Experience is often valued because of the lessons prior jobs have theoretically provided us with. While hearing about those lessons isn’t a replacement for actually experiencing it, we thought it would be very helpful to create a space where sharp an

Sandtrice Russell

The most important lesson that I ever learned on a job was the importance of building rapport with your clients and any individuals that you are tasked with managing on any job that you enter. I learned this very important lesson when I was fresh out of undergrad. During college, I completed an internship at an outpatient mental health program and shortly after college I began working at an inpatient mental health facility with adolescents with several mental health conditions. Read more>>

Mackenzie King

My mom is a floral designer and owns her own business in a destination wedding town. I grew up helping her in her shop, whether it was sweeping up at the end of the day, delivering, setting up and cleaning up weddings, or helping with some of the administrative work. Having been in the event industry for over 30 years, I’ve learned a lot from my mom when it comes to planning, attention to detail, and collaboration. Read more>>

Samantha Stiglitz

The most important lesson I learned as a casting director is that all actors bring something different and special to a role. It’s not a guessing game. Actors are not expected to guess what casting wants from a role, rather bring in their own unique, risky & disruptive take. As a casting director, my favorite actors were those who thought outside the box. They may not have been right for every role, but they were memorable and exciting. Read more>>

Jason Bright

All experience is relevant. I’ve done so many different things over the years. Post college, my first job was as a designer, and I hated it. But the experience I got designing things that had to be manufactured was invaluable. As I progressed into business development, I was the only person at my company that had the relevant design and manufacturing experience to help pull the right team of vendors together for us to create complex systems ourselves vs. relying on our mother company. Read more>>

Sarah Highland

When I first started as an OT I worked in a transitional housing program. My clients had experienced major life altering events. I feel that the privilege of sharing in their journey shaped the rest of my career in many ways. I learned invaluable skills of being present, being client centered, and being present with people where they are. I am forever grateful for those people and their openness. Read more>>

Jen Boyle

It was my first real life job interview. I was in my senior year of college. A large company came to conduct interviews at my school, and my professor chose me to meet with this company. I prepared 0%. My dad told me to go in like I already had the job. I walked in so confidently, told them who I was and what I would do for their company. A few hours later, I received a call that I had the job. Read more>>

Sadie Murbarger

After being burnt out from working at a church back in Illinois, my first salaried full-time job was a social worker. It was a job that I had no real prior experience in before. I worked this job for over a year and a half before moving to St Louis to help plant a church and continue my photography business. Read more>>

Rachel Espinoza, M.Ed

When I first started out I wanted to do everything perfect. I had a boss that I tried incredibly hard to please, but nothing I did was ever good enough. His criticism of my writing and creativity was harsh and it made me want to prove my worth in my projects to him all the more. However, the harder I tried to make my work to be what he wanted, the more displeased he was. Read more>>

Kaitlyn Depoister

I’m a believer in the idea that life happens in seasons, and certain seasons are meant to teach us certain lessons. Whether that season involves a relationship, a job, a new direction–there will be something you can take away and carry with you into the next season. Nothing you go through–good or bad–will be wasted. Read more>> 

Dr. Sheila Trapp

Moral Injury – Helped me Focus! Read more>>