If he had one message to tell people outside of just
 2
00:00:03.503 --> 00:00:06.740 that's never been in prison work, like, what would you tell them?
 3
00:00:07.007 --> 00:00:07.741 Exposure wise?
 4
00:00:07.741 --> 00:00:11.077 Because I feel like a lot of people like, misunderstand people in prison
 5
00:00:11.077 --> 00:00:13.146 and always think like, oh, they're there for a reason.
 6
00:00:13.146 --> 00:00:17.250 The most important lesson that I learned pretty early on is
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00:00:17.717 --> 00:00:21.154 everyone in the world is capable of doing harm
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00:00:21.154 --> 00:00:26.154 and being harmed, and people in prison have done harm and have been harmed.
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00:00:26.793 --> 00:00:28.862 They are being harmed by that system.
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00:00:28.862 --> 00:00:31.931 They will be harmed when they try to come back into society,
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00:00:31.931 --> 00:00:35.468 like we are not set up as a society to repair harm.
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00:00:35.502 --> 00:00:38.972 It's so goofy to say this, but the most shocking thing to me was
 13
00:00:38.972 --> 00:00:41.975 there is really no difference between me and these women.
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00:00:42.208 --> 00:00:46.746 It is maybe the difference of one choice, and sometimes those choices
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00:00:47.480 --> 00:00:50.784 run up against what society has decided is appropriate.
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00:00:50.850 --> 00:00:54.154 So I think that's the thing I want people to know is just that, like
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00:00:54.154 --> 00:00:58.892 the line is very thin between who we are and who they are.
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00:00:58.925 --> 00:01:00.560 There's really no line at all.
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00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:04.864 We're socialized to believe like, well, criminals are different than than I am,
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00:01:05.198 --> 00:01:06.699 which is not a real thing.
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00:01:06.699 --> 00:01:08.968 Criminal is not a person is not a real thing.
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00:01:08.968 --> 00:01:09.602 It's not.
 23
00:01:09.602 --> 00:01:10.870 It's not a personality type.
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00:01:10.870 --> 00:01:15.842 And and those folks are kind of intentionally hidden from us, like
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00:01:16.009 --> 00:01:19.345 there are 130,000 people incarcerated in the state of Texas,
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00:01:19.612 --> 00:01:23.416 and you've never thought about them before because you're socialized
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00:01:23.416 --> 00:01:26.953 not to write, to believe that you're different than they are.
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00:01:27.020 --> 00:01:29.489 Or maybe more to the point, they're different than you are,
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00:01:29.489 --> 00:01:32.492 when in reality so much of it is about circumstance
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00:01:32.725 --> 00:01:35.395 and the choices you make as a result of those circumstances.
 

If you're interested in working in higher education in prison, I'd recommend checking out the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison website. Use the map feature to find programs within your state, which prisons they exist in, and which colleges are the partners. A lot of colleges also have Inside-Out programs where you can take your courses inside prison alongside incarcerated students. There are also undergraduate affinity groups for people who want to volunteer for justice-related work.

I'm the survivor of a violent assault. The experience showed me that the system makes no room to help victims heal. It ultimately was the catalyst for my trajectory into prison work.

My work centers on helping colleges and nonprofits create educational opportunities for people inside prisons. Some days I meet with organizations across the country to support programs, solve challenges, and think about how education can help people rebuild their lives. What grounds me most is remembering that this work is really about relationships, dignity, and making sure people feel seen in systems designed to overlook them.

