“I’ve become a well-rounded individual, and that makes me a competitive candidate in a highly competitive job field.”
Major/minor: Biology major, Art minor (Honors College)
Lives in: Corvallis, OR
What work looks like: “I work for the city drinking water program in the Public Works utilities division. Half of my job is working on city drinking water, and the other half is related to the city’s forest (where we get our water), doing monitoring, educational programs, tours, and more. It’s the perfect mix of field and office work.”
What she loves about it: “I love that working for the city means I’m making a real impact on people’s lives. I love that there’s a mix of education and outreach with the community, both regulatory and creative office work, and field monitoring. There are so many directions for me to grow and learn in this position.”
How a liberal arts education prepared her for her career: It gave me the ability to write—and write well. The Honors College, in particular, prepared me to think critically and articulate my thoughts while also setting a strong foundation for me to be open to new ideas and gravitate towards leadership roles. In addition, being able to explore different classes and learn what I liked and didn’t like was great for figuring out where I wanted to go in the future. I’m grateful I was exposed to so many different ways of thinking, because it enabled me to be flexible with how I saw my future and less afraid to try new things. I’ve become a well-rounded individual, and that makes me a competitive candidate in a highly competitive job field.”