Career Change Chronicle Vol 1: Why I left and where I went.

I made a major career change and I guess that means I am part of the "great resignation." As any good millennial would do, I figured I would share my journey in hopes that it can help someone else as they navigate the question of "what do I want to do with me life." That question led us here.

If you'd asked me two years ago, I would have told you that my goal is to be the Vice President of Student Engagement/Student Success. Who knows where life will take me and that may still be part of the plan, but in September 2021 two key things happened. It had been 5 years since my mom died from Pancreatic Cancer. She went into the hospital 9/3/2016 and passed ten days later. I realized that so much of my focus on my career since her passing didn't make me reflect and ask the question "what do I want" and for the first time in a long time I challenged myself to reflect on what I wanted from my career, not just what goals I set previously. The reflection done in that moment is not insignificant, but that isn't the only thing that happened. A colleague and friend called and as we chatted, she asked how many more orientation seasons do I have left in me. My friends question and the important self-reflection created doubt of what my future could or would be in my current role.

Ultimately, I decided that what the department I was leading needed, what I wanted to do, and what I needed from a role no longer aligned. Were there things that frustrated or bothered me in my role....sure but that will always be true and think was another indicator I needed a change. I decided, with the help of mentors and therapist, that I needed three things in any role. The first is the ability to work with and build relationships with a large and diversify group of internal and external stakeholders because I enjoy people and learning their stories. Second, I needed to be in a role that by the nature of it would always have variety and opportunity for innovation.

At first, I started applying to Ed Tech jobs to stay higher education adjacent, considered going full time in my PhD, and even thought doing a national search in student affairs. While my path was unknown, I did decide one thing. I didn't want to be around for another Orientation season and I wanted to do my best to setup the next Director for success. So I called my boss the Friday of the Braves World Series Celebration and let her know my last day would be December 3, 2021. I didn't have anything lined up. I had some leads and was in final stage processes, but I took a leap of faith. I'll be honest I used the fact that I was at the end of my doctoral program as a crutch to justify a gap in employment if I ended up having one. Well, the next week I told my team and started searching at a new pace. About 10 days later, I had officially accepted my offer to start as the Donor Experience Officer for Georgia State University who will solicit philanthropic support from alumni, donors, and friends of Georgia State.

This is a major career change for me as I spent the last eight years of my life building a career in Student Engagement & Student Success, most recently as the Director of Student Orientation & Family Engagement. I had done a good amount of work supporting philanthropic engagement as a Board member, volunteer, etc. but never as my full time role. I will also share that I had considered this change for a while and had multiple times the last two years talked with colleagues about their experience in development and my interest. Now, while writing this series may be a very millennial thing, I don't know if most people would say the decision I made was. I took a pay cut, no longer supervise full time staff which I really enjoyed, and am now part of a department instead of leading one. Now trust me, this is not a "woe is me" statement. To be honest, this is the best decision I have made because I made it for me and for what I envision my future to be.

The final thing for this post as I kick off this series is an idea that my old supervisor at Georgia Tech shared with me. She once told me that I like to run fast, but that I have to remember I can only run as fast as those around me. My work in Student Orientation & Family Engagement was a run, but the next chapter of the department needed to be different. We'd implemented major technology programs, made major structural changes, and enhanced the experience all in the midst of organizational change and a global pandemic. However, the work was and should in that area find consistency instead of the constant change and growth I had enjoyed my years leading that team. The pandemic also reminded me that while I love to work and work hard, I wanted to find a different cadence to my life. This new adventure in fundraising, building a Donor Experience program with my boss, implementing a new technology partnership, and seeing what future growth exists for me is exciting and Development & Advancement checks all the boxes. Until next time, choose your pursuit of joy and follow that inner voice....I don't think you'll ever regret the lessons you learn along the way.