Share Your Story Examples
Part 1: The Origin Story Example
My mother was a teacher and a single mother. Growing up I spent many evenings and weekends with my mother at her school as she prepared her lessons and set up for the next week. Tagging along gave me the chance to see my mother in action, to see her living out her passion and skill for educating children. That influence of working hard, putting in the extra time to do a task well became part of my own understanding of the value of work.
Throughout my college years, I tried out several different career paths. Not surprisingly I started out as an education major but quickly realized that teaching was my mother’s passion, not mine. Realizing that I needed a different plan, I tried out history, French, accounting, and communication. Nothing spoke to me. Stepping back, I realized that I was spending a lot of my time outside of the classroom involved in student organizations. My student employment position was within student life. I clearly remember the day I walked into my supervisor’s office and asked her how she got her job. We spent the next hour or so talking about the field of student development. Once I understood there was an entire career field dedicated to working with college students, my career path became more evident.
Once I was able to clarify my path, a plan was developed to research graduate school options and develop additional experiences within student development. As a member of Union Programs, I planned several small and large events such as concerts, Homecoming activities, and other social events. I became a New Student Orientation Leader allowing me to interact and assist first year students transition to college. I scheduled informational interviews with top level student affairs professionals within my college and local universities to learn more about opportunities within the field.
Part 3: Connecting the Dots Example
Currently I’m seeking a graduate assistantship within the University of Maine to complement what I’m learning as I pursue my Master of Education degree in student development in higher education. Education has been a theme throughout my life and using my communication, organization, and leadership skills gained through my student employment and student activities positions as a student has prepared me for this next step.
Part 4: Practice Telling Your Story Example
My mother was a teacher and a single mother. Growing up I spent many evenings and weekends with my mother at her school as she prepared her lessons and set up for the next week. Tagging along gave me the chance to see my mother in action, to see her living out her passion and skill for educating children. That influence of working hard, putting in the extra time to do a task well became part of my own understanding of the value of work.
Throughout my college years, I tried out several different career paths. Not surprisingly I started out as an education major but quickly realized that teaching was my mother’s passion, not mine. Realizing that I needed a different plan, I tried out history, French, accounting, and communication. Nothing spoke to me. Stepping back, I realized that I was spending a lot of my time outside of the classroom involved in student organizations. My student employment position was within student life. I clearly remember the day I walked into my supervisor’s office and asked her how she got her job. We spent the next hour or so talking about the field of student development. Once I understood there was an entire career field dedicated to working with college students, my career path became more evident.
Once I was able to clarify my path, a plan was developed to research graduate school options and develop additional experiences within student development. As a member of Union Programs, I planned several small and large events such as concerts, Homecoming activities, and other social events. I became a New Student Orientation Leader allowing me to interact and assist first year students transition to college. I scheduled informational interviews with top level student affairs professionals within my college and local universities to learn more about opportunities within the field.
Currently I’m seeking a graduate assistantship within the University of Maine to complement what I’m learning as I pursue my Master of Education degree in student development in higher education. Education has been a theme throughout my life and using my communication, organization, and leadership skills gained through my student employment and student activities positions as a student has prepared me for this next step.