"It's a Detour!"
One of the keynotes at this year's Epsilon Sigma Phi conference for University Extension professionals was Courtney Clark, and she absolutely brought the house down.
Courtney is funny and boundlessly energetic as she tells the stories of heart-wrenching loss and medical strife, admitting that her life and career plans had to change but seeing the good that comes from pivoting. Or, taking a detour.
Courtney tells her own story best, but it really has made me realize that so much of my life and especially career has been a series of embracing detours and exploring opportunities in front of me, even if they weren't in line with my plans. Since I was 18 years old, my plans have included:
Plus others! And yet, so often the thread of that original plan remains. It just has had to take a different shape.
I use my Print Journalism degree every day, with every email, academic article, grant application or funding report that I write. Program evaluation is relevant to every job I've ever done! And I have moved between Extension offices due to grant funding and opportunities opening up that I'd never dreamed of.
None of those detours are failures, even if they felt rough at the time.
What are your career (or other) detours?