Disclaimer: The views expressed by our interviewees are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of GradSimple. We only edit these responses for clarity. All opinions remain those of the interviewee.
- Year Of Graduation: 2018
- College/University: Georgia State University
- Major: Applied Linguistics
What do you do for a living, or how are you supporting yourself right now?
I am currently an academic advisor at a university. I help students make sure they’re on the path to graduate by reviewing class schedules and addressing any of their concerns about university requirements. I am still in training, so I’m learning new information everyday about the role. Each advisor has different content areas they focus on. I am a humanities advisor so I focus on humanity majors like world language, psychology, and journalism. I do have to have basic knowledge of other majors like nursing and the business school requirements in case a student wants to change their major.
I’m also learning how to say bad news nicely. For example, a student needs a GPA of a 3.0 to apply to the nursing school, but they have a 2.6. Instead of saying their GPA is too low I’m supposed to reiterate the nursing school requirements, and if they want to choose a different major. It’s those soft skills I have to learn.
Can you share what a typical day in your life/at work looks like?
Once at work, I usually check emails and the Teams chat. Since I’m in training, I review my training schedule which includes who is going to reverse shadow me while I speak with students, and I start doing that usually around 9. Topics could include registering for next term, or changing a major, or removing a mandatory advisement hold. I finish with my students and get off at 5:15.
What does purpose mean to you? Do you think you’re living a purpose-driven life?
Purpose, to me, is the underlying “why” behind our actions and existence. It’s not a destination but a compass that guides our choices, big and small. It’s the feeling that our lives have meaning and that we are contributing to something beyond ourselves. This can manifest in countless ways, from dedicating your life to a grand cause like environmentalism to simply being a reliable and loving presence for your family.
I am living a purpose driven life because I know my “why.” Why am I an academic advisor? Because I knew I would be good at it. I can remember information and explain it in a way they can understand. I love speaking with my students and helping them graduate on time.
What’s your biggest struggle right now? What led to it, and how are you moving forward?
My biggest struggle right now is figuring out my future. I like advising, and once I am out of training I know I’ll be good at it. The university has tiers academic advisors, 1-3, and then grad counselors. I want to be a grad counselor. But after becoming a grad counselor, I do not know what I want to do. I could stay a grad counselor until I retire, or I could choose another career path.
I am currently in a Masters program for social work but I am unsure if I want to be a social worker. My original goal was to be a therapist but I do not want to do that anymore because I feel I cannot help anyone in that way, and I will be interning longer to become a licensed clinical social worker. I’m really thinking about the cost, and I don’t know if I want to go into more debt for a degree I may not use.
I wouldn’t mind being married, having children, and being a stay at home mom, but I feel I would want to work. Ultimately, I want a house and a car, and that requires money. I can make enough as a grad counselor, so I really struggle with if I should continue with educating myself or pursue the path I’m on.
What do you want to spend more time working on, either personally or professionally? What’s stopping you?
Professionally, I want to spend more time on practicing saying things in a nice way. I’m a very blunt person, and it can be off-putting, so learning the right words to say to get my point across without being insensitive is important.
On the personal side, I’m also spending time on getting out of financial debt and getting a car and a house, as I mentioned. I like to spend money, though! I don’t have the income for that so I’m learning to live more within my means.
How do you define being a successful person?
A truly successful individual demonstrates resilience in the face of setbacks, viewing them not as failures but as opportunities for growth. They build meaningful relationships, showing empathy and making a positive impact on the people around them. Their success isn’t measured by a title or a bank account, but by the quality of their character and the depth of their contributions to their community and the world.
Ultimately, a successful person is someone who is continuously learning, growing, and living a life that feels authentic and purposeful to them.
If we traveled three years into the future of your life, what do you want to achieve? What would you hope has changed?
In three years, I would like to be a higher level academic advisor with more responsibilities. I would love to have all my credit card debt paid off and plan a trip to California for KCON and Anime Expo. If I continue with my Masters program, I will be finished and start studying for my exam to get my license. My biggest hope though is to be planning a wedding and getting married. I would move into our house together, and have a car.
What’s the biggest lesson or piece of advice you wish you’d known earlier?
During your college career, if you change majors, make sure it’s in the same school. I was originally a Business major and was taking Business classes in the College of Business, but switched to a Spanish major, and that’s in the College of Arts and Sciences. Different requirements and classes will not count.
Also, don’t go to college right away, if possible, especially if you don’t know what you want to do in life. You will change your mind and take classes you don’t need, and waste money. Get a job, shadow somebody, have adventures, and figure out what you want to do. Take an aptitude test and see what it suggests, get experience in that area, and then go to college to advance your career.
One person’s story is one person’s experience. If you’re trying to figure out whether a path is worth your time, money, or energy, GradSimple Insiders gives you the harder-to-find pieces: insider interviews, hiring reality, market signals, industry outlooks, and Q&A with Tyler and Grace.
