YOURSELF volume 7
2010 - 2011
CREA
a guide to life after high school
“When I grow up, I want to…” That’s the theme of a series of ads running on television these days. But there’s a very interesting twist to these ads. The speakers are older Americans, not kids, and they are talking about what they want to do after they retire. They’re not talking about sitting on the porch or playing golf either. They’re talking about learning new things, launching new careers. That’s because more and more, living in today’s world is about lifelong learning. Jobs are changing, technology is changing, careers are changing. Our school systems, colleges and universities are racing to keep up. It can be a confusing and challenging time to decide what you want to do. But it’s also an exciting time. The world is full of opportunities, many of which didn’t exist a few years ago. We hope this magazine will help you see the possibilities in your present and the potential in your future. Check out these jobs and see what interests you. Find a mentor or a counselor to help you follow your dream. Whatever you decide to do now, stay open to possibilities. Because the one thing you can count on is that the world will keep changing and new opportunities will pop up every day. Be ready!
Contents High School Courses matter 4 After school 6 Countdown 8
College Six degrees of education 12 Tuition 14 Paying 16 Campus 18
Career Cost to live 20 Resume 23 Cool jobs 24 50 employers 28 Students ask 30 MD Scholars 50
Profiles
Careers Inside
Tom Linthicum | Executive Editor, Vice President Aerospace
Bioscience
Building
Business
Education
Energy
Finance
Government
Health
IT
Law
Manufacturing
Multimedia
Nonprofit
Trades
Be What I Want to Be is produced by The Daily Record for the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education.
222
TheDailyRecord.com
www.mbrt.org
The Daily Record Staff Christopher A.Eddings | Publisher
Hope Keller | Special Publications Editor
Suzanne E.Fischer-Huettner | Associate
Wayne Countryman | Assistant Editor
Publisher,Vice President
Todd Zimmerman | Visual Presentation Editor
Rebecca Snyder | General Manager, Vice President
Erin V.Alexander | Senior Graphic Designer Maximilian Franz | Senior Photographer
Tom Linthicum | Executive Editor,Vice President
Rich Dennison | Photographer
Tracy Bumba | Circulation / Marketing Manager
Gail Clough | Director of Sales Development
Robert J.Terry | Managing Editor / Online & Special Publications
Jordan Leber | Advertising Coordinator
Contributing writers | Tania Anderson, Elizabeth Heubeck, Karen Nitkin, Barbara Pash
How to reach us | TheDailyRecord.com Subscriptions 1.800.296.8181 | News 410.752.3849 | Advertising 410.752.1717 | Reprints 410.752.3849
Space Science
Learn more at BeWhatIWantToBe.com or contact Will Anderson at will@mbrt.org.
80
70 78 42 36 38
Advertiser index
82 62 94
52 92 58
56 90
64 88
76
74
54 68
AAI Corporation ..................................................13 Aberdeen Proving Ground FCU ......................28 Baltimore County Department of Economic Development ..............................7 Bowie State University ......................................32 Capitol College ....................................................29 Citi............................................................................25 College of Notre Dame ......................................22 Community College of Baltimore County ......31 Corporate Office Properties Trust ....................7 The Daily Record....................Inside Back Cover Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center ..15 Johns Hopkins Medicine ..................................12 Lockheed Martin..................................................10 McCormick & Company Inc. ..........................30 Morgan State University ..................Back Cover Northrop Grumman ..........................................26 Salisbury University ..........................................28 Stevenson University ......................Inside Front T. Rowe Price............................................................6 CCBC Time Center ................................................9 University of Baltimore ....................................21 University of Maryland, Baltimore County ..6
40 84 86
46 66
48
60
H Hiigghh SScchhooooll
Legal Name Ke lly Jones ID Number 111-2 2-3 Birth Date 02/02 333 /92
Courses matter ...
Choices matter What you do in your four years of high school is important to having a successful future.
YES!
PARENT OR GUARDIAN (Optional) ___________________________________
INSTR LEVEL
SUBJECTS Gr. 9
GRADE
CREDIT EARNED
QUALITY POINTS
Present:
SUBJECTS Gr. 10
SCHOOL YEAR 2010 - 2011
Present:
Absent:
INSTR LEVEL
FINAL GRADE
CREDIT EARNED
QUALITY POINTS
SCHOOL YEAR 2011 - 2012
Absent:
*Denotes Maryland Scholars Course Gr. 11
SCHOOL YEAR 2012 - 2013
Gr. 12
Spanish I Technology/Pers
C
1.00 1.00
E
3.00
0.00
0.00
D
ST ST
Present: 165.0
C
1.00
1.00
A
2.00
1.00
4.00
1.00
2.00
C
Absent: 15.0 ST
6.00
SCHOOL YEAR
1.00
1.00
1.00
D
1.00
1.00
C
1.00
1.00
C
1.00
E
2.00
0.00
0.00
ST ST ST
Computer Aided Design I Present: 167.0
ST
SCHOOL YEAR 2013 - 2014
GOVERNMENT SUBJECTS English Social Studies Mathematics Science Foreign Lang. Bus. Ed. Art Music Phys. Ed. Health Tech. Ed. Voc. Tech. Ed. Home Econ. Spec. Ed. Reading Comm. Serv.