Senior Strategy Officer, Incarcerated Learner Initiatives

Choices

Lessons I’ve Learned Working In Prisons

what is something you would share
 2
00:00:03.303 --> 00:00:06.873 to people my age or some advice that you would give?
 3
00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:08.241 Yeah.
 4
00:00:08.241 --> 00:00:12.846 It's definitely, a monumental time in your life.
 5
00:00:12.846 --> 00:00:15.882 I remember being there, I chose
 6
00:00:15.882 --> 00:00:19.085 engineering versus my entire families in the field of healthcare.
 7
00:00:19.386 --> 00:00:22.122 So that itself was a little scary for me to say, okay, I'm
 8
00:00:22.122 --> 00:00:23.857 forging my own path here.
 9
00:00:23.857 --> 00:00:26.826 But the sector itself, or the field
 10
00:00:26.826 --> 00:00:30.196 itself really, drew me to, want to kind of take that.
 11
00:00:30.196 --> 00:00:31.564 So that takes courage.
 12
00:00:31.564 --> 00:00:36.564 And if I had to go back and say, did I know all of that coming into the field?
 13
00:00:37.337 --> 00:00:40.273 Probably not, but it was, sort of that gut
 14
00:00:40.273 --> 00:00:43.810 feeling that you get like, this is the this is the path you really want to take.
 15
00:00:44.077 --> 00:00:47.647 So that was probably the first time that I felt like I was kind of
 16
00:00:47.647 --> 00:00:49.382 charting my own course.
 17
00:00:49.382 --> 00:00:53.286 And there's a lot coming at you today than it did when I was growing up.
 18
00:00:53.319 --> 00:00:55.955 There's a lot of information. There's a lot of pathways.
 19
00:00:55.955 --> 00:01:00.660 So how do you stay curious and stay open to really learn about, what
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00:01:00.827 --> 00:01:03.129 pathways and opportunities are out there?
 21
00:01:03.129 --> 00:01:06.566 you know, is it Stem education, is it vocational training?
 22
00:01:06.733 --> 00:01:11.733 Is a digital skills, or is it somewhere between arts, business and, engineering,
 23
00:01:12.338 --> 00:01:15.842 no matter which path you take, it's, understanding.
 24
00:01:16.242 --> 00:01:17.677 What are you really good at?
 25
00:01:17.677 --> 00:01:20.213 What are the skills that you bring to the table?
 26
00:01:20.213 --> 00:01:23.983 And then how do you transfer those skills to any new spaces
 27
00:01:23.983 --> 00:01:27.153 that you're going to as you're growing as an individual?
 28
00:01:27.153 --> 00:01:31.124 and stay curious, have that intention, put that effort
 29
00:01:31.558 --> 00:01:33.393 and build that collaboration.
 30
00:01:33.393 --> 00:01:37.363 And, that will take you much farther than you possibly imagined.
 

Working in industries where women were often underrepresented pushed me to trust my voice and claim my seat at the table. It also helped to have mentors who supported and pushed me to go beyond my comfort zone.

My days are spent working with nonprofit leaders, industry partners, and communities around the world to create solutions that expand opportunity and strengthen local impact. I help guide investments, build partnerships, and tackle complex social and economic challenges through collaboration and systems thinking.

President

Opportunities & Possibilities

Advice For Young People Starting On Their Career Path

You've had such a fun and maybe even unexpected career path.
 2
