get to work with/learn from and, of course, the amazing Purdue students that we get to support in their career exploration.
FUN FACT:
I completed my student teaching placement in Nairobi, Kenya - best experience EVER!
FAVORITE THINGS:
Being a volunteer CASA, going to work out classes, time spent with my people (family/friends), reading fiction, and watching Parks & Recreation over and over.
ADVICE FOR STUDENTS:
1. Be brave enough to reach out to people whose jobs are interesting to you and ask if they would be willing to connect with you for a 30-minute Zoom chat. The worst they could say is no AND you never know what might come from that conversation.
2. If you change your mind on a future career path/major, don't feel like you are starting over. All of your experiences (jobs, campus involvement, volunteer work, etc.) are applicable and beneficial to your resume!