A
BIOLOGY 10
11
12
TOT.
Absent:
Present:
Absent:
The grading system for all subjects is a five step scale…A, B, C, D and E. Each grade is determined by achievement in relation to the objectives of the designated instructional level. The definitions of the letters follow.
A OUTSTANDING
B ABOVE AVERAGE
C AVERAGE
INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL KEY
GT H ST SE
GIFTED & TALENTED HONORS STANDARD SPECIAL EDUCATION
-Offered at a level appropriate for students identified as gifted and talented in this subject area. -Offered at a level appropriate for students identified as significantly exceeding accepted standards for the grade or subject. -Offered at a level appropriate for students able to meet or exceed accepted standards for the grade or subject. -Offered at a level appropriate for students certified as needing special education in this subject area. QUALITY POINTS KEY A=6 B=5 C=4 D=1 E=0 HONORS A=5 B=4 C=3 D=1 E=0 A=4 B=3 C=2 D=1 E=0 SPECIAL EDUCATION A=4 B=3 C=2 D=1 E=0
PE Fitness Present: 175.0
H
SCH. PHONE # ACTIVITIES
Pre-Calculus Physics
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1.00 2.00
C
1.00
D
2.00
1.00
1.00
B
1.00
3.00
7.00
12.00
SCHOOL YEAR
ST ST ST ST ST H
2010 – 2011
D
1.00
D
1.00
C
1.00
1.00
2.00 2.00
1.00
C
1.00
D
1.00
D
1.00
1.00
1.00
B
Absent: 20.0
1.00
4.00
7.00
12.0
9
Weighted GPA:
9
TOTAL
26.0 DIPLOMA
9 CERT. DATE SCHOOL Tim buktu High School SCH. ADDRESS 10 Main Street Waverly, MD SCH. PHONE # 410/555-4422 ACTIVITIES HONORS/AWAR DS GPA: 1.9 MARYLAND SC
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DATE
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B
1.00
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1.00
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A
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5.00
A
1.00
4.00
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1.00
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1.00
4.00
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29.00
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SUBJECTS
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4.00
H
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2009 - 2010
B
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4.00
A
1.00
5.00
B
1.00
3.00
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1.00
2.00
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1.00
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27.0
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1.00
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28.00
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SCHOOL YEAR
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H H AP ST GT GT GT Absent: 7.0
D E BELOW AVERAG
2010 - 2011
A
1.00
5.00
B
.50
2.00
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1.00
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A
1.00
4.00
A
1.00
6.00
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1.00
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1.00
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32.0
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A OUTSTANDING
CREDIT FINAL INSTR EARNED GRADE LEVEL 2008 - 2009 SCHOOL YEAR 0
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Gr. 12
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A
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DATE
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DATE
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Fundamentals of Art Sign Language
CREDIT FINAL INSTR EARNED GRADE LEVEL 2007 - 2008 SCHOOL YEAR 0
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MARYLAND SCHOLAR
ST
Consumer Math Ecology
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SCHOOL SCH. ADDRESS
GPA:
ST
1.00 2.00
HOOL PE _______________________________ __ SECONDARY SC ___ NDED (Optional)
Health E UNSATISFACTORY
ST
1.00 1.00
Who would you hire? Gr. 9
HONORS/AWARDS D BELOW AVERAGE
ST
English IV World Cultures
4.00
SCHOOL YEAR
Present:
Science
ENGLISH X ALGEBRA I X GOVERNMENT X BIOLOGY X SUBJECTS 9 10 11 12 English TOT. 1 1 1 1 Social Studies 4.0 1 1 1 1 Mathematics 4.0 0 1 1 1 Science 3.0 1 1 1 1 Foreign Lang. 4.0 1 1 1 1 Bus. Ed. 4.0 Art 1 1 Music 2.0 0 Phys. Ed. 1 Health 1.0 1 Tech. Ed. 1.0 1 1 1 Voc. Tech. Ed. 3.0 Home Econ. Spec. Ed. Reading Comm. Serv. 9 9
TA RFORMANCE DA
SUBJECTS
CERT.
ST
D
States Associati on
Maryland High School Assessm ents– X When Passed
QUALITY POINTS
C
Gr. 12
_______ ______________ ______________ __ __ __ __ me Other Na
TOTAL
DIPLOMA
ST ST
Graphic Arts Present: 162.0
2.00
1.00
Absent: 13.0
CREDIT EARNED 2008 – 2009
SCHOOL YEAR
B ABOVE AVERAG C E GT GIFTED & TA INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL KEY AVERAGE D LENTED -Offered at a lev BELOW AVERAG E H HONORS el appropriate for E stu UNSATISFACT den ts ide -Of ntified as gifted fered at a level app ORY ST STANDARD and talented in this ropriate for studen sub ts jec ide -Offered at a lev t area. ntified as significan SE SPECIAL ED el appropriate for tly exceeding acc UCATION stu den ept ts ed able to meet or -Offered at a lev standards for the exceed accepted el appropriate for grade or subject. standards for the students certifie GIFTED & TALE d as needing spe grade or subject. NTED cial education in A=6 B=5 QUALITY POINT this STANDARD subject area. C=4 D=1 S KEY E=0 A=4 B=3 C=2 D=1 HONORS E=0 [Maryland Scho A =5 B=4 C SPECIAL EDUC lars courses are =3 D=1 E ATION bolded] A=4 B=3 =0 C=2 D=1 E=0
ALGEBRA I 9
Algebra I Environmental
Accredited by Mid dle
FINAL
GRADE
Spanish II Health
6.00 The grading sys 11.0 tem Each grade is det for all subjects is a five step sca le…A, B, C, D and ermined by achieve E. The definitions of ment in relation to the objectives the letters follow. of the designate d inst
Maryland High School Assessments– X When Passed ENGLISH
Gr. 10
2009 - 2010
D
ST
INSTR LEVEL
English II World History
14.00
D
ST
SUBJECTS
2.00
1.00
ST .Comp.