00:00:05.238 --> 00:00:09.709 We'd love to, like, hear about that journey to where you are now.
 3
00:00:09.909 --> 00:00:12.579 Did you think you were going to end up doing what you've done?
 4
00:00:13.613 --> 00:00:15.715 You know, as, as
 5
00:00:15.715 --> 00:00:20.020 I've moved around a few times from city to city as I've interacted with people
 6
00:00:20.020 --> 00:00:23.289 in academia and nonprofit and professional
 7
00:00:23.289 --> 00:00:28.289 spheres and law and policy, government, I have found very few people
 8
00:00:28.495 --> 00:00:33.495 that had direct lines like from A to B to C to D, it rarely plays out that way.
 9
00:00:34.868 --> 00:00:37.037 It's an opportunity of an introduction.
 10
00:00:37.037 --> 00:00:39.939 It's meeting somebody that then opens up a door.
 11
00:00:39.939 --> 00:00:43.443 It's failing at something that then allows you,
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00:00:43.476 --> 00:00:47.013 or forces you, to pivot and come up with a new plan.
 13
00:00:47.647 --> 00:00:50.183 I really thought I was going to get a PhD.
 14
00:00:50.183 --> 00:00:50.517 You know,
 15
00:00:50.517 --> 00:00:53.987 when I was a junior senior in college, I thought it was going to be academia
 16
00:00:53.987 --> 00:00:56.423 for life, and it didn't play out that way.
 17
00:00:56.423 --> 00:00:57.557 And it's for the better.
 18
00:00:57.557 --> 00:01:02.128 It didn't feel like the right thing to do when I needed to be
 19
00:01:02.128 --> 00:01:05.799 making those choices, or when I felt like I needed to be making those choices.
 20
00:01:05.932 --> 00:01:10.570 But I found joy in what I ended up doing, and it didn't feel like a concession.
 21
00:01:10.570 --> 00:01:12.972 It felt like the next right thing.
 22
00:01:12.972 --> 00:01:15.275 And I am really happy
 23
00:01:15.275 --> 00:01:20.275 with my experience in nonprofits for a couple reasons.
 24
00:01:20.513 --> 00:01:23.716 But one, it is an area where
 25
00:01:24.417 --> 00:01:27.854 people are driven by mission and it is not around
 26
00:01:27.854 --> 00:01:31.558 a particular charismatic personality like politics, right?
 27
00:01:31.558 --> 00:01:36.463 You have a personality that you think can make all the changes happen for their
 28
00:01:36.463 --> 00:01:39.466 district or their state or constituency
 29
00:01:39.766 --> 00:01:42.769 and everything is around them.
 30
00:01:42.936 --> 00:01:45.939 Nonprofit work, in my experience, is mission based.
 31
00:01:46.172 --> 00:01:49.375 There are goals and objectives, and there are visions
 32
00:01:49.375 --> 00:01:54.047 for a future of America that I buy into, that I pour my
 33
00:01:54.814 --> 00:01:58.084 workforce and my life force into because I believe
 34
00:01:58.084 --> 00:02:02.322 that more can be accomplished, through these other avenues.
 35
00:02:02.589 --> 00:02:07.589 And I've encountered time and time again, incredibly passionate, thoughtful people
 36
00:02:08.628 --> 00:02:12.332 that are willing to make personal sacrifices for their work.
 37
00:02:12.499 --> 00:02:16.736 And I say sacrifices in terms of nonprofit leaders don't make what consultants do,
 38
00:02:16.936 --> 00:02:19.939 but it's also a space where there is
 39
00:02:20.039 --> 00:02:22.809 a consistent opportunity for learning and growth.
 40
00:02:22.809 --> 00:02:26.212 And I just feel like it has been a very enriching path.
 

