Alumni Spotlight 

1.  What is your "life’s work,” and how do you hope to positively influence others?

My life’s work is helping others figure out how they can live their lives to the fullest. Whether it’s giving advice to lost friends or professionally counseling college students in the right direction, I want to continue being a positive influence/guide to the people in my life. I learned a lot of lessons early on in life, and I know that I can use what I’ve learned about myself to help those who feel they can’t find meaning in their work or personal lives.

2.  How have your top 5 values influenced your career path? 

My top 5 values include autonomy, health, helping others, relationships, and adventure.

• Autonomy has influenced my career path the most, as it took me a while to take control of my life and to stop myself from feeling I needed other people’s permission to make my own decisions. I’ve worked incredibly hard to make my own choices despite having deep people-pleasing roots, and it feels like I’m finally in a place to stop explaining myself and start doing.
• Health has greatly influenced my career path, as I’ve learned I need to prioritize my own health to be the best help to others. When I feel like I’m following my own routine and taking the best care of myself, I feel that I can bring 100% of my energy to others without getting drained. Health has become extremely important to me, and I find myself working out 4-5 times a week these days.
• Helping others is an obvious value for me, as it’s the nature of the work I’m trying to accomplish. I’ve always had a talent of helping my friends when they’re down, and this has transformed into a professional expedition to be a positive guide for people in need. I’ve never felt like I deserve happiness more than anyone else, and this has caused an inherent understanding that everyone is worthy of living a life that makes them truly happy.
• Relationships have also influenced my career path because it seems that over the years my friendships become more selective, and I know that the people I feel close to these days unconditionally support my decisions. Having more support from the people closest to me is what drives me forward in my career exploration, and it makes me less afraid to take risks or do something new (e.g., getting my Master’s in Psychology when I’d never taken a psychology course before).
• Lastly, adventure is a value that has helped me in my career path because I’ve opened my own doors to the next best thing by staying adventurous. I’ve always been a traveler and adventurer, and this has helped me keep my mind open, continue meeting different people, and appreciate other cultures. All of these skills contribute directly to the line of work I hope to continue to pursue.

3.  What is unique about you? (e.g. hobby, skill, personal history, etc.)

I am definitely a little quirky, but don’t believe that my quirks make me truly “unique”. Some of my favorite hobbies are boxing, playing video games, watching anime, baking sweets, and dancing. I feel like I’m a catch-all when it comes to being able to relate to others, as my interests include a wide variety of topics/activities that usually only appeal to certain types of people. Whatever someone’s style, personality, or daily activities, I can usually make some type of connection with them.

4.  What drew you to work with Whole U., and what was the most empowering insight you gained through the process? 

Whole U. stood out to me because of how easy it was to speak with Shannon. Before working with her, I’d always felt slightly nervous to communicate with professionals, and I didn’t feel like I had the networking skills to make lasting connections. Shannon completely reworked my outlook, and I was able to confidently communicate with all different kinds of professionals in different industries. Shannon’s holistic approach also spoke to me because I’d always struggled with understanding who I am and what I want, and her program’s initial focus on my mind and spirit is what really hooked me. The most empowering insight I gained through the process was connecting the dots between my personality and what I wanted to do for a living. It’s interesting how this manifested, as I’d originally chosen a different career during my Whole U. program. But as time went by, I felt as though I knew myself so much better and was able to conclude that helping others is all I want to do.

5.  What makes you feel “Whole”? And how do you prioritize “living a balanced purposeful life”? 

I feel the most whole when I’m taking care of myself, working hard, taking breaks for my mental health, and crossing off tasks on my continuous lists. I feel a flow when my work/life balance is in sync and I know that this occurs when I’m focused, determined, energized, and inspired. Since working with Shannon a few years ago, I’ve prioritized living a balanced purposeful life by following my instincts and not being afraid to start over. I no longer live with the “what ifs” but instead tackle the next obstacle with confidence, grace, and kindness.