Paths in Progress: Recent Episodes
Carrie Young
On this podcast, we tell the stories of people in a wide variety of career paths, who pursued all kinds of college majors and minors, often with bumps and detours along the way, to get to where they are today. We talk specifically about what you can do in college to work toward your career goals, and what other factors can impact your choices throughout your education and career. Life happens, plans change, and YOU change! It will be ok, and you will find your path. We hope these stories are encouraging and help give you new ideas as you take the next steps on your own path. Learn from our stories, which like yours, are each a Path In Progress.
Gitte has worked across a wide variety of industries in multiple countries around the world. Listening to her story, you will hear about someone who strives to push herself to try new things and accept new challenges, often in a new country! As a young person, Gitte experienced watching the fall of the Berlin wall in her home country of Germany. That experience, as well as watching her own father’s enjoyable legal career, led her to want to pursue an education in law. Gitte’s experience is incredibly varied through each of her professional experiences, and yet all of the threads weave well together in her story to lead her to where she is today. I have no doubt she has more exciting adventures ahead, too! Don't miss her story and the lessons she has learned along her path.
Growing up in the Washington, D.C area with two parents working for the Federal government, it’s not surprising that Katie was raised to love history and eventually work in the Federal Government and the rich museum culture her city is famous for. How does her love of music and theater lead her down this path? Listen to hear about how Katie has woven together her multiple interests and experiences to form her career path, and like many of us, it’s still a Path in Progress!
Growing up in Italy, Urmi thought she may want to study either psychology or pursue her interest in languages. After moving to Canada to begin college, she started to pursue International Business, but soon discovered that Finance is what truly sparked her interest. Urmi’s love of learning and devoted discipline have helped her to flourish within her career, as well as within the pursuit of her personal interests. Join us to hear about how Urmi has already reached many significant goals on her path and why Finance is the industry she chose for her career.
You can follow Urmi on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@urmihossain
As a leader in nonprofit organizations, Jenni Rebecca has used talents and skills she has developed along her path–but has also made sure to be aware of what she doesn’t know, and seek learning opportunities to fill those gaps. If you have interest in the nonprofit space, Jenni Rebecca speaks at length about her experience in different nonprofit organizations, both within and outside the arts, to give us some insight into what is involved in that career path. Jenni Rebecca’s story is another example of using transferable skills across your career, genuine networking, and how participation in the arts can teach us some of the most valuable lessons for our professional careers.
**How do you choose an educational path when you are interested in several subjects, and then one you choose first ends up not being the right path for you? You keep your options open, take classes in as many areas as you can within your degree, talk to a lot of people, ask a lot of questions, and try things out until you find your way. That’s what Claire did, and it led her to some incredible opportunities that helped her build a meaningful career in a field she loves. In this episode, you will hear about several opportunities for career paths within our federal government, and Claire will describe the fellowship she received, a Presidential Management Fellowship, and why she recommends applying for fellowships like this if you are interested in federal service. We talk about networking and how many of Claire’s opportunities resulted from conversations she had with people she didn’t initially know. If you have an interest in Ecology, mission driven work, and the preservation of our National Forests and resources, don’t miss this episode!
For information about the Presidential Management Fellowship, look here: https://www.pmf.gov/
To learn about the Resource Assistants Program, go here:** https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/careers/resource-assistants-program
Many students find a home in the Arts in high school. Some students build their education and career dreams from that experience, and sometimes those dreams don’t initially work out. When he didn’t get into his dream school, Jeff made some different choices to not only become a better actor, but to become the person he wanted to be. Life circumstances gave him reason to take some unexpected turns along his career path (political campaigns?), but everything came together in the career he has today–in Broadway Licensing! Who knew he would end up in a space with such historical significance to the acting field? Check out Jeff’s story to hear how everything came together into the incredible career he has today.
Jeff’s TedEx talk that we reference in our conversation:
How To Make A Lasting Impression | Jeffery Keilholtz | TEDxRockville
Most of us have encountered Human Resources when we have applied for jobs or internships, through our applications, interviews, paychecks, and policies. What is it like to work in Human Resources? What kind of things do you do? Melissa had many interests in college and began to identify some things about her strengths and interests to help guide her in her early career decisions. She has taken intentional actions throughout her education and career to learn more and gain skills to advance. This episode is helpful not only for those interested specifically in Human Resources and Project Management, but also for those who have a wide variety of interests in college and are looking for how to take steps forward throughout their career. I wanted to interview Melissa because I knew she would have fantastic advice and guidance for people in a variety of places in their education and career - and she delivered!
From a young age, Christina loved reading and writing, so she thought she would someday become an author. As she grew up, theater became another love in her life, and she was encouraged by her voice teacher to pursue singing. When looking at colleges, Christina wanted to find a school where she could pursue both English and Music. Join us as Christina describes her experience double majoring in undergrad, what graduate school taught her, her first career as an active opera singer and her life in New York City, followed by a new chapter starting a family and launching a business. As a business owner in a different city, Christina explains why it was important to her to dive into community engagement and leadership opportunities. In the marketing strategy work she does now, she goes full circle back to her love of storytelling, using the skills from her English degree every single day.
