Then and Now

After high school, SLCC seemed like the right place to figure out what I wanted to study without having to make a big financial commitment. I knew I was going to go on a mission for my church, so I wanted to complete as much schooling as possible beforehand, but not in classes packed with 100 other students.

I credit three SLCC classes and their professors for laying the early groundwork for my career as a U.S. diplomat. An American Civilization course wove the American ideals I grew up with into the history of our country. A public speaking course, where we discussed challenging topics, exposed me to diverse points of view and made me aware of the importance of understanding different perspectives. In a U.S. National Government class, I learned how our government's actions impact the world. At the end of the semester, the professor approached me and offered a recommendation letter if I ever needed it. I believe the small class size really allowed the professor to get to know each of us.

"I was raised by an amazing single mom who encouraged me to figure out college on my own, and SLCC was the ideal place to do so."

I was raised by an amazing single mom who encouraged me to figure out college on my own, and SLCC was the ideal place to do so. I earned my bachelor's degree at Utah State University, then a master's degree in Public Administration at the University of Utah.

As a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. Department of State, my family and I have lived in Hong Kong, Mexico, Colombia, and now Italy. It's my dream job.

Advice

Think beyond your zip code. In life, you always want to have options, so don't tell yourself you can only have one specific career or live in one specific place—it limits your possibilities. Although I found my ideal job, it took me a while to think beyond what was familiar to me. I would tell my younger self to chase that a little bit quicker.