Remember Mary

These words from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone were on the back of the funeral program. She was only 25. She must have liked Harry Potter. We had to sit in an overflow room, and it was hard for me to hear much about her. The mid-sized country church was so packed with family, friends, and locals, or in our case, 20 fraternity brothers and their significant others. We all came to say goodbye to Mary, celebrate the brief quarter century Mary was with us and show our support for her husband, parents, aunt and uncle and first cousins.

Since I am old enough to be Mary’s mom, I could empathize with her parents, and we knew them. My husband went to Virginia Tech with them and shared many memories of time spent with Mary’s dad at fraternity events over 30 years ago. It was heartbreaking to learn of the accident, to sit in that church and to visit with Mary’s family afterwards. What do you say? What will ease their pain? Although I have a deep faith and am rarely at a loss for words, I was speechless…all I could manage was to hug them.

Why was this loss so very hard? Mary died due to a fun Memorial Day on a river with her two first cousins gone wrong. I heard that as they ended their time at the river, they drew straws to determine who would drive. They had all been drinking. Mary’s cousin got the short straw, and the next thing they knew, Mary was on life support, one cousin suffered a brain injury and had other medical complications, and the cousin driving faced legal issues. Like I said before, heartbreaking.

This grim story is a reminder to all of us. Whenever we think of Mary, let's remember these four lessons:

Make choices for a designated driver. If you plan on consuming alcohol, then arrange for a member of your group to stay in a condition where operating a vehicle is legal.

Ask a loved one or friend to come get you. The time of day doesn't matter. Where you are doesn't matter. Even if you are a few hours away, those who care will come.

Remember MARY. Get help when you need it, so you can be here to celebrate many more Memorial Days with your family and friends. If your designated driver isn't in the best shape, make the call to someone else for assistance.

Yield to good choices. My husband, Charles, always said this to our children when they were in high school whenever they were leaving to do something with their friends, "Make good choices." As you're having fun with family or friends, follow the same advice.



The next time you find yourself wondering if you should drive home after drinking with friends, remember Mary. Always have a designated driver. ALWAYS. And if the designee has been drinking too, call someone who cares about you and ask them to come get you. The time it will take to get there to pick you up doesn’t matter. Choose being safe over concern about causing a friend or loved one trouble. That trouble is definitely worth it to have you alive and well. Be sure that you make a smart choice.

If this blog post saves just one person's life, sparing family and friends the heartbreak that those who know Mary and her family continue to endure, you will have honored Mary and her family in one of the best ways you can...

By saving your own life.

Rest now, Mary, in peace.

Your Values - Are They Your North Star?

3 recent Hokie grads: Sydney, Rebecca and Maggie

One series of events that we can count on to occur every May and June are college and high school graduations. Most graduation ceremonies include a speech made by a celebrity or school connection like the one Eric Schmidt, Google Executive, gave at the Virginia Tech May 2015 graduation. He tied words from Metallica into his speech…appropriate wisdom for Hokies who hear Enter Sandman to get us pumped up at athletic events, especially when our football team runs on the field. 

Recently, I saw an article sharing favorite parts from several 2015 graduation speeches, including one given by Tim Cook, Apple CEO, at George Washington University.

“Graduates, your values matter. They are your North Star. Work takes on new meaning when you feel you're pointed in the right direction. Otherwise, it's just a job. And life is too short for that. We need the best and brightest of your generation to lead. There's opportunity to do work that's infused with moral purpose. You don’t have to choose between doing good and doing well."

Tim Cook’s quote stuck with me. Values do matter so much. They are a critical reference point as you start on the next phase of your career journey. Values are one of the key areas we point a student to explore if figuring out majors or career directions. I really like the metaphor of the North Star. How long has that constellation been a guide for explorers? For runaway slaves in the US who used the North Star as a guide to "follow the drinking gourd?" And, for lost outdoor enthusiasts when without some other directional device like a compass or a GPS? Values can be your North Star as you determine your career or major. 