Life events can often shape how we choose the career path we follow and how we want to make a difference in the lives of others. For Jennifer, a significant event in her teenage years impacted her significantly and led her to learn how she could use her love of music as a career in a way she had not imagined before. Even if you think you know something about Music Therapy, you will leave this conversation knowing so much more and be inspired by the limitless possibilities to help others in ways you didn’t know existed. If you have any interest in music, psychology, the medical field, physical therapy, or inventive ways to help people, you need to hear Jennifer’s story!
If you are interested in learning more about the field of Music Therapy, please visit The American Music Therapy Association at www.musictherapy.org.
How did Kylie go from studying journalism and Spanish in college, to working several years in advertising, and then return to school to pursue a fulfilling career in nursing? You may be surprised by how many skills are transferable between these different academic and career spaces. Join us to hear how Kylie wove everything together along her unique career path, while continuously following what was best for her and her family in each chapter of her life. It’s never too late to alter your path, learn new skills, and pursue different types of work that best suit your life and your interests.
Choosing a major in college often begins with a subject we enjoy, and for Dr. Bledsoe, it was no different when her love of reading and writing led her to major in English Literature, which eventually led to a Masters Degree in Advanced Literary to help others learn to love and value reading. Many of us find our calling through our work experiences, as Ripsime did in her first few positions out of school. We never know where we are going to discover the thing that becomes our career focus, so it’s important to be open to opportunities and continue to learn every step of the way, as Ripsime clearly does throughout her story. Because Dr. Bledsoe has years of experience teaching First Year seminar courses, we discuss many topics pertaining to first year college students, including many pieces of advice for both students and parents. Don't miss this valuable guidance!
How does one go from planning to obtain a PhD to become a professor, to instead entering the corporate software industry, to then starting and owning an Art & Furniture Gallery, then adding a leather goods company? John has had an interesting path, filled with life lessons and a heart for positively impacting his community. Not only does John discuss evaluating his options realistically along the way, but also how other life events can often direct our path in unexpected ways–your ability to adapt is key.
To check out John’s businesses and the beautiful products they offer, visit www.madisonflitch.com and www.madisonstitch.com, and make sure to listen to the history of how each business began in this episode.
Like many students, Amanda started her college path doing something she loved: playing her clarinet. After some time in college, she realized that even though she loved music, she didn’t necessarily want that to be her career path. Once she transferred schools, she took advantage of an opportunity to speak to multiple professionals in a field she was interested in to help guide her decisions to a new major. Technology and the cybersecurity landscape have changed significantly in the years since Amanda was in college, so she has been very proactive in learning and collecting valuable professional experiences along her path. Through it all, Amanda has invested time in a valuable professional organization that positively contributes not only to her community, but to her own professional experience. Don’t miss this valuable conversation about Amanda’s journey as a fourth generation Mexican American from Texas to working in cybersecurity for a dream technology company on the west coast.
From a young age, Andy loved his American Airlines mechanic grandfather teaching him about airplanes. From the day he took his intro flight, he knew he wanted to pursue flying as his career. Join us for this conversation about the different ways you can obtain your certifications (and how the cost of each path varies), advantages and disadvantages to aviation degrees, what the schedule of a pilot is like, the enjoyable perks, and how your career can change over time. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a pilot, this episode is for you!
Raised in a Mexican-American family in San Antonio, Texas, Francisco’s mother insisted that he pursue a college degree. The importance of higher education would become an essential theme later in Francisco’s journalism career. As a student who loved writing, Francisco led and founded student newspapers at the middle school, high school, and collegiate level, eventually leading to a position with the Los Angeles Times. Join us for this important conversation about ethics in the workplace, the cost of higher education, how your identity and experience can bring valued perspective to your work, the debate about objectivity in journalism, and attending community colleges or local universities vs big name, out-of-state schools. This episode is dense with important issues for students and fantastic advice for anyone navigating their education and career path.
From her early high school days on the yearbook staff, Sarah dreamed she may one day work for the fashion magazines that she loved to read. Beginning her college career as a Magazine Journalism major, she started to realize that she would need to forge her own path to be able to work in the areas she was most interested in. Join us as Sarah describes how she created a path for herself into the world of luxury goods, working for recognizable brands like Harry Winston, La Prairie, and MAC Cosmetics (among others). Sarah’s story is another valuable lesson in evaluating your skills and talents, intentionally expanding upon your experiences for professional growth, and working to build relationships and learn from those around you in the workplace.
Many kids have dreams of becoming an astronaut or working at NASA, but how many actually pursue the path to that dream? As a high school student, after watching the movie Apollo 13, Christie knew that she was interested in working at NASA. Join us as Christie shares highlights about her degree in Aeronautical Engineering, her work as a NASA Academy student, and how her path has progressed through her work today. Her roles within Human Space flight include projects with the International Space Station and as an Astronaut Instructor at NASA. Christie tells us about her time working abroad in Europe, the value of her education in Project Management, the importance of internships and mentorship, and how people with a variety of backgrounds and areas of expertise can find their place working at NASA.
What do you do when you work to get into law school, and then once you get there, realize that is not where you want to be? If you are Laura Gassner Otting, you start dating the “world’s worst boyfriend”, who happens to take you by a campaign office where you meet a presidential candidate who inspires you to drop out of law school, work for his campaign, and eventually join the White House staff! Don’t miss this insightful conversation about how Laura’s path, including twenty years in Executive Search, led her to start her own business, write bestselling books, including Limitless, and give keynote speeches all over the country with inspiring guidance for everyone looking to find consonance in their life and career.