For a role like mine, I'd recommend pursuing an education emphasis in mediation, conflict analysis and resolution, or nonprofit management and leadership.

My days consist of planning, fundraising, stakeholder engagement meetings, media review, and budgeting. I also lead the recruitment of ambassadors to be featured in our content. If I'm lucky, I get to walk the dog or hike, and have dinner with the family.

Executive Director

Fulfillment

Finding The Next Right Thing

What I see with your generation is that you're all
 2
00:00:03.136 --> 00:00:07.374 a lot more resilient and a lot more apt to try different things.
 3
00:00:07.407 --> 00:00:09.476 Like for us, it's like
 4
00:00:09.476 --> 00:00:13.146 when I look at my class in high school, there's probably 130 of us.
 5
00:00:13.546 --> 00:00:16.316 And looking back, it was kind of like, here's what you do.
 6
00:00:16.316 --> 00:00:18.718 You're either going to graduate and go to college
 7
00:00:18.718 --> 00:00:20.687 or you're going to graduate and go to the military,
 8
00:00:20.687 --> 00:00:22.389 or you're going to get married and have a family.
 9
00:00:22.389 --> 00:00:22.956 There was just like,
 10
00:00:22.956 --> 00:00:27.227 there was like these really set, prescribed career paths for you.
 11
00:00:28.061 --> 00:00:30.864 And now it's like, I'm going to go Teach For America.
 12
00:00:30.864 --> 00:00:33.333 I'm going to take a gap year. I'm going to study this.
 13
00:00:33.333 --> 00:00:36.503 I'm, you know, there just seems like you're more willing
 14
00:00:37.170 --> 00:00:39.873 to try a lot of different things,
 15
00:00:39.873 --> 00:00:42.776 and there are more things for you to try.
 16
00:00:42.776 --> 00:00:46.713 But in the pursuit of all these different things, you're more apt to probably
 17
00:00:47.113 --> 00:00:49.849 make a mistake or fail or say, oh,
 18
00:00:49.849 --> 00:00:52.986 that one didn't work out, and then just go try something else.
 19
00:00:52.986 --> 00:00:55.588 And that, to me is a gift
 20
00:00:55.588 --> 00:00:58.091 is to be able say, yeah, something else is going to work out.
 21
00:00:58.091 --> 00:01:02.328 Follow the path that seems to appear before you.
 22
00:01:02.729 --> 00:01:06.833 So I got a degree in education, special education,
 23
00:01:06.833 --> 00:01:10.437 and I worked part time for the school district, and my neighborhood
 24
00:01:10.437 --> 00:01:13.640 was experiencing some things with zoning laws
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00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:16.843 and things that were happening that we were a little bit nervous about.
 26
00:01:16.843 --> 00:01:19.012 And so I started to investigate.
 27
00:01:19.012 --> 00:01:22.749 What would that look like if I showed up at city Council meeting to talk
 28
00:01:22.749 --> 00:01:25.852 about why I don't think this zone change is appropriate for our neighborhood.
 29
00:01:25.852 --> 00:01:30.423 And I got involved and I started making presentations
 30
00:01:30.423 --> 00:01:32.292 to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
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00:01:32.292 --> 00:01:35.495 And, like, our neighborhood, we made some really good points
 32
00:01:35.495 --> 00:01:39.165 and we won and this zone change didn't go through.
 33
00:01:39.165 --> 00:01:42.368 And I thought, wait, like a regular person can do, like
 34
00:01:42.368 --> 00:01:45.371 someone like me can do this?
 35
00:01:45.472 --> 00:01:49.375 And people started to call me and say, hey, how did you know
