Coming in to the workforce, I would encourage a new worker to see every person they encounter as an opportunity to learn and strengthen their existing skills. Everyone, from the janitor, who oftentimes will be invisible, to the top executive, can add new perspective about the people you work to help—tid bits of information that can lead to a new idea or awareness about how to work better.

At the end of the day, what is most rewarding to me about working in social service is having an opportunity to acknowledge and employ a sense of humanity. Whether I am giving new information, assisting a client in a difficult situation or just directing a client to a better matched resource, I strive to do so with respect, compassion and a caring attitude. My bottom line is always shaped by seeing a person for all their intrinsic worth and honoring it.

The most significant issue I would like to solve actually breaks down to an element of that issue. The most immediate issue is access to the following: opportunity, great education and to experience more. This access can be translated to good education but for many, an optimal education is beyond reach. My contribution, then, would be to help people develop stronger confidence/self-esteem. If a person can be empowered enough to believe in having dreams and his/her ability to make those dreams come true, that can lead them to seek opportunities to grow and reach their true potential.

I am worst at math. Anything math. Especially quick math. Sweet goodness help me if I ever have to do quick math to save my life. I strongly dislike being unproductive. I hate leaving work or having a plan and not completing what I've said I would. They are different in that math is my enemy and having a good work ethic is not.

I wish I had spent some of my time in school studying world affairs, foreign languages and customs.