*Must Hear Episode* for everyone, no matter where you are on your education or career path!
You can find Laura on social media channels at @heylgo and at https://www.lauragassnerotting.com/.
After receiving a music scholarship, Elizabeth initially decided to be a clarinet performance major. Join us as she describes her path from music to Graphic Design and Illustration, her first job at Hallmark, graduate school in New York City, and her successful journey in the publishing world, including meeting Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg after the publication of I Dissent!
Elizabeth Baddeley is a New York Times Bestselling and award-winning illustrator of I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark. She has illustrated many other biographies and non-fiction books for children including: The Fastest Girl on Earth (Knopf), Grace Banker and Her Hello Girls Answer the Call (Calkins Creek), Leave is to Abigail (Little Brown), An Inconvenient Alphabet (Simon & Schuster) and more! In addition to her work in publishing, she has also created illustrations for The State of Missouri, The New York Times, Hallmark, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Sarah Lawrence College, Notre Dame Magazine**, and Deloitte. Career highlights include winning a gold medal from the Society of Illustrators for her sequential work “Swimmer Girls” and being the guest of Ruth Bader Ginsburg for a Supreme Court session in 2019.
You can find more about Elizabeth’s work and her social media at ebaddeley.com**
The Challenge Mindset helps students find what sparks their interest using a different method to think through how to consider college and career path options that is different from our traditional approach. When I heard JP speak about this at a recent conference, I had to ask him to come talk to us about it! Don’t miss this insightful conversation about JP’s own journey in I/O Psychology, and how he has invested years in helping others to discover their strengths, become better leaders, and help students not only find their path, but be excited by the challenges ahead.
You can find JP’s TedEx talk here: https://www.ted.com/talks/jp_michel_the_challenge_mindset_helping_youth_find_purpose_and_impact
The book JP refers to in our conversation is Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein
For more information about The Challenge Cards, go to https://mysparkpath.com/.
Dave says there is no such thing as “the best university”--only the “best university” FOR YOU. You have to finish that sentence! Dave’s own story illustrates this. He began as a political science major at Georgetown in Washington, D.C., paired with an internship on the Hill with his hometown district congressman. Seemed like the perfect place to be for a political science major–but it wasn’t the right fit FOR HIM. Join us as Dave describes his undergraduate experience transferring to a school that was a better fit for him, despite what others thought about his choice, to his graduate work in Business at Northwestern, to his interesting career in product development at major corporations, where he worked on products we know like Totinos Pizza and Whirlpool washing machines. His experience all ties together as he decided to start his own company, Troove, serving students in helping find the best college fit for them.
You can check out Troove for yourself at www.troove.me
After considering majors in Architecture, Interior Design, and PR/Marketing, Amanda decided to move into Speech Communications because she knew she wanted to work with people. International experiences had an impact on her life and created a desire within her to learn more about other cultures and work cross-culturally in her career pursuits. Amanda’s path through different parts of the country and work in student Christian ministry and non-profit community organizations led her to the meaningful work does with refugees and immigrant families. Amanda’s story is one that illustrates how each experience along our path can lead us to what we are meant to do with our lives.
As a high school student, Christie had her life mapped out: she knew exactly where she wanted to go to school, what she wanted to major in, and what career path she wanted to take. How did Christie go from a Journalism major, writing a story about a weapons exchange while living in Germany, to becoming a leading woman business owner in the Beverage Marketing Industry? What is Beverage Marketing? Although that is seemingly a very different career outcome, Christie tells us how she is still writing, still creating, and still contributing to her industry in a meaningful way–to the extent that she started a non-profit to support women and address major issues in the industry. Having life take a different turn that what we originally planned can often be far better than we dreamed! Don’t miss Christie’s story, advice she gives to students, her conviction to serve and support women, and a glimpse into life in the Beverage Marketing Industry.
Follow Christie and her work at https://cjlconsults.com/, where you can find all of her social media handles, information about The WITI group, and listen to experts and changemakers in her industry on her podcast, Lawler Out Loud.
From a young age, Angela loved watching The Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights and spent hours drawing. Animation wasn’t on her mind as a career path, but she knew she wanted to be an artist in some capacity. A series of classes, connections, opportunities, and dedicated work brought Angela to where she is today, working as a Storyboard Revisionist (she’ll explain that) at Nickelodeon. In this episode, Angela details the skills she has had to develop to maintain her career, how the industry works in terms of hiring people for projects, different types of roles she has had through her career, the movies and television shows she has enjoyed working on, in addition to sharing valuable advice for students interested in this career path. If you are curious about the world of animation, don’t miss this episode!
As a self-proclaimed overachieving high school student, Becca set her sights high when she applied to colleges. She was not expecting to be rejected from every school she applied to, especially considering she was an excellent student! As nightmarish as that experience was for her, Becca says it was the catalyst that ended up sending her to the place that was a great fit for her, where she discovered the career path she was meant to pursue. Join us for this conversation as Becca takes us from the suburbs of Chicago, to Canada, to Washington, DC, to New York City, to Jerusalem, and back to Canada along her college, internship, graduate school, and career journey that eventually led her to an enjoyable career in transportation and urban planning. For those who are interested to hear about urban planning, Becca offers insightful explanations and gives helpful advice about this important field.