 36
00:01:49.375 --> 00:01:51.811 to go find that information? I said, okay, it's really easy.
 37
00:01:51.811 --> 00:01:53.012 And then I loved taking them
 38
00:01:53.012 --> 00:01:56.649 by the hand to the city offices and showing them how to do that.
 39
00:01:57.217 --> 00:01:59.652 And I started to get more and more calls and, you know,
 40
00:01:59.652 --> 00:02:02.655 finally one year someone said, you know, you should run for city council.
 41
00:02:02.922 --> 00:02:04.824 It's like, wait, someone like me?
 42
00:02:04.824 --> 00:02:06.860 A special ed?
 43
00:02:06.860 --> 00:02:09.229 Like I don't see the, the, the mix.
 44
00:02:09.229 --> 00:02:11.397 But they said, no, no, you're good at this.
 45
00:02:11.397 --> 00:02:14.734 So I ran for city council and I lost.
 46
00:02:14.934 --> 00:02:16.069 It wasn't
 47
00:02:16.069 --> 00:02:18.638 you know, you lose and it's like, oh, that's the worst thing
 48
00:02:18.638 --> 00:02:20.707 that ever happened to me. It's like I was so energized.
 49
00:02:20.707 --> 00:02:25.211 I met so many people, and people continued to call on me
 50
00:02:25.211 --> 00:02:28.214 to help with just little things, because I had learned the system.
 51
00:02:28.414 --> 00:02:31.918 And four years later I ran and won, and then I ran and won again,
 52
00:02:31.918 --> 00:02:35.155 and then had another elected position where I ran and won.
 53
00:02:35.388 --> 00:02:37.090 But it was just the
 54
00:02:38.024 --> 00:02:40.727 way I went from education
 55
00:02:40.727 --> 00:02:44.731 to politics was I used what I learned in my degree.
 56
00:02:45.265 --> 00:02:48.568 I learned, we did a little bit of research you know in my master's degree and,
 57
00:02:48.801 --> 00:02:50.103 and how to problem solve.
 58
00:02:50.103 --> 00:02:53.640 A lot of what I learned in my schooling was how to problem solve.
 59
00:02:53.907 --> 00:02:56.910 So then the community work was problem solving work.
 60
00:02:57.243 --> 00:03:00.313 And then you'll learn politics is about problem solving.
 61
00:03:00.480 --> 00:03:03.183 And so it was kind of a natural transition.
 62
00:03:03.183 --> 00:03:04.651 So I was still working,
 63
00:03:04.651 --> 00:03:08.087 you know, part time in education while I was on the city council.
 64
00:03:08.087 --> 00:03:12.292 And and then the next thing you know, I got a call from the governor's office,
 65
00:03:12.425 --> 00:03:14.527 can I nominate you to be on the state school board?
 66
00:03:14.527 --> 00:03:19.527 And now that's like politics and education, not just community
 67
00:03:19.632 --> 00:03:23.836 services, you know, the fire and the police and the water and parks.
 68
00:03:23.836 --> 00:03:25.638 This is like actual education.
 69
00:03:25.638 --> 00:03:28.341 And I was teaching at Utah State at the time.
 70
00:03:28.341 --> 00:03:32.445 So I thought, this actually is a pretty good combination of my skills.
 71
00:03:32.445 --> 00:03:36.149 And so now you're into like the big league of politics, right?
 72
00:03:36.149 --> 00:03:37.550 State politics
 73
00:03:37.550 --> 00:03:40.420 and working with the governor's office and the state legislature.
 74
00:03:40.420 --> 00:03:44.757 And just a natural transition were these happy accidents,
 75
00:03:44.757 --> 00:03:48.895 where things just presented themselves, opportunities presented themselves.
 76
00:03:49.262 --> 00:03:52.265 And I was ready to say yes.
 

Co-Creator & UNITE Chief External Relations Officer

I can't run for city council. Someone like me? A PTA president? I don't see it.

