JOB POSITIONS
I worked part time as a secretary in the Community Development Office while attending SHU.  When I graduated, I was offered the full time secretarial position and worked as a secretary until my first daughter was born; then I stayed home.  I worked part time in several positions, including a sales clerk in children’s clothing store, and teaching English as a Second Language in night school.  Actually, it was the birth of my daughter and the emotions that surfaced while raising her amidst the surge in child abductions occurring at that time that eventually set me on my career path to pursue my Master’s Degree in Counseling.  I would have never guessed that becoming a mother would unlock the answer to my career search.  After I earned my Master’s Degree in counseling, I was hired as a Career Counselor at the Community College.  After my second daughter was born, I again left my full time job and stayed home.  After awhile, I returned to part time work, this time as Bereavement Coordinator for HOSPICE.  Working in this capacity helped nurture another one of my growing interests in the area of death, dying and grief.  Working with the families of people who died reaffirmed for me the value and gift of life.  Eventually, my third daughter was born.  I continued to work part time, and then my former full time position at the Community College was available and I returned as counselor.  I currently do academic advisement, career, and personal counseling.  I also teach one or two courses per semester; fortunately, I was able to incorporate my interest in grief by designing and teaching a Death & Dying class.  I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Counselor Education specializing in grief and doing research on teen suicide. 

CURRENT POSITION
I am an Assistant Professor, Counselor, and Coordinator of the Counseling and Career Planning Services.  I teach in the Human Development and Psychology Departments.  My main role is Academic Advisor, and I work mostly with students who are undecided. 

TYPICAL WORK DAY
No two days are alike.   At the beginning and end of each semester, my days are spent advising and registering students for classes.  However, I never know who will walk through the door and what needs he or she may have.  On a typical day, I could do any or all of the following:  teach; meet with students regarding career counseling, academic advisement, or personal counseling; attend meetings and perform other administrative work; and occasionally deal with a crisis.    We need to be flexible in our office because we also serve as the Registrar’s Office for our campus.  “Expect the unexpected,” is my motto.  I enjoy the variety each day brings.

POSITIVES
I love working with students in an academic setting.  I have the privilege of seeing students when they first begin at the college and follow up with them throughout their college career. Each year, each semester, I celebrate my students’ successes.  There are many rewards with my job, and these rewards help offset the daily challenges and obstacles faced by many students struggling to juggle jobs, family, and school.  I am fortunate to work in education, an environment I truly value.  I am in a position where I can help people in so many ways.  More importantly, my students are teaching me about how strong and resilient they are.  Time and again I witness students overcome challenging odds and succeed in reaching their goals through sheer determination, will power, and desire to do so. 

NEGATIVES
There is never enough time to do everything I would like to do.  What I like about my job, the variety, is also a source of frustration.  The best thought out plan is ineffective when other, more pressing needs are present.  I try to have a backup plan—for the classes I teach, office coverage, etc., just in case I am called out for another purpose.  My staff is wonderful and we work well together.  Everyone steps up to the plate when needed.  I can count on faculty and staff outside of my office to pitch in and help on a moment’s notice. I am also frustrated by the things I can’t fix, the students who do have to withdraw or fail for one reason or another.  Sometimes, you have to allow students to make their mistakes and learn from the consequences.  This is a difficult thing to do.

LIFESTYLE
I believe my career has a very positive effect on my lifestyle.  Being tenured, especially during these difficult times, brings some sense of security.  Although I will never earn a six figure income, there are many other benefits associated with my career.  For example, the position provides professional status and brings with it respect and credibility.  There are practical benefits also, such as good medical coverage and good number of days off during the school year and in the summer which is a truly great benefit to me as a mother.  My career provides educational opportunities for me personally as well.  While pursuing my graduate work, I was able to take a one year sabbatical from my job to attend classes full time.  Now, I can apply what I learned in my classes and use it the classroom while teaching my students. 

COLLEGE PREPARATION 
I have to say that what prepared me most for me personally and for my career was the Secretarial Program.  I learned skills in those courses that are practical and used every day, such as typing, setting up a business letter, using proper telephone etiquette, learning people skills, setting up files and getting organized (though I still need help with this last one!).  Instead of using these skills to make my boss look good, I use them to make me look good.  These skills have given me confidence to look and act as a professional, even before I felt like one.  It wasn’t one particular event or course which prepared me for what I am doing now, it was all of it. I suppose what was most valuable was learning how to learn.  That is perhaps what education is all about.  Not that you will obtain the correct answers while you’re in school, it is about learning how to seek out the answers to questions you have every day of your life.  Everything matters, and I certainly use all the experiences and knowledge gained in my past in my work today.

CAREER ADVICE 
Follow your passion.  It is important to have a dream and never give up trying to reach it.  If you are like me and you don’t know where you are going, you are in for a helluva ride.  I wouldn’t change anything about my career path.  The only thing I knew was that I wanted to help people, I just did not know how.  Exploring different college majors and working many jobs helped me tweak and personalize my job and my career.  In the field of counseling, one can be a generalist or specialize in any number of areas.  My area of interest is in death, dying and grief; I can integrate that with the various aspects of my duties as counselor for the Community College.  My past struggle with trying to find the “right” job or career now helps make me a better counselor because I empathize and understand the plight of my students.  When I share my history with some of them, they are relieved to know there is no one right way to achieve their own goal.  Experiment, explore, and take risks.  Take courses that are not in your major.  Don’t be afraid to make a mistake; that is when you learn the most about yourself and gain the most insight. 

SHU EXPERIENCE
It was a very good experience.  I was intimidated by college initially, so the small classroom size and excellent student teacher ratio provided a safe learning environment.  I had outstanding teachers who genuinely cared about each student, willing to go above and beyond to assist in any way they could.  The campus looked much different then, it was much smaller and there were no dorms.  I commuted to SHU every day, even during the gas crisis in the late 70s.  Still, I managed to get involved and feel an integral part of SHU.  I worked on campus--in the Processing Room at the library and as a biology lab assistant--and I was involved with various campus activities.  While at SHU, I felt I was valued and that I mattered.  It is the very quality I hope to pass on to my students.