As a young elementary school student, Mark wanted to play the saxophone. His band director thought he should play the trumpet. Who knew that decision would so drastically impact the trajectory of his life? Mark joins us to share his story and how he made a living as a freelance performer for many years, as well as explain the process to audition for major symphony orchestras, what the life of a principal trumpet player looks like, his practice routine, and what advice he often shares with the students in his university trumpet studio. Like many artists, Mark started a side business during the pandemic, which he enjoys and continues today. If you have any interest as a performer or freelancer in any capacity, don’t miss this episode!
You can read more about Mark Hughes at https://markhughestrumpet.com/.
From the time he was a young boy, Eric was fascinated by space, eventually leading to his pursuit of an undergraduate degree in Astronomy. During his time in college, he realized that the career path of an astronomer was not what he wanted. After pursuing a seemingly different path in graduate school for Journalism, Eric has merged his love of space, his talents in writing, and his side project blogging about Houston weather into a rewarding and exciting career. Join us for this conversation about pursuing your passions and merging multiple talents and experiences to create your own path.
You can find Eric and his work at spacecityweather.com, https://arstechnica.com/author/ericberger/, or download the Space City Weather app in the App Store.
As the son of a military colonel and a physician, Phil was expected to go to college. Once he got there, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, so he started on a business degree track. Join us for this conversation about how Phil discovered his love for a different subject, and how he has continued to make A or B choices along his path to get to where he is today. Phil intentionally continues to learn, grow, and pursue his passions, all while giving back through mentorship and prioritizing the important relationships in his life.
You can follow Phil’s podcast, Positive Philter, including a recent episode with yours truly, here, as well as other platforms:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/positive-philter-podcast/id1223813013
Katherine’s early love of math and a high school problem solving project with visiting engineers sparked the interest in her to pursue the field of engineering. Always eager to learn and try new things, Katherine’s varied path throughout her college experience, internships, jobs, and graduate school led her to a place where she knew she wanted to start her own company and work on projects she truly cared about to make an impact in the communities she served. How do you make a positive impact on communities across the world as an engineer? Join us as Katherine takes us through her journey and shares how she and the company she formed, along with her non-profit, are changing people’s lives for the better.
You can follow Katherine @liveconsciouspower and @katherinemorua on IG
Katherinemorua.com
You can also find her music (listen to the episode to hear about this!)
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3GtAZ3LFRXG8uQbQx36Dly?si=J4nzugvuTQ-VgviYBuP_qQ and
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/katherine-morua/600061988
**After a surprise in her college admissions process, Kate started college thinking she wanted to be a psychology major. After realizing her interests were better aligned with Political Science, Kate found herself on a path in local government, which often presented her with opportunities to learn new skills and take her down new career path possibilities. We talk about the nerves involved with leaving home to go far away to college, working and interning for politicians, graduate work in Urban Planning, how local governments are organized and how they can use data to better our communities, and why Kate decided to leave her long-term city position to venture out on her own with her business partner.
You can follow the work Kate is doing at https://www.porchlightinsights.com/.**
Early in his life, Elliot was positively influenced by his Art teacher, who challenged his way of thinking that led him to an interest in architecture and space. After focusing on architecture in his schooling, study abroad in Belgium, undergraduate degree, early career years, and Masters degree at MIT, Elliot realized that he wanted to take on projects with a unique approach, utilizing his experience. Join us for this conversation about how Elliot’s path organically led him to the work he does today with his company, brightspot, and how a degree in Architecture can teach you valuable skills to use across a variety of fields.
You can find his book, How to Get the Most out of College, his podcast of the same name, and other resources at www.elliotfelix.com.
Growing up in a French immersion program in Louisiana, Maggie knew she wanted to pursue her love of language and culture in her collegiate studies and career path–but how do you do that? Growing up with a single mom, Maggie knew she needed to work hard to earn scholarships for college, and also find ways to fund her desire to study abroad. Little did she know, she would one day become a Study Abroad Advisor, then Director, and now be a Director of Global Engagement at a major university. Join us for this conversation about Maggie’s journey to find a rewarding career path that utilizes everything in her background to help students experience the life changing decision to study abroad. This episode includes tips and advice for students interested in a collegiate study abroad experience.
Professor Noe Marmolejo is a Master Teacher and storyteller who has impacted thousands of students over the course of his teaching career. Noe describes how his path was shaped by his Latino roots and childhood in a small Texas town with parents who both worked in education. Additionally, Noe was heavily influenced by the guidance and mentorship of the men in his community after his father passed away. Throughout his teaching career, Noe has continued to perform professionally as a trumpet player, often intentionally alongside his former students. Join us for this conversation about education, teaching philosophy, musicianship, discipline, mentorship, and the importance of continuous learning and reflection as an educator.
There are numerous opportunities for student employment on college campuses, which can be a convenient and valuable experience while in college. Little did Greg know, that experience would influence much of his career path through today. Listen to Greg’s story about why he moved from studying Computer Science to Psychology, how he chose his graduate course of study, and why he is now working with college students during the day and as a therapist at night. Greg will also tell you why you should visit your campus Career Services office and how they can help you take the next step on your path. Utilize this important campus resource!