PE Fitness
Spanish III Music
Accredited by Middle States Association
Other Name ___________________________________________ ADDRESS _______________________________________________________ FINAL
ST ST
POINTS
B
ST
Algebra I Biology
Geometry Oceanography
to all these questions.
LAST SCHOOL ATTENDED (Optional) _________________________________ Sex
ST
SCHOOL YEAR
A OUTSTANDING
SECONDARY SCHOOL PERFORMANCE DATA Race
EARNED 2007 - 2008
GRADE
English III U.S. History
This is what your transcript looks like at the beginning of high school. It’s a clean slate. You have the power to make it shine. As you complete courses, pass tests, accomplish tasks and earn awards, you are creating a picture of yourself that tells colleges and employers, Legal Name ID Number Birth Date
9
English I Amer. Govt
Gr. 11
Colleges and employers ask for high school transcripts because they want to know: • Are you prepared to do college work? • Do you have the skills you need to be successful? • Will you show up for class or work? • Are you reliable? • Would you be eager to take on a challenge? • Did you take challenging courses? You want your transcript to shout
SECONDARY SC
HOOL PERFORM LAST SCHOOL ANCE DATA ATTENDED (Optio nal) __________ Other Name ____ ______________ PARENT OR GU ______________ _________ ARDIAN (Optiona ______________ l) ____________ ___________ ______________ ADDRESS ____ _________ ______________ ______________ SUBJECTS INSTR ______________ FINAL _________ CREDIT LEVEL QUALITY Gr.
NATURE PRINCIPAL’S SIG
are bolded]
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 5 |
What do you do
after school? Volunteering
Joining a team or club can be a lot of fun and a great way to make friends in high school. It can even help you get into a great college — admission officers like to see extracurricular activities in addition to good grades. Here are just a few examples of what you can do after school:
All Maryland high school students must perform a certain number of hours of community service to graduate. Fulfill your Service Learning Requirement by doing something you enjoy, whether it’s helping animals, the elderly or the environment! To get started, talk to a teacher, call a local hospital or religious group, or check out www.volunteermaryland.org. Here are some of the ways you can volunteer and give back to your own community: • Walk dogs or play with cats at an animal shelter
• Spend your summer building homes for Habitat for Humanity
LIVE MORE Are you curious and creative? Like doing things with friends? At UMBC, you can join in activities for every interest, from rec sports to more than 200 clubs, including sailing, Habitat for Humanity and Students for Environmental Awareness— plus come cheer on our Division I Retrievers! With students from more than 100 countries, you’ll make friends from all over the world! Want to see for yourself? Go to be.umbc.edu, created by and for UMBC students.
www.umbc.edu
|
1-800-UMBC-4U2
| 6 | BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM
• Work with children at a day care center Academic clubs Debate team Future Business Leaders of America Foreign languages (like the Latin Club) Honor Society Math team Mock trial MESA Future Educators of America Student government Yearbook Arts clubs Art Band Orchestra Dance Theater and drama Poetry Chorus or choir Film and video Photography
or after-school program
• Assist your local library with community programs
• Collect bottles and cans to raise money for a group and help the environment
• Make get-well cards for hospital patients • Sort clothes at a thrift store • Spend time with elderly people at a nursing home
• Tutor other students • Collect food for your local food bank to help those in need
• Mentor children through the Boys and Girls Club
• Plant flowers and trees at the park
Athletic teams Cheerleading squad JROTC Sports teams Step squads
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 7 |
Countdown to college
11th grade • Maintain good grades and work to your potential. Junior-year grades are especially important for college admissions. But all four years count.
A year-by-year outline to make sure you will be ready
• Take Honors and AP classes. • Register, study and take the SAT or ACT test. • Check out the colleges you are interested in — in person and online. Know their admissions criteria.
A college degree can mean an extra $1 million in lifetime earnings. Consider going to college and start planning early.
• Make sure you have passed all the High School Assessments. Get help if you haven’t.
All years • Take challenging courses, like Maryland Scholars, Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate. • Prepare for and pass the High School Assessments: Algebra 1, English 2, Biology and Government. • Get involved in extracurricular activities: Develop your talents, interests and leadership skills. • Start saving now: Open a college savings account and accept contributions from family/friends. • Visit college campuses: Take a tour, attend sports and cultural events, or take a summer workshop. • Explore careers: Create an account on www.BeWhatIWantToBe.com and complete activities.
8th grade • Sign up for Maryland Scholars courses in your high school plan.
• Start thinking about colleges and careers that interest you. • Try to complete Algebra 1 by the end of 8th grade. • Work hard and study to get good grades — it will make a difference in your options for high school. • Join clubs, activities and sports.
