Jessica Harbison
The University of Texas at Austin, Office of Strategy and Policy
Career Roadmap
Jessica's work combines: Education, Business, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Nacogdoches High School
Bachelor's Degree
French Studies
Stephen F Austin State University
Certification
MT122076
Lauterstein-Conway Massage School
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Executive Secretaries & Executive Administrative Assistants:
Bachelor's Degree: Project Management
Bachelor's Degree: Accounting and Business/Management
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
May 1997 - Graduated from Nacogdoches High School.
2.
August 1997 - Started my Freshman year at Stephen F. Austin State University.
3.
May 2007 - Graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University. I was in and out of school due to poor grades. I worked 50 hours a week and went to school full time. I do not recommend this!
4.
June 2007 - Moved to Austin, Texas and started working at the PetSmart PetsHotel as an Assistant Manager.
5.
May 2008 - I was hired into an entry-level position as an Administrative Associate at the Ferguson Structural Engineering Lab at The University of Texas at Austin.
6.
March 2014 - March 2015 Massage school at The Lauterstein-Conway Massage School. I am currently a licensed massage therapist and do this job for fun and extra money.
7.
November 2017 - I am now a Senior Administrative Associate with the Office of Strategy and Policy at The University of Texas at Austin. This is, by far, the most challenging and rewarding experience.
8.
My next goal is to take some Project Management courses so that I continue to learn, grow, and move up the ranks.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Parents:
When I was 18 and a fresh high school graduate I told my mom that I wanted to be a Massage Therapist. She looked at me dead in the eyes and said that would be a terrible mistake because I would never make enough money.
How I responded:
Research, research, research! I should have taken the time to research what I was interested in. Instead of going to massage school, I enrolled in college instead. I knew then that this was not what I wanted and it took me ten years of school, off and on, to graduate with a Bachelor's degree. Twenty years later, I have a great job at a university and i am pleased to be here. But I always wish that I had spent the time to look in to other options.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I came from a financially disadvantaged family and supported myself completely when I went to college. I recommend researching all financial options before accepting loans. My best advice is: Don't get a credit card and have a part time job, if able.