Growing up in a household where both of her parents were police officers, Lauren developed a deep desire to serve and make a positive impact on her community. She naturally progressed to pursue a Criminal Justice degree and a career with the Houston Police Department. Lauren shares her story and describes the process one experiences as they apply, train in the Police Academy, work, and promote through the organization. Lauren shares how she and her husband, also a police officer, are able to raise a family and support each other’s career. If you have an interest in becoming a police officer or serving your community in some capacity, listen to Lauren’s story!
If you are interested in pursuing a career with the Houston Police Department, please go to www.hpdcareer.com.
From a young age, Hina knew she enjoyed working with children and somehow wanted to incorporate that into her career–as long as she wasn’t a pediatrician like her mother! Hina went through most of her college career without pursuing pre-med, so she was able to have experiences outside of the traditional pre-med track that still significantly contributed to her future path. As a new resident of NYC on 9/11, Hina’s plans changed when she fell in love with the city and decided to stay. Join us for this conversation about her experience through college, medical school, residency, and fellowship, as well as the important work happening in the field of Adolescent Medicine. In the last few years, Hina has emerged as a public voice for the field and has learned how a career in medicine can unexpectedly look much different than a traditional path.
You can follow Hina and learn from the important information she posts at @teenhealthdoc on Instagram and at www.drhinatalib.com.
From a young age, Ross was exposed to visual art and encouraged to create with a variety of mediums. This early exposure to art, in addition to his enjoyment of childhood experiences building forts and igloos in the snow, influenced his developing interest in architecture. Ross explains the vast field of architecture and the many ways students can study and pursue this field, while also explaining some misconceptions people have about what skills they must have to become an architect. From his journey through his childhood and teenage years, undergraduate studies, internships, and a graduate program, Ross describes his path and the advice he has for students who wish to pursue architecture. You will likely think about architecture in a new way, once you listen to this enlightening conversation!
Steph knew she wanted to have a career in the music industry, but she never knew she would end up where she is today! Join us for this conversation about how Steph’s interests and jobs took her through music journalism, record label promotion, tour management, and eventually landed her where she never expected: tax preparation, and all of the complicated pieces that artists have with that, from money management to copyright to song credits to studio session fees and more. This knowledge and ability to advise artists led to her music management, educating students through her classes, and clients through her coaching. Steph is a great example of someone who does incredibly important work in the artist ecosystem, without actually being the artist herself.
You can learn more from Steph on her podcast, When Songs Mean Business, here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/when-songs-mean-business/id1592996723
Both of Andrea’s parents were geologists, so Andrea definitely did NOT want to be a geologist….until she realized how much she loved her geology classes! After loading up on science courses in her first two years at a community college, Andrea transferred to a four year institution where she majored in Geology, double minored in Geography and Oceanography (which is what she wanted to pursue in her career), with a certificate in remote sensing GIS technology. Little did she know that her first job out of college would set the course for the next 20+ years of her career in Disaster Science, including her Masters degree in Disaster Science. If you have ever wondered about the people working tirelessly to predict disasters, report data about disasters, respond to disasters on the ground, and later rebuild back better after disasters–don’t miss this conversation!
That love for Oceanography never left Andrea, as evidenced in her recently published first novel, Beneath the Deep, available here: https://www.andreachatman.com/
Kelly began her college journey majoring in Journalism, then Graphic Design, and then her love of Literature guided her to finish a degree in English with Teaching Certification. For a period of time, she describes her path like being inside a pinball machine (can you relate?). Kelly tells us the story of how she was serendipitously led to law school, and eventually to her dream job with The Conservation Fund. She spent 10 years in Washington, DC during an exciting time in environmental policy, working as a lobbyist (the good kind!) to help secure and preserve public lands. Kelly tells us about a number of projects she has worked on, and how we can look around to learn how our national park lands and our local public parks are formed and protected. Whether you are interested in law school, becoming a lobbyist, or have a passion for parks and land conservation, don’t miss this enlightening conversation about Kellys' meaningful work.
Where do you apply for your first teaching job out of college? Hawaii, perhaps?
That’s what Jackie did, and spent five unforgettable years there, where her teaching was transformed. She also tells us about her experiences as a long-term sub, a teacher in a private Catholic School, a Quaker School, teaching ESL in the Summer in China, and how she valued her Masters Degree experience and uses it in her classroom today. Jackie also shares with us how college experiences outside of the classroom shaped her into the teacher and person she is today.
Don’t miss this conversation about Jackie’s incredible journey of growth and lifelong learning!
Jackie and I have a shared love of storytelling through our podcasts. Check out her meaningful work on The Teacher Story Podcast!
https://www.theteacherstory.com/
Sarah grew up in a small town in Ohio with dreams of becoming a Broadway star. In college, Sarah discovered that singing in a rock band was actually what she enjoyed more! After earning a degree in Music Education with a minor in Theater, Sarah explains how her personal life experience eventually led her from a career in the Arts to enrolling in graduate school to become a psychotherapist and business owner of Hand/Heart Therapy in Chicago. She is a licensed clinical social worker, registered dual diagnosis professional, certified alcohol and other drug counselor, Certified Daring WayTM facilitator, and NARM Master Therapist. Sarah is also the creator, host and producer of the podcast Conversations with a Wounded Healer, which examines the parallel path of helping professionals of all types as they heal themselves, while supporting their clients. Sarah also serves on the faculty of Loyola University in Chicago. Join us for this inspiring conversation about how many of the pieces of Sarah’s journey have come together where she is doing what she is truly meant to do. Although it may not be her official job title, she is without a doubt a Rock Star!