Discover how you can be a Maryland Scholar! BeWhatIWantToBe.com/ScholarsPays
9th grade • Know what you need to do to graduate from high school and get into college. • Meet with your school counselor regularly to discuss goals and plans. • Study, study, study. Colleges look at your transcript beginning with freshman grades. • Ask for help when you need it. • Join and participate in clubs, activities and sports that you enjoy.
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10th grade • Check in with your school counselor to make sure you’re on track with your coursework. • Keep up with classes, assignments and grades. • Continue extracurricular activities and take a leadership role if possible. • Take PSAT or ACT PLAN tests to be prepared to take the SAT and ACT tests. • Plan enrichment activities for the summer, like summer workshops, internships, apprenticeships and jobs.
12th grade • Make the most of your senior year. It is important! No time to ease up now. • Take a rigorous math class so you’ll be ready for college entrance exams. • Meet with your school counselor and review your transcript. • Retake any standardized tests and send applications to top-pick colleges. • Know and meet the deadlines to fill out applications, and start early to write essays and get teacher recommendations. • Submit your college financial aid application (FAFSA) by March 1 — even if you think you don’t need or won’t qualify for financial aid. • Search the Web and private groups for scholarships and apply. • Be recognized as a Maryland Scholar. Celebrate!
Take the quiz and earn points
BeWhatIWantToBe.com/ ScholarsPays BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 9 |
C Coolllleeggee
Six degrees
of education
What is required for a Bachelor’s Degree?
• Four to five years of full-time college course of study – 120 credits • Most common are: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) • Marks of excellence can be earned – cum laude (with honors), magna cum laude (with high honors) or summa cum laude (with highest honors); generally based on grade point average
What is required for a Master’s Degree?
• One to two years of coursework beyond bachelor’s degree – 30-60 credits
An academic degree is a title granted by a college or university that usually signifies completion of an established course of study.
• Can be earned part-time over several years • May require writing a thesis or dissertation
What is required for a Doctoral Degree?
• Two to five years of coursework beyond master’s degree – 60-120 credits
What is required for a Certificate?
• Completion of job training — can take a few weeks or up to two years • Awarded by community colleges and private career schools • Can even be earned in high school
What is required for an Associate’s Degree?
• Two years of full-time college coursework – 60 credits • Offered by community colleges and other two-year colleges • Most common are: Associate of Arts (A.A.) and Associate of Science (A.S.)
| 12 | BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM
• Requires writing a thesis or dissertation • Requires passing oral and written examinations
What is required for a Professional Degree?
• Two to five years of coursework beyond bachelor’s degree – 60-120 credits
• Requires completing academic requirements to become licensed in careers such as law, medicine or architecture
• May require passing statewide examinations and/or serving an internship
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 13 |
College tuiintMiaoryln and
Community colleges Location
Website
# of undergrads
Cost per credit hour
Cumberland
www.allegany.edu
4,085
$102
Anne Arundel Community College
Arnold
www.aacc.edu
16,741
$88
Baltimore City Community College
Baltimore
www.bccc.edu
6,953
$88
Westminster
www.carrollcc.edu
3,913
$99
Cecil College
North East
www.cecil.edu
2,389
$90
Chesapeake College
Wye Mills
www.chesapeake.edu
2,856
$99
www.csmd.edu
8,810
$100
Dundalk, Essex
www.ccbcmd.edu
23,584
$100
Name Allegany College of Maryland
Public colleges
Carroll Community College
Location
Website
# of undergrads
Bowie State University
Bowie
www.bowiestate.edu
5,483 (fall 2008)
$4,415
Coppin State University
Baltimore
www.coppin.edu
2,489
$3,633
Frostburg State University
Frostburg
www.frostburg.edu
4,755
$5,150
Morgan State University
Baltimore
www.morgan.edu
5,572
$4,408
Community College of Baltimore County
Salisbury University
Salisbury
www.salisbury.edu
6,954
$4,960
Frederick Community College
Frederick
www.frederick.edu
6,233
$103
Towson
www.towson.edu
15,281
$5,336
Garrett College
McHenry
www.garrettcollege.edu
897
$90
Baltimore
www.ubalt.edu
3,004
$5,484
Hagerstown Community College
Hagerstown
www.hagerstowncc.edu
4,453
$100
U. Maryland – Baltimore County
Catonsville
www.umbc.edu
9,947
$6,679
Harford Community College
Bel Air
www.harford.edu
6,656
$77
U. Maryland – College Park
College Park
www.umd.edu
24,583
$6,763
Howard Community College
Columbia
www.howardcc.edu
8,778
$116
U. Maryland – Eastern Shore
Princess Anne
www.umes.edu
3,922
$4,235
Adelphi
www.umuc.edu
33,963
$5,688
Silver Spring
www.montgomerycollege.edu
26,147
$107
Largo
www.pgcc.edu
13,685
$96
Salisbury
www.worwic.edu
4,045
$81
Name
Towson University University of Baltimore
U. Maryland – University College
Yearly tuition
LaPlata, Leonardtown, College of Southern Maryland
Prince Frederick Catonsville,
Germantown, Rockville, Montgomery College Prince George’s Community College
Number of undergrads based upon fall 2009 unless otherwise stated
Wor-Wic Community College
