Each student at American Public University is different, each one has a story, and that’s why I’m here every day. What I bring to the students as a career coach is to have conversations to draw out what’s most important to them and to see where they see themselves in specific industries. I had a student who was in construction for 15 years and got a degree in information technology. Through coaching we discovered how to meld the two, to position him as a unique candidate for the future of ‘smart-buildings’. I help students connect their past with their future to create uniquely niche careers. It’s the kind of support that takes them from where they are now to where they eventually want to go.
My favorite part of the job though is when students realize they have choices, and I’m there to help them reach their goals. Dreams to a lot of people seem unattainable, but when you listen to what they want and put them on the right path, they can see an end goal, they comprehend that a degree is not wasted.