Experience

I look at my life, and I realize that I will always find a way. I am great at anything I set my mind to. I have even acquired the odd comfort of flexibility. These are just a few of the valuable skills I have developed through the years. Experience: that most brutal of teachers, and yet we learn.

As a child, we moved frequently. Not for military or economic reasons. Growth, opportunity, and experience are what my parents sought out. My dad moved to further the growth of the corporation in which he worked for. To open up new markets, or strengthen ones that already existed. My mother moved for education needs, teaching, medical, and political. She also took on leadership within the prospering communities.

After high school, I made a transition from the shy out of town girl to a resourceful Army Soldier. Through the military experience I've sharpened my values and understanding of working with diverse teams and leading by example. I have grasped the willingness to listen and formulate a consolidated opinion that incorporates as many people's ideas as possible. Everyone has a story to tell, a lesson to teach, and wisdom to share. This understanding leads to staying calm under pressure, careful planning, and learning to execute with what limited information/resources are available.

During my military career, I fell on hardships to include bodily injury and the adventures of becoming a single parent. There's no question that single mothers face significant difficulties. Despite the challenges, I've come to find there are numerous advantages. Self-confidence and learning to stand up for one’s self and child are among them. Maturity, gaining self-reliance, resilience, and determination are my greatest take a ways. Adjusting to a different way of life, priorities now reflect on someone else.

Every experience prepares you for the next one. With a life full of ups and downs, I took to education. I began my Associate of Arts with a passion for Mass Media Communications. I learned how to interact with the public. This career field taught me the ability to identify, transmit, analyze, and create mass media communication services and products to encourage economic growth and improve quality of life. I was proficient with publishing, journalism, broadcasting, film, advertising, public relations, media and internet art. I found that I had a knack for communicating with the community through an internship with the Public Broadcast System (PBS).

My next challenge was obtaining my Bachelor’s degree in Strategic Organizational Communication. Here I was able to pull my innate sense of people and organization together as well as strengthening the leadership skills I’ve obtained from my vas history of experiences. I defined skills of systematic planning and the network of information flow, communication, media development and image care for individuals and organizations.

Eventually all the pieces fall into place. Today, I see the world from a different angle. It’s not about being the world’s greatest expert, it’s about being expert enough to accomplish your goals. I'm ready to get the education to back up my life experiences. I'm dedicated to opening up opportunities not only for myself, but for those around me. To tackle the world and have a hand in helping to find practical solutions for real-world issues that are impacting us internationally and domestically. We need help in the world for those of today, and for generations to come.

I’ve decided to pursue the Master of Public Administration (MPA). I believe it will assist me in building a bridge from my past experience to my upcoming ventures. It will prepare me to work extensively with public, private, government and non-profit sectors. I look forward to working with various departments, managing complex projects, and having the chance to consult and teach from experience. This field is flexible like myself, allowing me the chance to overlap my career paths from past to future. The past may be where I learned many of my life lessons. The future is where I will apply it.