You can check out Head/Heart Therapy and Conversations with a Wounded Healer here:
https://headhearttherapy.com/podcast/
Fleurette began her life in the Arts dancing as a small child. As a teen, she attended a performing arts high school and started working as a choreographer. After deciding she wanted to be a director, she studied her craft through an undergraduate degree, a certificate, and later an MFA. After becoming probably the youngest Artistic Director of a theater at 21 years old, Fleurette’s journey continued to show her that the skills needed to lead and advocate for Arts organizations needed to be content taught in university programs. Fast forward to today, where the Masters of Arts in Arts Leadership university program she founded is about to celebrate 10 years of training the next generation of Arts leaders in our communities. If you have an interest to begin or remain working in the Arts, but not necessarily in the role of an artist, join us for this informative conversation about the many possibilities of working in a variety of roles within the Arts ecosystem.
Adrian is an accomplished educator, musician, and conductor, who worked as a Choir Director in public schools and churches for many years. As he tells his story, we return to some of the same questions: How much are we a product of circumstance? Agency? Serendipity? How much have our educational institutions shaped us? Adrian is passionate about the power of education to change lives and communities, especially for those marginalized communities who don’t have access to resources they want and need. Adrian shares with us how he has channeled his passions into his work with students in the arts, and how he hopes to continue this important work in his position at Juilliard. Whether you are a choir nerd, a music teacher, or just someone who loves Arts Education, you don’t want to miss this episode!
Katie has always been someone who is incredibly organized, driven, and disciplined–little did she know how much those inherent skills and personality would play into her career! Join us for this enlightening conversation about how Katie went from wanting to work in public health, to business, to industrial engineering. Her work has taken her all over the world and presented her with challenges she learned to navigate along her path. Katie offers valuable advice and perspective for women entering the field of engineering and for students trying to decide what path to take in college and career.
Jason grew up in a musical family, enjoyed photography, and decided to go to college to major in Journalism. After studying in that program for a few years, his experience led him to change his path. Jason describes several moments throughout his life where he reevaluated what he was doing and whether that was really what he wanted for his life. He has performed in an off-Broadway play, a Vegas residency, a major national tour, regional theaters, and has continuously performed on Broadway for several years now. Join us for this insightful conversation about the life of a performer and how he has found multiple outlets to express his creativity and find fulfillment in his artistic work.
Growing up in a musical family in a small Ohio farm town, Andrea was heavily influenced by her grandmother, a concert pianist. Leaving for college to pursue music education, her plans changed when she realized she didn’t want to be a teacher. A conversation with a professional on campus, led to an introduction with someone in an agency, which led her to move to New York City and begin her career in talent management. It wasn’t until she was nearly done with college that Andrea learned about this career path that seemed perfectly tailored for her skillset and personality. Join us for this conversation about a fast paced, competitive career path that took Andrea from a small farm town in Ohio to becoming a partner in one of the world’s leading talent agencies.
After volunteering at the Houston Zoo as a teenager, Dr. Hein knew she loved working with animals and she wanted to study something in the sciences. Once in school, she volunteered with a local animal rescue organization, worked in a veterinary clinic, studied abroad working with animals in the jungles of Belize, and later spent a summer treating dairy cows in Spain. Join us for this informative conversation about the educational path of a veterinarian, what to consider financially as you go down that path, and how you can take advantage of your years in school to go on some incredible adventures as part of your educational experience.
Have you ever wondered how National Historic Landmarks earn their designation? Who does the research? The proposal? Who makes those decisions? There are historians all over the country doing this important work to preserve the history of our country. Christy tells us about her experience in one of these offices of the National Park Service, and her role in making a famous place a National Historic Landmark! We talk about how a History degree can be beneficial to students, no matter what they pursue after graduation, and about the difficulty in leaving a “dream job” when life changes. No matter your path, you’ll learn a lot from this episode–I know I did!
When she headed to college as a pre-med student, Jess never would have guessed she would end up spending many years working in public relations for NASCAR, a sport she was completely unfamiliar with when she started! Join us for this fun conversation about her life on the road, learning a sport she knew nothing about, and how you have to pivot in your career when life takes unexpected turns.
If you know Sage, you love her big heart and big personality, and you know she is at home on the stage. Sage completed her degree in theater, and then began to audition in her hometown after graduation. A chance teacher substitution gig landed her in a special education classroom, and the rest is history–she knew her calling. Not only did she stay in Special Education, but she completed her Masters degree and kept theater in her life in a meaningful way. On the surface, it may not sound like someone from the theater is a natural fit to teach special ed, but Sage describes how her background has completely informed her teaching and how she interacts with her students to show them love each day. Join us for this truly inspiring story about how a journey, no matter how unexpected or winding, can perfectly prepare you for a fulfilling career.
