Career Roadmap
Valerie's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Government, and Learning / Being Challenged
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Dobson High School
Bachelor's Degree
BS Political Science
Arizona State University
Bachelor's Degree
BS Family & Human Development
Arizona State University
Graduate Degree
MS Child Development
Erikson Institute
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Fundraisers:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: BS Political Science
Bachelor's Degree: BS Family & Human Development
Graduate Degree: MS Child Development
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
Thought I wanted to be a lawyer.
2.
Met my political science colleagues and thought "them for seven years?".
3.
Found out I loved learning about infants/toddlers/preschoolers/families.
4.
Went to grad school for child development.
5.
Pursued career opportunities in child advocacy and policy.
6.
Was unemployed for nearly a year after grad school.
7.
Got a job with the county and started working on grants.
8.
Realized procrastinating isn't bad - I just need deadlines! And found a position at ASU that I love.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
I would be happy to hire you, but you don't have enough experience yet.
How I responded:
People have their reasons for passing on potential candidates for a job. You need to remember that who takes you now will change what you want in 5 years. When I was interviewing everyone was excited about me, but not many wanted to take a chance on someone so green. This made me look for a lot of jobs, and not just the ones I knew about. When I graduated with my master's I never would have guessed that I would be back at ASU in less than 5 years, but I'm so happy that is where I am now.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I didn't realize how self sufficient I can be until I moved 1500 miles away from my family to go to grad school. I was more than ok and even created my own support network away from home! I love the person I became in those short two years away.