As you choose a career, why are values important? Many of us spend most of the hours we are awake at work. If your work doesn't fit your values, you probably won't be happy. How do I know this? My own experience. As I began the journey to my career, I worked in various roles in banks. Although I never took an assessment at my college career center, I knew my top value was a passion for helping others. I tried to convince myself as I made loans or helped a customer figure out the mess that was their overdrawn checking account, that my key value was being met. But it wasn't...it was happening in a way that was too shallow to suit me.

So, I went back to school, got my MBA, and then directed marketing and PR for a hospital for almost four years. Again, I tried to convince myself that I was helping people through events or promotion that I created and implemented for the hospital, but that still wasn't enough. Finally, I found my place in higher education where I directly help students through teaching and advising. My career journey took several twists and turns, but I eventually found the right fit for my key value.

How about you? Unsure what your key values are? We use a number of different tools to help students get in touch with their values. We can assist you by pointing you to complete a quick inventory, do a values card sort or take an assessment, MyPlan, that addresses values as well as skills, personality type and interests.

One values activity I used with our career decision making class in the past was the "My House" values exercise which I learned about from an academic support program the VT Student Success Center used to run. It's a fun activity to get a bit creative as you consider your values, so take out a blank piece of paper or use a blank computer screen and get started:

If you feel like you want to talk more about your values as you plan your next career move, one of our career advisors can assist you. To get started with your self-exploration, give us a call to make a phone appointment or meet in person: 540-231-6241.

A final thought comes from a quote by William Shakespeare, "To thine own self be true." May your North Star be your guide as you pursue the next steps in your career journey.

Congratulations, Graduates! Greet the World with Open Arms

During the commencement ceremonies today at Virginia Tech, a big piece of my heart will walk across that stage. In addition to the all the Hokies I've advised on job searches, graduate school applications, or career decisions, my daughter, Maggie, will be one of the new graduates joining them, awarded her bachelor's degree. Since I'm an advisor, you know I have a lot of advice to give to all you new graduates, especially when my own daughter is involved. For now, I'm focusing on four pieces of advice with a photo of Maggie as our guide reminding us to greet the world with open arms.

Open your arms to purpose. You've spent several years here learning not just in the classroom. You've also learned just what it means to be a Hokie. A big part of that is living up to our motto, "Ut Prosim, That I May Serve." How will YOU serve others? Making that kind of purpose a key part of your life will give you a better life. Figure out your purpose and go make the world a better place.

Open your arms to people. Another part of being a Hokie is adherence to the Principles of Community where we welcome all into our community. As you move on, how can you carry those principles with you? Embrace people different from you. Listen to what they have to say. Build bridges to bring those of us who are different together, rather than living an insular life only with those who look just like you. Make an effort to put yourself in situations where you are around people who are different...that's where you continue to learn.

Open your arms to places. Having a global perspective opens your eyes to different cultures and beliefs, giving you a broader view as you make decisions. Take advantage of opportunities to travel or live in different countries. Such experiences will reward you with a more enlightened view of and appreciation for this world and its people.

Open your arms to possibilities. Change impossible to I M POSSIBLE. Deciding on saying yes to an offer that's not your dream job? Consider the possibilities. What could that position lead to? My first job as a credit clerk was far from what I dreamed I would be doing, but that position lead me to a bank management position, by giving me a strong understanding of what is involved in loan approval, a view of what it means to work as a team, and an experience to build my customer service skills even more. And if you're still looking for a job or trying to figure out your next steps, ask for help. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength that you're smart enough to use available resources and to know you don't have all the answers.

The world awaits. Open your arms to all it offers.

Congratulations, Maggie, and the rest of you Hokie Grads!

A new milestone! 35,000 views! Thanks for reading!

Last week our blog reached a new high: 35,000 views! 

Thanks so much for your support over the past 2 and a half years. We could not have reached this number without your encouragement. Thanks for reading! And, please let us know a topic you would like us to address!

Questions about an offer? Show me the MONEY! An infographic

Deciding on a offer? Ready to call and say YES?! 

Wondering what Hokies get paid? 