Amanda’s original plan was to attend community college, live at home, and work for her first two years of college, but an unexpected surprise made her completely change plans! Amanda found herself in a business school that allowed her to take many business classes early and seek internships regularly throughout her degree. Join us for this fun conversation about how Amanda took advantage of her internships opportunities in New York City, working in several environments, including Nickelodeon, to her dream job today at Sesame Workshop, the non-profit behind Sesame Street.
Make sure you check out Amanda’s new podcast, Just Getting Started, about young professionals starting their careers in their 20s & 30s:https://anchor.fm/amanda-droll
Victoria had a drive to prepare for college and career at a very young age. She is a role model for students looking for someone who came from a disadvantaged background to excel at one of the most prestigious universities in Europe. If you need some ideas about how to take advantage of your time as a teen and a college student, listen to Victoria’s journey! Her work in public speaking, mentorship, advocacy, and leadership has won her multiple awards, including the McKinsey & Co Achievement award and the UK’s Outstanding Achievement Award at the Student Social Mobility Awards. Victoria has had multiple internships, sits on advisory boards, and continues to mentor young students who are inspired by her journey. In a way, her journey has just begun, but she is an inspiration for students trying to find what they want to do with their life.
You can follow Victoria on TikTok at navigatewithvictoria, or on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/victoria-ayodeji
The article about how Victoria planned her gap year is here:
https://blackballad.co.uk/views-voices/how-i-planned-a-life-changing-gap-year?listIds=5b5f1f6edb9c1ace614b73a0
How can you return to practicing medicine, after struggling through addiction in your residency? Join us for the inspiring story of Dr. Michael Sprintz, who not only successfully practices medicine now as a triple board certified physician, but positively influences policy and educates doctors in a way that is needed and has not been done before. We also discuss other career opportunities in the field of medicine, and the importance of business education when starting your own practice. His story illustrates how the worst possible situation can later be valued experience to use for good in helping others.
Melanie started her college career as a French Horn player in the Music department, but soon realized that she needed to change paths. Eventually landing in a Journalism major, Melanie became involved with the LGBTQ student organization and was one of the first students to graduate with a minor in LGBTQ studies at her university. After a pivotal internship and becoming interested in policy that impacted her life and those in her community, she knew she needed to pursue Social Work. Join us for this inspiring conversation about Melanie’s path, but also learn about how to become a better human and member of your community.
As a teen, Mike was a member of the US Junior National Cycling team and assumed he would one day become a doctor (you’ll have to listen to hear why). In college, Mike was a college athlete, double majored, double minored, and applied to multiple graduate programs. After his first year in medical school, Mike realized that he loved the medical field, but was meant to play a different role in it than he originally planned. Join us for this insightful conversation about the healthcare industry and the variety of career paths within it.
Irene began her college career as a Music major who was interested in a variety of subjects across a Liberal Arts curriculum. After attending a lecture about The Innocence Project and taking some law courses, she decided that pursuing a legal career was what she wanted to do, graduating early with a degree in Political Science. After a family experience left her viewing divorce proceedings in a different light, she decided to make a commitment to change the way she practices law. Join us for this inspiring conversation about forging your own path to be in line with your values to help others.
Alecia is the Founder, Artistic Director, and Oboist for ROCO, a professional chamber orchestra. She tells us how her original plans to study physics at a different university changed (weeks before starting college!), what she learned during her time living abroad, and how watching multiple orchestras fail helped her to build ROCO into what it is today. Alecia also shares her experience as a parent with her two college age sons. For more information about ROCO, visit www.roco.org.
Edgar always knew that he would end up doing something artistic, but he didn’t understand what all that could mean as a young teen. After three undergraduate degrees that included not only graphic design, but other courses that inspired his work, like art history and creative writing, he later earned his MFA in Illustration. Edgar explains to us the difference between graphic design and illustration, what different jobs and work environments can look like in this field, and how graphic design and illustration can work either together or separately. You will also hear about the process to create the artwork for this podcast!
Erik was homeschooled in high school and attended community college as a dual credit student before entering his undergraduate program in Chemical Engineering. Join us to hear Erik’s journey from his chemical engineering program to medicine, switching specializations between three different options as his life moved in different directions. Erik gives great advice about how to choose what kind of doctor you are going to be based on how you need or want your life to be outside of work. We also talk about building relationships, teaching, navigating personal finances, the pandemic, using your gifts to serve others, and that it’s ok to change paths.
Mya was a first generation college student who credits her high school guidance counselor and a workplace mentor with encouraging her to seek a college degree to reach her full potential. She originally decided to major in Public Policy to later attend law school, but she found herself drawn to working on a college campus and making an impact on student lives in higher education. Mya explains the benefits of college coaching and how we can help students be successful in their first year of college and beyond. This episode will benefit not only students, but she also shares fantastic advice and resources for parents and those who work in higher education.
David began college wanting to be an opera singer, but aggressive cancer treatment forced him to find a new dream. In this episode, David explains the fascinating worlds of political consulting, marketing consulting, and big data. If you have any interest in working in politics or running for office, you will gain valuable insight listening to this conversation. Students in any field can learn from David about building relationships, establishing your professional reputation, the value of hard work, and how to find a new, rewarding path when your initial dream is no longer possible.