Follow The Path That Appears

Was there ever a moment where you're like,
 2
00:00:03.570 --> 00:00:07.173 this is the moment where, like, I belong in this specific specialty,
 3
00:00:07.173 --> 00:00:08.274 this profession, like,
 4
00:00:08.274 --> 00:00:09.242 because you talk about it
 5
00:00:09.242 --> 00:00:12.545 with such a passion that I just, I love, but was there ever a moment
 6
00:00:12.545 --> 00:00:15.882 or was it just kind of an overall like you just found yourself in it?
 7
00:00:16.216 --> 00:00:17.851 When did I know PICU was it?
 8
00:00:17.851 --> 00:00:22.222 Because, believe it or not, as a float pool nurse.
 9
00:00:22.389 --> 00:00:24.491 You know, you float every shift.
 10
00:00:24.491 --> 00:00:28.962 So a lot of times I would float to PICU and I was approached many times like,
 11
00:00:28.962 --> 00:00:31.965 oh, why don't you come to us full time like you're always here, you know.
 12
00:00:31.965 --> 00:00:34.000 And there was a period where we were very short staffed,
 13
00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:38.138 and so they needed more nurses and they would contract from the float pool.
 14
00:00:38.138 --> 00:00:40.874 And I learned how to do dialysis up there.
 15
00:00:40.874 --> 00:00:43.143 I got very comfortable up there.
 16
00:00:43.143 --> 00:00:46.079 You know I, say up there because they're on the fourth floor.
 17
00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:47.347 I loved it, right.
 18
00:00:47.347 --> 00:00:49.616 And I believe it or not, was like, you know what?
 19
00:00:49.616 --> 00:00:51.885 I think when I come back from leave, I'm this is it.
 20
00:00:51.885 --> 00:00:53.787 This is where I'm going to like settle.
 21
00:00:53.787 --> 00:00:55.121 I don't know what happened.
 22
00:00:55.121 --> 00:00:59.159 I came back and Covid and, you know, life and all of that.
 23
00:00:59.159 --> 00:01:00.160 So things changed.
 24
00:01:00.160 --> 00:01:03.496 But I was in pick you one day and I was approached
 25
00:01:03.696 --> 00:01:07.267 and, you know, my manager was a key, know, have you decided, like,
 26
00:01:07.267 --> 00:01:07.801 where you want to go?
 27
00:01:07.801 --> 00:01:10.603 Because they knew that I was like, trying to find a place and all that.
 28
00:01:10.603 --> 00:01:13.139 And I said, you know, what are you guys like,
 29
00:01:13.139 --> 00:01:14.808 do you have positions open or are you open?
 30
00:01:14.808 --> 00:01:17.310 And she's like, tell me that you want to come and I will.
 31
00:01:17.310 --> 00:01:18.244 You can come.
 32
00:01:18.244 --> 00:01:20.880 And so that's actually how I ended up in PICU.
 33
00:01:20.880 --> 00:01:23.883 And I remember seeing that ECMO machine,
 34
00:01:23.983 --> 00:01:27.987 ECMO is a heart lung machine It's essentially bypass.
 35
00:01:28.088 --> 00:01:32.225 And when the children need to be put on bypass, for whatever
 36
00:01:32.225 --> 00:01:35.762 reason, we, the specialist, will manage the machine.
 37
00:01:36.096 --> 00:01:40.733 And I remember like, feeling, you know,
 38
00:01:41.234 --> 00:01:45.538 if I were ever to achieve that level of professionalism
 39
00:01:45.705 --> 00:01:49.309 that I could be like, mama, I made it, you know, like, this is it.
 40
00:01:49.409 --> 00:01:53.780 And so when I came full time over to, to PICU,
 41
00:01:53.847 --> 00:01:56.549 there were no openings for ECMO none of that was on the table.
 42
00:01:56.549 --> 00:01:58.785 It took many years later for that.
 43
00:01:58.785 --> 00:02:00.553 But I remember, like, you know what?
 44
00:02:00.553 --> 00:02:03.556 This might be my nudge in the direction of
 45
00:02:03.623 --> 00:02:07.060 accomplishing what I've said from day one that I wanted to do.
 46
00:02:07.060 --> 00:02:08.595 And so that's how I ended up
 47
00:02:08.595 --> 00:02:11.631 just kind of going through that process And so I did that.
 48
00:02:11.631 --> 00:02:14.701 I did that two years ago, and I was able to, you know,
 49
00:02:14.701 --> 00:02:17.837 finally feel like, accomplished.
 50
00:02:17.937 --> 00:02:19.305 Not that I'm not accomplished. Right.
 51
00:02:19.305 --> 00:02:21.574 You every little thing you do is an accomplishment.
 52
00:02:21.574 --> 00:02:24.010 But for me, that was like my personal goal.
 53
00:02:24.010 --> 00:02:29.010 And I remember just feeling like, okay, like, okay, if you did anything but this,
 54
00:02:29.415 --> 00:02:34.120 you have successfully achieved, you know, one of one of my biggest goals was that.
 55
00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:37.023 And that's how I ended up in the PICU like, officially.
 56
00:02:37.023 --> 00:02:40.994 It really I think I knew from the start I just didn't want to settle,
 57
00:02:41.094 --> 00:02:45.598 because I wanted to make sure that that was what I wanted to do
 58
00:02:45.865 --> 00:02:47.767 and that I was going to be happy.
 