Private colleges Name
Location
Website
# of undergrads
Yearly tuition
Baltimore International College
Baltimore
www.bic.edu
800+
$17,930
Laurel
www.capitol-college.edu
320
$20,000
Baltimore
www.ndm.edu
1,254
$27,600
Towson
www.goucher.edu
1,446
$34,326
Hood College
Frederick
www.hood.edu
1,432
$29,440
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore
www.jhu.edu
4,954
$39,150
Capitol College College of Notre Dame of Maryland Goucher College
(2009-10 inc. fees)
Loyola University
Baltimore
www.loyola.edu
3,757
$37,950
Maryland Institute College of Art
Baltimore
www.mica.edu
1,714 (2010-11)
$34,550
McDaniel College
Westminster
www.mcdaniel.edu
1,700
$33,280
Mt. St. Mary’s University
Emmitsburg
www.msmary.edu
1,501
$28,420
, Theres a lot more where these came from For schools not listed here, visit these sites on the Web www.MDGo4It.org www.collegeboard.com www.petersons.com
www.princetonreview.com www.search4colleges.com www.usnews.com
(2009-10)
St. John’s College St. Mary’s College of Maryland Stevenson University
Annapolis
www.stjohnscollege.edu
450-475
$41,792
St. Mary’s City
www.smcm.edu
1,994
$22,650
Stevenson
www.stevenson.edu
2,600
$22,090 (inc. fees)
Washington College
Chestertown
www.washcoll.edu
1,205
$36,078
Number of undergrads based upon fall 2009 unless otherwise stated
| 14 | BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 15 |
10 tips on paying for college
Paying
Grants and scholarships: Grants usually are given to students who qualify for financial assistance. Scholarships generally are given to recognize a student’s academic success, athletic skill or other talent. Scholarships may come with conditions, such as maintaining a certain major or GPA. Grants and scholarships typically do not need to be repaid.
for college
Student loans must be repaid, usually with interest, after the student graduates or stops going to school. Parents also may take out loans for their children’s education.
The basics It is possible for everyone to go to college. There are many ways to pay for school and to get help paying for it. There are three main types of financial aid students can get:
Sources & types of aid Federal aid: Pell Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant, SMART grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, WorkStudy, Direct Family Educational Loan Program, Perkins Loan. State aid: Guaranteed Access Grant and Education Assistance Grant. Colleges and universities: Schools have a variety of aid that includes grants, scholarships, employment and loans. Private organizations: Many clubs, professional organizations and community groups provide scholarships.
What is FAFSA? FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The data on your FAFSA is used to determine if you are eligible for financial aid from federal and state aid programs and financial aid programs offered by colleges and universities. There is no charge to file the FAFSA, so PLEASE do not pay for assistance in completing the form. If you cannot file an electronic FAFSA or need help in completing the form, contact your high school guidance office and/or college financial aid office.
1. Start saving for college early. 2. Work with high school counselors to find scholarships or search the Internet on your own. 3. Make sure you know, and meet, deadlines for financial aid. 4. Earn college credit in high school by taking AP or parallel enrollment classes. 5. Lessen costs by starting at a nearby community college and living at home. 6. Earn your degree faster by taking summer courses. 7. At some colleges you can take 15 credit hours for the same price as the more typical 12 credit hours. 8. Get a part-time job on or off campus.
Work-study is a federal aid program run
9. Many community groups and often your parents’ companies have scholarships available. But it’s up to you to find these sources of money.
by colleges that allows students to work to earn money to help pay for school.
10. If you have a scholarship, don’t blow it by getting bad grades or acting up.
What do I do now to prepare? • Consider your goals and what education you need to reach them. • View the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s Student Guide to Higher Education and Financial Aid in Maryland at www.mhec.state.md.us for information on colleges and universities and programs offered. • Enroll in high-level courses while in high school. College isn’t easy. The more you learn in high school, the better you will do in college and the more college options you will have. Develop good study habits. They’ll help you now and later. • Get involved in school and volunteer activities. Many scholarship programs, especially private scholarships, look for these activities when picking students for scholarships. Many clubs and other groups offer scholarships, some of which you can win years before your senior year of high school.
When & how do I file the FAFSA? The FAFSA should be filed during the spring semester of your senior year between Jan. 1 and March 1. This will ensure you are considered for most types of financial aid. To file online go to www.fafsa.ed.gov/. Both you and your parents must apply for a personal identification number (PIN) to sign your online FAFSA at www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/appinstr.jsp. You will need federal income tax information for the last tax year for both you and your parents. Estimates can be used at first; however, actual tax information must be turned in once tax returns are complete.
