"4-H taught me how to collaborate well together as a team and have the ability to work on multiple projects at a time, which has transferred to the skills I use today."
B.S. '18 Environmental Studies, Manchester University
Natural Science Lab Assistant, Highland Community College
Favorite 4-H Projects: Animal (Cat) Science, Small Animal Science, Forestry, Exploring Your Environment
How did 4-H contribute to your leadership skills today?
I held many officer positions during my years in 4-H. Those skills transferred well to college, where I also held several officer positions in various clubs on campus. Now that I'm working at Highland, the skills I learned help me in instances where I have to assist a professor in proctoring a lab or an exam.
Did 4-H instill a career path for you?
Doing projects in the animal and environmental sciences helped lead me to become a Natural Science Lab Assistant.
What advice do you have for someone interested in your career path?
Experience is key. In college, I was a lab/teaching assistant for 2 years and had two different summer internships. One of the internships dealt with freshwater fish and macroinvertebrates, which is not my ideal job. However, the overall experience played a part in helping to secure my current job and has even been useful here.
What advice would you give a current 4-H member?
Try many different project areas! Although I loved doing science and environmental projects, I also did projects in interior design, citizenship, communications, and collectables. Such a wide variety helped me gain experience and skills that I still use today.
Why should young people join 4-H today?
Socializing with others in your club/area clubs and working on projects is so invaluable. You can't gain that type of experience by playing video games or watching TV. Get out there and explore! You'll be glad you did.