Each day is different depending on the patient. I could have a patient with a common cold that just needs a little more escalation of care or I could have a patient with a very severe trauma. You don't really know what you'll get until you start the day.

Registered Nurse

How I Decided To Specialize As A PICU Nurse

When you feel like like there isn't really any kind of future or any kind of like
 2
00:00:07.273 --> 00:00:08.274 afterwards.
 3
00:00:08.274 --> 00:00:09.776 What keeps you going?
 4
00:00:09.776 --> 00:00:14.776 here's what I what I would say is that ultimately each of us
 5
00:00:15.015 --> 00:00:18.852 and each of you as young people, you can make that choice every single day.
 6
00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:24.391 And so making a choice to say, this is my day that I am going to own
 7
00:00:24.391 --> 00:00:27.827 and I am going to drive and that I have power and control over.
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00:00:28.461 --> 00:00:32.198 And the reality is, is you just have to start.
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00:00:32.432 --> 00:00:34.501 I've actually earned my doctorate now, Right.
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00:00:34.501 --> 00:00:36.669 Which I never would have expected.
 11
00:00:36.669 --> 00:00:40.040 I earned my doctorate in part because someone came to me
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00:00:40.040 --> 00:00:42.575 and they said, Hey, will you join this program with me?
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00:00:42.575 --> 00:00:44.277 So I'm not doing it alone.
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00:00:44.277 --> 00:00:49.277 And it was like a five year process and I said to myself,
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00:00:49.582 --> 00:00:52.585 well, in five years I'm going to be five years older,
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00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:55.922 with or without a doctorate, I might as well just start.
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00:00:55.922 --> 00:00:57.023 And I just started.
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00:00:57.023 --> 00:00:59.092 I had no expectation to do it.
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00:00:59.092 --> 00:01:02.062 And part of it is just making a choice to start
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00:01:02.062 --> 00:01:05.598 and then the next day to keep going and not necessarily looking at it
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00:01:05.598 --> 00:01:10.598 as this full unimaginable task ahead of you of graduating from college
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00:01:10.937 --> 00:01:12.906 or whatever it is you want to pursue,
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00:01:12.906 --> 00:01:15.475 You just have to make the choice that today is your day
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00:01:15.475 --> 00:01:19.546 and that you have the power to own it and to make choices for yourself.
 25
00:01:19.946 --> 00:01:22.949 You know, I think I think part of the the difficulty
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00:01:23.083 --> 00:01:26.086 being your age is you're thinking you're choosing for the rest of your life.
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00:01:26.252 --> 00:01:30.323 And the reality is you're choosing for now just because you make one choice
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00:01:30.323 --> 00:01:33.526 at one stage of your life doesn't mean you might not make another one.
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00:01:33.626 --> 00:01:36.930 and it doesn't mean that what you did before isn't helping
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00:01:36.930 --> 00:01:40.500 you make other choice and that you're not bringing all those skills with you.
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00:01:40.834 --> 00:01:44.037 I think it's a lot of pressure to put at us at such a young age.
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00:01:44.204 --> 00:01:47.607 but know that whatever choice make, it's the right choice for you now
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00:01:48.007 --> 00:01:50.910 and that you can always make a different one later.
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00:01:50.910 --> 00:01:52.745 That's what makes the world in life exciting.
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00:01:52.745 --> 00:01:54.747 Right. And interesting.
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00:01:54.747 --> 00:01:58.685 what advice do you have for us to continue going forward?
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00:01:58.818 --> 00:02:01.287 It is not just about the piece of paper.
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00:02:01.287 --> 00:02:03.590 It really is about that journey.
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00:02:03.590 --> 00:02:07.827 What one of the things that as I look back that I realize because I grew up
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00:02:07.827 --> 00:02:11.764 and I was always concerned about money and being and you know
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00:02:11.764 --> 00:02:14.767 being able to support myself, I was always in a hurry.
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00:02:14.834 --> 00:02:17.537 Okay, so if I get this, then I can get a job
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00:02:17.537 --> 00:02:19.405 and then I can make enough money and then I can,
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00:02:19.405 --> 00:02:23.309 you know, be able to support myself and have a roof over my head.
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00:02:23.743 --> 00:02:26.813 And when I realize after the fact is I wish I would have realized
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00:02:26.813 --> 00:02:28.381 I was going to get there regardless.
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00:02:28.381 --> 00:02:32.051 But that really a fully immersing yourself in the experience
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00:02:32.285 --> 00:02:36.289 and in that campus, whatever campus you choose, working on the campus
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00:02:36.289 --> 00:02:39.526 and fully immersing yourself in all the opportunities, that
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00:02:39.759 --> 00:02:44.264 that is what gives life and breath and meaning to the experience
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00:02:44.264 --> 00:02:47.400 the diploma is important and finishing and earning that credential
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00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:51.738 because that opens doors and opportunities and gives you options and choices.
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00:02:51.871 --> 00:02:54.040 But the experience is what makes you you it
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00:02:54.040 --> 00:02:57.477 because it's the self as much of a personal discovery process
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00:02:57.777 --> 00:03:02.482 as it is about you learning something about your specific area of interest.
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00:03:02.682 --> 00:03:03.583 And what the other piece.
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00:03:03.583 --> 00:03:06.920 I will tell you that that I don't think most young people realize
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00:03:06.920 --> 00:03:10.590 is that sometimes at the end of the day, your journey in life
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00:03:11.157 --> 00:03:14.160 has you sort of pursuing and earning a degree in one area,
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00:03:14.160 --> 00:03:17.964 but you end up applying it and using it in a totally different area that you never
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00:03:18.264 --> 00:03:19.465 would have imagined
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00:03:19.465 --> 00:03:22.368 that you're still taking those skills and the things you learned
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00:03:22.368 --> 00:03:23.336 but you end up applying it
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00:03:23.336 --> 00:03:26.806 to an entirely different context that you never could have imagined.
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00:03:26.973 --> 00:03:30.276 And so as much as it's important to pick the right school,
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00:03:30.710 --> 00:03:34.647 I think it's important to pick the right fit for you that helps
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00:03:34.647 --> 00:03:39.152 you achieve your your your personal best and whatever goals that you might have.
 

