Taking a sabbatical or career break can offer space for deep reflection, facing some hard truths, and discovering what it takes to truly grow from them. From June through December 2021, I did exactly that. It was a humbling, insightful, and life-changing journey. Before I share… Continue reading »
“Am I in the ‘right’ career?” It’s the question you struggle with each and every day. The good news is that you’re not alone. A recent poll found that approximately half (52%) of American workers are planning to make a career change this year. It’s no wonder that by age… Continue reading »
I decided to go to Williams so that I could play golf. After several seasons on the women’s golf team, I got the political bug. I ditched my golf clubs and instead volunteered on campaigns; founded a mental health advocacy group on campus; and pursued various political and advocacy internships… Continue reading »
Many people face their future with the presumption that there is only one life. They know it has to be lived with imagination and considerable effort. As some of my fellow Alumni Career Commentary authors have noted, life can often take unexpected turns in unusual directions. But I discovered, mostly… Continue reading »
Five years ago, I left a financially rewarding but personally unfulfilling first job in finance to take advantage of an opportunity to compose music for commercials. Overwhelmed with excitement, I took every penny I had (plus a huge pay cut) to pursue my dream of a professional music career in… Continue reading »
Always dreamed of returning to a snow covered campus to teach a Winter Study course? A career shift towards gigging might be a vital step towards making this a reality. When most people think about “gigging,” they immediately think about young people working as Uber drivers, taskers, or… Continue reading »
For those of us in the baby boomer generation, our legacy is not turning out the way we had planned. On our watch, the gap between rich and poor has turned into a chasm, our public schools have become re-segregated and our confidence in institutions is at an all-time low. Continue reading »
When I decided to change careers, I was plagued with reservations, self-doubts and even feelings of disloyalty. While I expected this, I didn’t anticipate just how scary this phase of my life would be. I now count that time as valuable experience and rely on it every time I coach… Continue reading »
On my last day of clinical practice, I hung my white coat, my name in red embroidery above the pocket, on the back of the office door. Then it dawned on me that I wouldn’t be returning. I carried the coat gingerly across the icy parking lot to my three-year-old… Continue reading »