01/13/09: Discovering a New Career Path

I joined the Teen Task Force because it combined all the things I am passionate about: youth leadership, doing community outreach, and working as a catalyst for social change.

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been involved with the task force for a year already! Over the course of this year, I’ve grown in my leadership skills by making community presentations about the project, and learned many new skills that will be transferable to my later professional life. I’ve learned about the importance of meeting deadlines and collaborating on assignments.

Perhaps the most significant thing I’ve realized about why I joined the task force is how this work has impacted my future career goals. Before I joined the task force, I intended to pursue a journalism major in college. However, being a part of this unique opportunity has allowed me to discover a new career path: urban planning. An urban planner does the same type of work that the task force is currently engaged in, which appeals to all my strengths. Now, I’ve decided to pursue an urban studies major as an undergrad.

In addition to enhancing my leadership skills and discovering a new career path, I now understand how much of an impact this project will have on the generation to come. As I reflect on the work of the last year, I can only look forward to the exciting progress we make on this project in 2009.