Teenage Kelly wanted to be a Broadway star or an elementary school teacher, but then she fell in love with her medical mission work in the Dominican Republic. That experience led her to live and serve there for two years, followed by the completion of her Bachelors degree in Spanish after she returned home to the states. A few years of battling her own medical issues while enrolled in medical school eventually led her to nursing school. Kelly feels she is truly where she is meant to be, educating and helping new moms and their babies. If you are interested in working abroad or entering the medical field, you should listen to this episode.
This episode features a married couple who have had similar changes in their educational and career paths. Jonathan earned two degrees in Piano performance and taught Piano privately until he realized that he really wanted to go back to school and become a doctor. Sarah earned her degree in Flute Performance, always knowing she probably wanted to teach, and went on to (very successfully) teach Math, which eventually led her to realize she wanted to become an Engineer. Completely changing career and educational paths can be scary, but Sarah & Jonathan have encouraged and supported each other through these challenging decisions.
Kristin is one to be open to opportunities and try new things, which is evident in her story for this episode! Kristin attended undergrad in New Orleans where she studied Business and Mandarin Chinese, while also committing as a cadet in ROTC on a significant scholarship. After college, she became an Army officer, where one of her assignments had her stationed in Korea. As a dentist, she now works primarily with children and tells us about her interest and experience working in public health. Despite not knowing what career she wanted to pursue while in high school and early college, Kristin’s path has been exciting and successful!
Tara has experienced many twists and turns along her path as a musician to her career as a freelance Opera Stage Director. Join us for this fun conversation about her undergrad and graduate degrees in vocal performance, the freelance life, her financial planning workshop, moving across the country a few times, managing time between gigs, and the needlepoint canvas shop she launched on Etsy during the pandemic! Her Financial Planning ebook is available at www.tarafaircloth.com and her Etsy shop is One Part Whimsy.
Even if school is “not your thing”, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t a college program out there to suit your strengths and interests! Jake talks about his academic journey and how the kid who struggled in math landed his first job at NASA--literally witnessing history! He explains how this career path can be successfully pursued through salaried positions or freelancing, including the importance of networking.
Adam knew from a young age that he wanted to be a firefighter, but he didn’t realize how many other opportunities existed within this field! Adam talks with me about his journey, and also outlines the education that is required to begin as a firefighter and be promoted throughout your career. Additionally, he tells us about the work schedule and life experience of a firefighter, as well as what it’s like to own and operate a Fire Investigation business.
From the time he was a little boy, Mike was obsessed with all things car, truck, and construction vehicles. He carried that interest all the way to college, where he found the perfect program to learn about the automotive industry, earn his Bachelors degree, and be prepared to work in a variety of positions across these industries.
Emily was an award winning journalist before she even graduated from college, where she completed three majors in four years. Emily soaked up her experiences at her college newspaper, her study abroad to Spain, and her internships, all of which she used throughout her career. She has launched a magazine, lived in Cabo, started her own freelance business (more than once!), and is now writing for executives of Fortune 500 companies. Join us for the thoughtful wisdom she has to share from her journey.
From a young age, Bethany loved sports and knew she wanted to pursue sports journalism in college and her career. In this episode, Bethany tells us how she intentionally worked to gain a variety of valuable experiences both during and after college to build her skills and her resume. She also explains what it’s like to produce a morning news television program in two different markets, as well as move to the PR side of that industry.
Cecy charted a new life for herself in a new country, navigating a complicated immigration system while creating a stellar professional reputation in the music scene. She returned to college later in life for both her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees, in the midst of originating a role in a series of mariachi operas with one of America’s premier opera companies. Now we are anxiously awaiting the premier of her solo CD, Reencuentros, a compilation of Latin American Songs in honor of the music her mother sang to her as a child. Join us for her inspiring story!
For Cecy’s CD release and other career updates, visit www.ceciliaduartemezzosoprano.com.
The trailer for Reencuentros is here: https://youtu.be/kafnT6EO11o
Correan is always evaluating where he has been and where he is going through reflection, goal setting, impeccable discipline and passionate drive. After hearing about his journey from playing the clarinet to his current position in higher education advancement with a Masters in Public Administration, you will be inspired to sit down and create your own five year plan!
Who says you can’t do anything with an Art degree? The truth is, there are endless possibilities to go out into the workforce and use your creative gifts. Leigh shares just a few of those with us from her journey, as well as her experience as a college athlete and how she took her talents into coaching high school swimming.
We truly never know where our path will lead us. Erin began wanting to be a teacher, but changed her major to French, took a detour into Graphic Design, and then taught English for a year in France! After returning to the states, she pursued her interest in Psychology, and now holds her PhD in Clinical Psychology, specializing in trauma and PTSD. If you are interested in learning about what it takes to get your PhD in Clinical Psychology, this episode is for you!
As a high school teacher, John works with students every day, and truly cares about his role as an educator. As an artist, John wears many hats: director, composer, writer, musician...the list goes on and on. In this episode, John shares his journey from his undergrad in music education and how studying with the great playwright Edward Albee changed the course of his life. John went from Texas to New York City and back again, all the while working various jobs and continuing to create artistic pieces of music, writing, and stage production, including several award winning operas.
See his complete bio at www.johngrimmett.com.