Then and Now

I wanted to be a high school health science teacher. After high school, I took classes at SLCC for a year and then took a 9-year break from school to work and help out my family. When I returned to SLCC, I was 29 and nervous—Will I even remember how to be a student? How to study? But it was exciting and different being an adult student. I think I enjoyed it more. I felt like I knew the questions I needed to ask and was more confident. I was able to pay for SLCC with financial aid and some scholarships.

I changed my mind about teaching after I took an Intro to U.S. Government and Politics and my teacher suggested I apply for a Utah State Legislature internship. I was the first SLCC student to do this and the experience resulted in amazing mentors like Representatives Angelo Romero and Sue Duckworth. Then I worked as staff on Ben McAdams campaign and helped start the first ever paid internship at the mayor's office.

"Instead of leaning into the fear, lean into the uncertainty."

One of the last classes I took at SLCC was in the Writing and Rhetoric program and it helped me figure out my path into the U. Once there, I double majored in Political Science and the Rhetoric and Writing Studies. Now I live in Washington, D.C. and I work as special assistant to the president and chief of staff for the Office of Management & Administration. A lot of the things I work on and care about now are because of the people I encountered at SLCC and that environment.

Advice

In that space of uncertainty, when you're not sure what to do, instead of leaning into the fear, lean into the uncertainty. Sometimes this is where you are most likely to find your path because you can be more open to looking for the opportunities that come your way.