How much does college cost? College is more than just tuition and fees. It also may include: • Food and housing • Health insurance • Lab fees for certain courses • Transportation expenses to go home on weekends or holidays or to commute to campus • Books and other supplies like notebooks, folders, computers and calculators • Other personal expenses such as laundry, groceries and entertainment
Good websites to check out www.mdgo4it.com www.fastweb.com www.finaid.org www.studentaid.ed.gov www.mhec.state.md.us www.collegeboard.com www.fafsa.ed.gov www.collegeanswer.com www.petersons.com www.easfaa.org www.supercollege.com www.waytogomaryland.org
More on scholarships Literally hundreds of thousands of scholarships are available. More than $90 million of scholarship money is available from the state of Maryland alone. Other scholarships are offered by individuals, corporations and foundations and can be searched for on the Internet or researched in your school’s guidance office or college center. Many scholarships require you to write an essay and/or submit letters of recommendation. There are scholarships out there for everyone, including specific awards for:
• Women • Men • 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th graders • People with specific ethnic backgrounds • People going into specific areas of study • People with volunteer experience • People with disabilities • People involved in clubs • People with special talents • People whose parents hold certain jobs • People whose parents are in the military • Short people • Tall people • Left-handed people • People who never get scholarships
Check out p. 14 to learn what it costs to go to school in Maryland! BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 17 |
What to see & do on your
campus visit Try to visit college campuses when school is in session, so you can really get a feel for what it’s like during a normal day. You can try to schedule your next visit on a high school administrative day, when you have off but colleges are holding classes. You can also use your spring break to visit out-of-state schools — some colleges will even let you spend the night in one of their dorms. If visiting in person is not possible, be sure to take a virtual tour!
What to do
What to ask
• Interview with an admissions officer. • Get information about financial aid and work
• What courses of study/majors do the colleges offer/special-
opportunities on campus. • Take a tour with a student guide. Ask students questions about their experiences. • Why did they choose this college? • What is their major? • What do they do for fun? • Read the student newspaper. What is happening on campus? • Venture off-campus. Is it a safe area? Are there movie theaters and restaurants? Could you find an off-campus job? What kind of public transportation is available?
• What kinds of transition support services do they
ize in? offer freshmen?
• How do you get help when you need it? • What’s the student-teacher ratio?
What to see • The dorms. • How far is the walk to class? • Are the dorms co-ed? • Do they have study areas? • Is there a laundry room for students? • The library. Is there computer access for student use? • The cafeteria. Is there a variety of food? What is the student food plan? Try the food if you can.
• The bookstore. • Take a peek at the arenas while on campus. You may even be able to attend a game or concert.
After visiting a few schools, they may start to all seem the same. Bring your camera to help you remember the different experiences.
Picture yourself spending the next four years in this place. Is it the right school for you?
C Caarreeeerr
What does it cost
Here is what some Maryland jobs pay
to live? Monthly expenses Apartment Car payment Car insurance/gas/maintenance Gas/electricity Phone/Internet/Cable TV Food Entertainment Total
$800 300 450 150 150 350 200 $2,400
You could cut out a few things (such as a car, Internet, cable and entertainment). Do you really need such a big apartment? What about cooking instead of going to a restaurant?
OR
Apartment Bus fare
$600 60
Gas/electricity Phone Food Total
150 50 200 $1,060
Will you be able to afford it? Sample salaries (based on 40 hours per week) – minimum wage is $7.25/hour. $7.25 hourly $8.50 hourly $10.00 hourly $20.00 hourly
= = = =
$1,160 monthly – taxes $1,360 monthly – taxes $1,600 monthly – taxes $3,200 monthly – taxes
= = = =
$789 monthly take-home pay $925 monthly take-home pay $1,088 monthly take-home pay $2,176 monthly take-home pay
Projected Median Median Median Occupation Education openings in 2016 hourly wage monthly wage annual wage Lawyer Bachelor’s degree and higher 4,230 $61.75 $10,700 $128,400 Pediatrician Bachelor’s degree and higher 575 $61.75 $10,692 $128,300 Veterinarian Bachelor’s degree and higher 1,470 $49.50 $8,560 $102,725 Mechanical Engineer Bachelor’s degree and higher 1,310 $42.75 $7,419 $89,025 Environmental Engineer Bachelor’s degree and higher 1,680 $42.00 $7,288 $87,450 Zoologist Bachelor’s degree and higher 60 $41.00 $7,121 $85,450 Biomedical Engineer Bachelor’s degree and higher 195 $40.50 $7,038 $84,450 Nurse Bachelor’s degree and higher 25,700 $36.50 $6,317 $75,800 Speech Language Pathologist Bachelor’s degree and higher 945 $36.00 $6,225 $74,700 Accountant/ Auditor Bachelor’s degree and higher 9,015 $35.75 $6,200 $74,400 Landscape Architect Bachelor’s degree and higher 220 $33.50 $5,808 $69,700 Environmental Scientist Bachelor’s degree and higher 2,515 $33.50 $5,792 $69,500 Real Estate Sales Agent Associate’s degree 3,045 $30.25 $5,229 $62,750 Writer Bachelor’s degree and higher 675 $29.50 $5,121 $61,450 Forensic Science Technician Bachelor’s degree and higher 115 $28.50 $4,950 $59,400 Teacher Bachelor’s degree and higher 33,260 $27.75 $4,852 $58,225 Police Officer High school 6,310 $27.50 $4,760 $57,125 Graphic Designer Bachelor’s degree and higher 1,955 $25.25 $4,365 $52,375 Plumber High school 5,170 $24.50 $4,254 $51,050 Administrative Assistant High school 19,435 $23.75 $4,119 $49,425 Carpenter High school 11,575 $20.75 $3,596 $43,150 Emergency Medical Technician Associate’s degree 945 $20.50 $3,535 $42,425 Dental Assistant High school 2,230 $17.00 $2,931 $35,175 Fitness Trainer Associate’s degree 3,175 $15.25 $2,633 $31,600 For more occupations, visit www.dllr.state.md.us/lmi/ and see the Occupation listings. Or, visit www.BeWhatIWantToBe.com.
