What was your undergraduate degree and how did you choose that path?

My undergraduate degree was in psychology, sociology, and criminal justice. Criminal justice happened by chance because most of the courses covered all three disciplines, but psychology and sociology were always interesting to me. Once I started taking the core classes, it all just clicked!

Why did you choose to get a master’s degree? 

I knew when I started undergrad that I would ultimately want to pursue a master’s degree in counseling. Life happens, and I took a couple years longer getting here than I initially planned, but I am happy to be here now!

What do you like about working at the Career Center?

I like all the people who work here, first and foremost! They have all been very inviting and friendly. I also really enjoy the combination of higher education and job placement suggestions. I used to work in Human Resources at Greene County where handling applications and job postings was my primary duty, so it’s nice to see it from the other side. It is interesting to me to learn about a variety of majors as well as jobs that are different than any I would ever have reason to look at.

What are your goals after graduation?

My goals are to practice therapy and eventually build a strong enough client base to open up my own practice. I also think I’d like to pursue a doctorate, but I’m going to wait a few years after graduating with my master’s degree and get settled into counseling first.

What is your best stress-management tip?

I personally find yoga to be the best stress management. It stretches you out after sitting at a desk or studying for hours and helps you clear your mind enough to refocus. Or just to relax and unwind after! Also, being organized and putting reminders in at least two different spots (e.g. planner and cell phone reminders) helps me prioritize assignments and deadlines. I’m motivated to get things done, so I can clear my reminder from my home screen.

What do you wish you had done differently in your career readiness preparation?

I don’t wish I had done anything differently, because I feel like I still ended up where I am supposed to be in preparing for my future career. I do, however, realize that I could have been more open-minded about applying for jobs after graduating with my bachelor’s degree. I had a very narrow idea of where I wanted to work and what type of job I wanted to have. It worked out pretty well, but it is still important to be more open-minded about applying for jobs. Even if a company doesn’t sound like a great fit, it could turn out to be way different than you think, and that goes the other direction as well. Sometimes the place that sounds the best turns out to not be the best fit.

What hobbies do you enjoy?

I enjoy reading, yoga, and spending time with my boyfriend, cat, and friends. I also really like repurposing furniture from flea markets and making crafts for my home, but I seem to have run out of room in my current apartment. Some of my friends jokingly call me “Domestic Em” because my interest in home-related crafts and cooking and baking is somewhat surprising.