I worked successfully and happily in higher education, specifically College Housing (think “dorms”….my first hall director will kill me for saying that). But I came to a point in that career where the late hours and high touch students are parents started sucking the life out of me. I made a claim that I was going to be a housing officer who worked a 40 hour work week and stick to it. When my supervisor said that was unrealistic, I began to question my vocation. With that career in college housing, I worked 8 different jobs at 8 different colleges/universities in 7 different states. My hubby and I moved approximately every 2 ½ years. I learned a great deal from each position, and I do not regret any of the locations we inhabited…but if I could go back and do it all again, I would do so many things differently. I would choose to interview the employer as much as they were interviewing me. I would insure that my personal values aligned with the values of the college and department. And I would structure my priorities in the office to insure that I had a life outside my job. In other words, not Live to Work, but Work so I can LIVE. And here I am.