2024 VOHE Roadtrip
first-in-family
community-college
advanced-degree
veteran
army

A school district leader serves many different populations including students, parents, teachers, local government, and local businesses. A typical day involves responding to or facilitating these stakeholders individually or collaboratively toward the improvement of educational opportunities for students. This involves leading meetings, developing plans, visiting classrooms, speaking with teachers, advocating with local legislators, and a lot of writing.

Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning

Support & Encouragement

Just Make The Choice To Start

Did you ever feel like
 2
00:00:01.234 --> 00:00:04.738 you, like, stopped short or like you you should have just, like, powered through?
 3
00:00:05.038 --> 00:00:05.839 When I first did it,
 4
00:00:05.839 --> 00:00:08.308 it was because I hated school, like I really didn't.
 5
00:00:08.308 --> 00:00:11.745 So I changed my major like, three times getting my AA which is kind of like dumb
 6
00:00:11.745 --> 00:00:14.114 because really your AA is just the basics, right?
 7
00:00:14.114 --> 00:00:15.682 And then my dad was super.
 8
00:00:15.682 --> 00:00:16.816 He came from a third world country.
 9
00:00:16.816 --> 00:00:18.685 He was very like, You need to get us something
 10
00:00:18.685 --> 00:00:20.887 because that's who you are and that's what you're going to be.
 11
00:00:20.887 --> 00:00:21.654 You're going to work.
 12
00:00:21.654 --> 00:00:23.990 And it's my dad's very to the book by that, you know.
 13
00:00:23.990 --> 00:00:26.860 But I didn't think of it much because I was kind of like I knew it wasn't for me.
 14
00:00:26.860 --> 00:00:27.761 I'm going into debt
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00:00:27.761 --> 00:00:29.596 and I really like working a lot of different jobs
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00:00:29.596 --> 00:00:31.698 because I was meeting new people and I'm very talkative.
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00:00:31.698 --> 00:00:34.100 So I kind of like everything else I was doing versus school.
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00:00:34.100 --> 00:00:36.536 So I knew that that was the right route for me in that moment.
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00:00:36.536 --> 00:00:39.472 Now, as a mom coming back and I was like, I got to go back to school.
 20
00:00:39.472 --> 00:00:42.008 And then when they asked for your transcripts, I was like,
 21
00:00:42.008 --> 00:00:44.244 I can't believe I stopped six credits short.
 22
00:00:44.244 --> 00:00:47.614 Like, I could have finished it. So that's where I kind of was feeling bad about it.
 23
00:00:47.614 --> 00:00:48.848 But then I was like, you know what?
 24
00:00:48.848 --> 00:00:50.917 The God and the universe do things for a reason.
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00:00:50.917 --> 00:00:51.484 You know what I mean?
 26
00:00:51.484 --> 00:00:54.487 Because now I'm back in school, I like it, and my son sees me go to school.
 27
00:00:54.487 --> 00:00:58.391 and that really made me self-centered to say what I did back then was a perfect,
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00:00:58.892 --> 00:01:01.561 I think, choice because would I have stayed.
 29
00:01:01.561 --> 00:01:03.263 I probably would have done more into debt.
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00:01:03.263 --> 00:01:06.166 I probably would have not been where I am now in regards to like,
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00:01:06.166 --> 00:01:09.836 knowing who I know and like what I learned about myself working, psychiatry
 32
00:01:10.036 --> 00:01:11.371 and that's one I'm a big believer of.
 33
00:01:11.371 --> 00:01:16.176 You could soak in your sadness and your, you know, mistakes or whatever it is.
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00:01:16.176 --> 00:01:19.479 Do it for five, 10 minutes, but then get on because guess what?
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00:01:19.479 --> 00:01:21.548 Life really does go on, unfortunately.
 36
00:01:21.548 --> 00:01:24.551 You know, I mean, in good times, bad times, funny times it goes on.
 

2024 VOHE Roadtrip
community-college
adult-learner

I struggled with ADHD and depression. I learned to journal and embrace emotional intelligence to stay resilient.

As a full-time student, mom, and part-time worker, my days start with getting my son ready, whether for school or a normal day. Throughout my day, I try to squeeze in school assignments and homework. On Fridays, I hop on a video call with Young Invincibles for a weekly follow-up and to organize our work agenda. Young Invincibles works on advocating for students and passing laws to help those in need.

Student Advocate

Education

Making The Right Decisions For Me During My Educational Journey

You know, you're very open to everything, and as you get older,
 2
00:00:00.867 --> 00:00:04.604 you'll realize that it's never too old to go back to school. My dad is 56.
 3
00:00:04.938 --> 00:00:07.440 My dad still goes to school and he's the head of I.T.
 4
00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:10.176 for BeIN, which is basically production and stuff like that.
 5
00:00:10.176 --> 00:00:10.810 you know what I mean?
 6
00:00:10.810 --> 00:00:13.646 So it's never too late. It's okay to say, hey, I don't like this.
 7
00:00:13.646 --> 00:00:14.848 Let me change my mind.
 8
00:00:14.848 --> 00:00:16.416 Because I did it. Like I said, I've worked retail.
 9
00:00:16.416 --> 00:00:20.320 So Old Navy, Footlocker, I worked in OB-GYN offices.
 10
00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:23.289 I worked in psychiatry for two years.
 11
00:00:23.289 --> 00:00:27.527 I did analytics, I did accounting, so accounts receivable, accounts payable.
 12
00:00:27.527 --> 00:00:29.562 But I've always noticed that when I'm on the medication
 13
00:00:29.562 --> 00:00:32.532 and you give me a computer and I have to look for the missing link
 14
00:00:32.532 --> 00:00:34.567 or the missing puzzle is what I like to call it.
 15
00:00:34.567 --> 00:00:37.404 I'm fascinated by it because I like to put things together.
 16
00:00:37.404 --> 00:00:39.172 Like a puzzle is what I like to say.
 17
00:00:39.172 --> 00:00:43.109 So it's okay to not like something and say, Hey, I want to change my mind. Why?
 18
00:00:43.109 --> 00:00:45.712 Because you want to learn something new. And that's okay.
 19
00:00:45.712 --> 00:00:47.981 Because that's how life works.
 20
00:00:47.981 --> 00:00:49.916 You're going to have to be learning things all the time.
 21
00:00:49.916 --> 00:00:51.885 You know, It's good to be adaptable is what I like to say.
 

Choices

Lessons I’ve Learned Working In Prisons

Lessons I’ve Learned Working In Prisons

Molly Lasagna

364 videos on Choices: