I am currently a Graduate student studying Strategic Communications and Leadership. I also have my bachelors in Exercise Science and Health Promotions. I switched career fields because I feel that communication and leadership will lead me to gain the knowledge needed to work a higher leadership position either with in the higher education field or the exercise science field. I currently work for the University that I attend as a Graduate Assistant for our Learning Center. I manage and run the tutoring side of the department. I have other responsibilities under me, but my main job is to manage the tutoring department. Once I finish my masters, my goal is obtain a job in a University learning center as an Assistant Director or Director of the program. Once working that position for a period of time, my goal is to apply for a doctoral program and purse my doctorate. I am still uncertain what field I want my doctorate in, but as I continue through my current degree I am hoping that my future academic goal will become clearer and more define.

When encouraging those around me, I try to find personal experiences to draw on and discuss the different options. An example of this that stands out in my life, is during my time working at a not-for-profit. I worked in aquatics, in a low income neighborhood. Even though I stood out like a sore thumb, every member was very welcoming. There were a few members who were working towards healthier habits. We used this an opportunities to discuss some of the various options and choose what we through would be the most appropriate and attainable. After discussing, we used this as an opportunity to encourage everyone to keep up their healthy habits by checking in with them and using encouraging, motivating words to encourage them to keep up healthy habits to achieve their goals. Due to us being close and being around each other all day, I often participated and we would talk about the small things we did each day to get to the larger goal. So, breaking down and defining the goal and using motivators is how I like to encourage those around me.

My mom is one of the biggest most inspirational women leaders that I know. Through teaching, Girl Scouts, career, college, etc. she continues to inspire me to be the best me and leader every day. My mom currently co-owns a business with my dad, but she is the office manager and getting to see the first hand experience of her running the business has been so inspirational and encouraging for me to want more in what I do. My mom and I bounce ideas off each other when it comes to some of the new ideas, one of the big things that we bounce back and forth is Etsy. She has a small Etsy and once owned a small online craft business and I currently own a small Etsy. This has encouraged me to try new things, take on new projects, and encourage others to try new things that they may not be prepared for. I currently have an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotions and I am working on my masters in Strategic Communications and Leadership. In pursuing my masters, I am hoping to learn more in regards to leadership and bring that back to the exercise science world. I am still working to find what career I aspire to work in, but my hope is to bring that knowledge and skill that I learn in the communication and leadership field and bring it back to exercise science. It is so important to have leaders in every work field and I have had the opportunity to show my current leadership skills through my work place, school, and internships. I am excited to bring it back to Exercise Science. Being surrounded in leadership within work, school, and volunteer opportunities my love and passion to lead others has grown. Each day I wake up and go to work to help lead my team within the education field and support my team. I enjoy getting to learn new things and ideas then share them with others. One of my favorite quotes is "I am number 2", this then leads to the question who is number one. A leader would say you are. This is how I like to live and lead my current team and I like to bring this to the table when working in volunteer situations. Overall, I am hoping to learn and find new ideas and knowledge to bring back to the STEM world.