I am currently working as a Recreation Specialist with the City of Falls Church. This role and career path were fostered while I was a Geography major at UMW. My path to Geography and Public Service began at my pre-orientation visit to Mary Washington. I was assigned to sit in on a Geography class with Dr. Bowen and was awestruck by her passion for the topic and her love for the global community. She relayed an understanding for the world I had not been exposed to before. I knew then Geography was the area of study for me. During my time at Mary Washington I was exposed to the world community from a unique perspective: it gave me the sense that our broad community can be made “smaller” and more personal by individuals and their actions. I take that to work with me every day.
At UMW, I learned that if you take the time to listen to those around you and make their experience just as important as your own experience or the next person you encounter, this great big world can be made smaller and more personal. My visit to Guatemala in my senior year solidified the importance of fostering this sense of community. I saw just how much difference the actions of a small group or a single person can be in bringing together people and how one small interaction can change a person’s life forever. My goal daily is to foster a sense of community and bring people together.
I work primarily with the youth of Falls Church and strive to instill in them a sense of community and an understanding of how one small action can change another’s life. I am where I am today because of the education and life skills I learned through the mentorship of the faculty in the Geography Department. They do an excellent job setting you up with an understanding of how to navigate post graduate life and encourage you to give back to your community.