Nolan Yaws
Career Counselor
Washington State University Vancouver
Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
I hadn't even considered college as an option until a project in High School required us to look.
To get my family on board with my going to college, I entered as an accounting major.
I joined a student Ambassador group and met the Dean of the School of Education.
I changed majors to Education and got further involved and learned about Student Affairs.
I went to graduate school and worked in Residence Life.
Working with staff teams and upper division students, I learned about Career Services.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Union Mine High School
Union Mine High School
Career
Career Counselor
I assist university students and alumni with their job and internship searches.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Education
Non-Profit Organizations
Helping People
Day to Day
A great day at work is spent meeting with students and alumni to discuss their resumes, cover letters, interview skills and more! A great day also typically incorporates a workshop or two, where a group of students come together to learn and discuss career-related topics. It also typically involves investing a good deal of time into researching and developing new resources for students and alumni to utilize as they work on developing their professional materials.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
One of the most valuable things a college student can do is get involved on campus in groups and organizations that are meaningful to them! The second most valuable thing college students can do is get connected with all the amazing resources available to them on campus for no additional cost. The connections students make through doing these two things are priceless and can open a number of doors down the road.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Parents:
"There is no need to go to a fancy, private school. There is no need for college really, unless you are going to choose a major that will make you money. We will not support you financially in this endeavor."
Challenges I Overcame
Financial
First-Generation College Student
LGBT