Per week
Pay Check Pay to the order of
Jane Eyre
Per month
Four-hundred six dollars and zero cents Earnings Regular
Deductions
Rate 15.00 Gross Pay
Hours 40
Statutory Federal Income Tax State/Local Income Tax Social Security Tax Other Health Insurance Net Pay
This Period 600.00 $600.00
-102.00 -36.00 -36.00
Gross wages (x4 weeks) $2,400.00 Taxes withheld -$408.00 -$144.00 -$144.00 Other deductions -$80
-20.00 $406.00
Net pay
$1,624.00
What are you doing to prepare yourself to earn a good salary?
| 20 | BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 21 |
Resumes that
ROCK!
Tips to get you that all-important interview
Most high school kids don’t have much work experience. Employers expect that. Still, they want to know what makes you stand out. Nothing reflects your skills and achievements better than your transcript or a great resume.
Jane Eyre 444 Main Street Ellicott City, MD 21042 410-555-6789 jane.eyre@interview.com EDUCATION
Central High School, 9th grade Perfect attendance during first semester Maryland Scholar
GPA: 2.8/4.0
EMPLOYMENT
Ellicott City Community Pool, lifeguard 16 hours of work every weekend Trained in CPR and first aid Maintained pool cleanliness and safety
ACTIVITIES
J.V. Soccer, team captain 2009-2010 Eight hours of practice and two games every week Led team to 14-2 record Highest goal percentage on team Won Spirit Award at end-of-the-year banquet
List can include awards, honors or other special classes or vocational programs. Tip: List your sculpture class if you’re applying for an internship at a museum.
Key traits and skills that will impress would-be employers: responsibility, organization, dedication, hard work, multitasking, leadership, creativity, time management. Think about how you’ve learned or been able to use these skills or traits and describe the experience.
Is your e-mail address something like troublemaker@aol.com? Doesn’t sound too professional, does it? Make a new one for job searching using just your name or initials. There are a ton of free e-mail sites, such as gmail.com, hotmail.com and yahoo.com.
Summer 2010
Helping Hand Nursing Center, volunteer 2009-2010 Four hours of volunteer work twice a month Talked to residents, designed activities and assisted nurses Recruited two more volunteers
SKILLS
Bilingual: Spanish and English Basic computer skills, including word processing (Microsoft Word and Word Perfect) and PowerPoint; excellent knowledge of Internet search engines Responsibility learned through taking care of two siblings most evenings Organizational skills learned through balancing school, sports and family obligations Dedication and hard work proven through athletic success
INTERESTS
Reading (novels and sports magazines), photography, spending time with family
In general ...
If your school gives your grades as a percentage, write “Avg: 87.3%.” If your grades aren’t so hot, leave them out for now and work on improving them.
How long have you been involved or were you involved? Employers like to see commitment.
Include things you do at school and in your community, as well as volunteer activities. Write about your role in the activity, what you do/did, what skills you’ve gained as a result, and any achievements and honors.
This is a good place to list things you do or like, especially if they are related to the kind of job you want. For instance, if you want to be a lifeguard, mention that you love swimming and exercising!
• Be sure the information you give is RELEVANT, TRUE and COMPLETE. • Make your resume easy to read (large-enough text) and attractive (consistent formatting and good organization).
• Check your spelling and grammar! BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 23 |
Cool jobs
and the education you need Think ahead to land your dream job
| 24 | BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM
Think about people you know or people you’ve read about or have seen on TV who have cool jobs. Maybe you want to be a veterinarian, a website designer specializing in blogging or a fighter pilot. Ask around to find out what you need to get those jobs … it might be college, grad school, technical training or a personal connection with someone in that field. Friends, family, teachers and your school counselor are all great resources (and of course, check out BeWhatIWantToBe.com).
Job
Classes in high school
After high school training
Astronaut
Trigonomety, chemistry, physics
Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in science
Blogger
Computers, English, history
Bachelor’s degree in English or journalism
Concert Promoter
Computers, English
Bachelor’s degree in marketing or communications
Fighter Pilot
Computers, math, physical education, physics
Specialized military training in aerial warfare
Food Critic
English, science
Bachelor’s degree in print or Web journalism
Forensic Scientist
Chemisty, biology, calculus
Bachelor’s degree in forensic science
Marine Biologist
Chemistry, physics, geology
Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in marine biology
Photographer
Art, photography
Bachelor of fine arts degree
Ski Instructor
Physical education
Bachelor’s degree in physical education
Sports Broadcaster
English, physical education
Bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism
Toy Designer
Art, physics, technology
Bachelor’s degree in engineering
Veterinarian
Biology, chemistry, math
Bachelor’s degree in biology or zoology Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree
Website designer
Art, computers, math
Bachelor’s degree in website development
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 25 |
50
biggest employers in Maryland Aerospace The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Lockheed Martin Corp. Lockheed Martin Operations Northrop Grumman Corp. Education The Johns Hopkins University Finance Bank of America Chevy Chase Bank Health care Adventist HealthCare Anne Arundel Medical Center Inc. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Health Insurance Dimensions Health Corp. Greater Baltimore Medical Center Heartland Employment Services Helix Health Inc. Holy Cross Hospital of Silver Spring Inc. Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Johns Hopkins Health Systems The Johns Hopkins Hospital Kaiser Permanente Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore Peninsula Regional Medical Center Sinai Hospital St. Agnes HealthCare Inc. University of Maryland Medical System Upper Chesapeake Health Systems Information Technology Science Applications International Corp. Restaurants Darden Restaurants McDonald’s Restaurants of Maryland OS Restaurant Services Inc. Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers Retail Best Buy Food Lion Giant Food Stores Home Depot Lowe’s Macy’s Rite Aid Corp. Sears Safeway Target Walmart/Sam’s Club Telecommunications Cellco Partnership Comcast Verizon Maryland Inc. Other Administaff Inc. Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. Booz Allen & Hamilton Inc. Marriott International Administrative Services Southwest Airlines Co. UPS Source: Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning, March 2009.
