With a B.A. in Psychology in hand from a small private liberal arts college and no clear plans for my future, I accepted a position as an Assistant Women's Basketball coach at a large Big Ten research institution. As a former student-athlete I had had a passion for the game of basketball and thought it was a great opportunity to continue with the sport I loved but to also land at a place where I'd have a chance to explore a variety of graduate programs. Initially I wanted to become a sport psychologist but after talking to some faculty members in different departments I realized the market was very small for experts in that field at the time. My future would likely be that of a Counseling Psychologist that did some specialty work in sports psychology. I let that dream go and put a lot of my energy into my work. I had a wonderful experience as a coach traveling around the United States and Europe. When our team was winning we were on top of the world making it to the Final Four and the National Championship Game.

Yet, as time went on I became disenfranchised with the practices I observed in the athletic department. My experience as a student-athlete at a NCAA Division III university differed from those at a NCAA Division I university. I had had the opportunity to be a research assistant, a mentor to first-year students, a leader in student organizations, and a sorority member and to serve on a variety of university committees while also participating in community service.

Most Division I student-athletes had to be so committed to their sport that they barely had time to concentrate on their course work. I witnessed student athletes being compromised academically and emotionally in an effort to win and be the best. Some practices were sexist or racist. I struggled with whether or not this would be the career for me. I had to be a mentor and caretaker for many of the students as I advised and counseled them on a variety of issues relevant to their development as young women.

As a very young professional, I faced adultism and witnessed occasions when women, people of color and employees perceived to be either too young or too old were mistreated. At times I felt my values were challenged as I struggled with several ethical dilemmas. Why was it that I was not prepared by my professors to deal with the realities of the workplace? What I loved were the interactions with the students and the relationships that developed as I assisted them in navigating their experience at the university. I reflected back on my undergraduate years, the invaluable experiences and the mentors that helped shape my development. I investigated graduate programs again finding a program in the School of Education that offered a Masters Degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs. It was the perfect fit and began me on my path. It is clear now that my calling is in the realm of student affairs work and educating young adults, but it was difficult initially to be faced with the prospect of finding a life's work at age 21 or 22.

Through it all I learned a lot about myself in my first years out of college and realized that in order to survive I had to rely on my spirituality for strength, support and survival. Prayer and meditation became my only way to make it. A consistent pattern in my journey has been the recognition that I cannot achieve success on my own. For me, knowing that my God is walking hand in hand with me provides me with the strength to persevere. There have always been angels in the form of mentors and friends that have touched me at the right times and provided me guidance and support to be a success. For them I am eternally grateful and find the inspiration to continue what I do!