Check out our new infographic sharing tips for handling offers and data from our Post-Graduation Report based on an annual survey of Virginia Tech undergraduates and from the National Association of Colleges and Employers: Show Me the MONEY!

If you have more questions about an offer, come see us in Career Services!

Bloom for the 32, Hokie Nation

For all of us in the Hokie Nation, this verse has deeper meaning because for many of us, these words bring to mind that terrible day, April 16, 2007, when 32 members of the Hokie Nation lost their lives on our campus. And yet, here in this sleepy little college town in the beautiful mountains of Southwest Virginia, just as the Bradford Pear, Dogwood and Crab Apple trees start to bud, in April, the Hokie Spirit blooms on this campus even more than it used to before that dark day eight years ago.

We bloom with the Big Event.

We bloom with the 3.2 Mile Run in Remembrance.

We bloom with the International Street Fair.

We bloom with Spring Family Weekend.

We bloom with the Maroon-Orange Spring Football Game.

We bloom with the Relay for Life.

We bloom with Open Houses and Hokie Focus where more young minds are invited to come Invent the Future with us and join the Hokie Nation.

You see, April is a busy month for us, for we have a greater purpose to make our university motto, Ut Prosim, That I May Serve, a part of our daily lives. We’re not just living for ourselves. We pursue our purpose and drive to serve others for the 32 who had that purpose and drive taken away forever.

Be cruel, no more, April.

Spring is here. 

The Hokie Nation is positively blooming.

Mind the Gap, as in Your Gap Year!

Mind the Gap. I used to see this sign quite a bit as I waited for a ride on the Underground (subway) when I studied abroad in England. The recording of a woman with a British accent warning, "Mind the gap," still runs through my head when I think of that saying. For you, though, this may mean something different if you are thinking about a Gap Year before pursuing an advanced degree.

Why a Gap Year makes sense? (or cents?!!)

Make the time to find a position related to what you want to study in the future. Thinking of applying to medical or vet school but feel you need added clinical experience? Use this year to gain more experience and test out the field you're considering. Actually, some advanced degree programs, like MBAs, require that you have several years of experience before you apply.

Maybe you're like me - when I graduated, I was so ready to take a break from writing papers and researching assigned topics. I was done spending my time in the library or typing away on a paper. And if you take a Gap Year, there is an added bonus: NO HOMEWORK!

Use this time to save some money to apply toward your future education. Many graduate or professional schools have extremely high price tags, so making some cash before you take on that financial commitment is a smart plan. It does "make cents," doesn't it?

During your Gap Year, you might find an employer who supports your advanced study, meaning a Gap Year may not even be needed. You can keep right on working as you pursue your degree with your current employer paying for it (depending on what you're studying).

In this year, you have time to learn more about yourself and the world of work if you're unsure what you want to study. A Gap Year gives you more time to do research on programs, interview various professionals, and prepare for the application process, some of which are very rigorous and competitive.

Not happy with your LSAT score for law school? You can work to improve your scores on entrance tests. I took the LSAT and applied to law schools after taking more than one Gap Year. Neither my score nor my barely cum laude GPA were high enough for the law schools where I applied, so after more thought and planning about my future, I took the GMAT and applied to MBA programs, which worked out.

Still another way to spend this 12 months is to use this time to live and travel in a different part of the world. There are organizations that offer international internships or if your English speaking skills are strong, you could pursue teaching English as a Second Language or working for some sort of service program. The Global Education Office has helpful links for you to research these kinds of opportunities while Career Services provides you access to over 40 Country Guides with GoinGlobal.

Embrace Ut Prosim spending a Gap Year (or two) before pursuit of an advanced degree by working for AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, or Teach For America. Bonus: after you honor your commitment, these organizations assist you financially in your pursuit of additional education.

Those are just some of the advantages of taking a break from higher education after completing your bachelor's degree. Be sure you use your time wisely during your Gap Year. Seek out assistance from Career Services whether you're deciding on the direction you will take during your break from school, or you need help with your applications to graduate or professional schools. If you decide to take a Gap Year, we're here to help you "Mind the Gap."