| 28 | BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM
Students ask on BeWhatIWantToBe.com
Help me choose a career! I am an aspiring photographer. But I’m still a little bit worried. If I don’t make a living in photography I would want to become a lawyer or journalist. So what do you think would be a better choice? — Damien N. in Wicomico County, Class of 2012 Dear Damien, I can’t tell you which is a better choice for you. Only you know that. Go meet someone in that job. Talk with them! The best thing you can do now is to take challenging courses and get involved in school activities (art, photo club, debate, mock trial, school newspaper or magazine) so that you have LOTS of experiences and options available to you. Good luck!
Maryland Scholars is MY ticket —can I still be a scholar? Do I have to get good grades all four years of high school in order to be a Maryland Scholar? — Ashley S. in Baltimore City, Class of 2011 Dear Ashley, All four years of high school matter! But it is not too late to work hard, take the right courses and do your best. Check with your counselor to make sure required courses are on your schedule. You need to end up with a 2.5 GPA overall to be a Maryland Scholar. So, if you had trouble in 9th or 10th grade and CAN improve your grades, you could still be a Maryland Scholar. Check out BeWhatIWantToBe.com/ScholarsPays. We’ll look for you as a Maryland Scholar in 2011!
| 30 | BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM
Paying for college — will scholarships cover it? If I get a full athletic scholarship to a college, will that pay for ALL of my books and tuition and so on? — Mark T. in Charles County, Class of 2011 Dear Mark, Well, if you get a FULL scholarship, yes, it will probably pay for your books and expenses. But remember that there are a LOT of people trying to get a very small number of full scholarships — many people end up with partial scholarships. Go for it! But you should be realistic. Remember that getting a football scholarship means you have to play football the whole time. Injuries can really mess things up, so you need to have a BACKUP plan. (BeWhatIWantToBe.com features the stories of pro athletes who created backup plans that are now paying off.) And check out NASA’s Noble: His backup plan paid off after pro football. Did you know that even sports scholarships have academic/GPA requirements? Talk to your coach and school counselor. Good luck!
What should I do? I think I want to own my own business. Should I pick an academic program because I get good grades? Or should I take a separate career program in high school? — Angie B. In Baltimore City, Class of 2015 Dear Angie, Great question! Choosing your high school and the courses you take really do matter. Talk to your family and ask your guidance counselor about the courses you will need to reach your goals. Aim high and challenge yourself. You can reach your goals if you work for them.
Have a question? Ask at
BeWhatIWantToBe.com BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 31 |
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kind of games — card games and so on. Play a lot of games. Think about what makes a game good. And always keep your mind active.
Typical day 8 a.m.: Wake up. 9 a.m.: Arrive at work, check e-mails. Meet with my team to discuss our goals for the day. Review specs for whatever system I’m working on. Pull down the latest code for the game. 12-1 p.m.: Go to lunch. Play pool, PingPong or some video games like Street Fighter during lunch. The company provides these activities on-site as a way for employees to unwind during breaks. 1 p.m.: The animators and I sit down
and go over what enemy we are working on for the day. Animators and I will brainstorm and review animations. I then go back to my desk to code/script behaviors for enemies or whatever game system I’m currently working on. 4 p.m.: We’ll run a Daily Game, where we get someone from the company to play through a small portion of the game. We take notes on how we can improve the play experience. From these notes we’ll generate new tasks to start working on the next day. 5-6 p.m.: Get off work. Hang out and play some more Street Fighter. Discuss any improvements we’d like to mess around with in our off-hours time. 6-7 p.m.: Head home, watch some of my favorite anime or TV shows and play whatever game has recently come out.
Career
I work in Baltimore County
Learn how much game designers make on average
Always keep your mind active. PHOTOS BY MAXIMILIAN FRANZ
Dakota L.
Game Designer, Big Huge Games; Alumnus, CCBC
Who or what inspired me
Choices and key decisions
When I was 12, my grandfather helped me write my first computer program. He showed me the potential I truly had. But I didn’t fully realize it at the time. Early on in high school, I didn’t see the point of it. I slept through a lot of my classes and often didn’t do my homework. It wasn’t until I took a computer programming class in my sophomore year that I found what I was truly passionate about. In 10th grade, my computer programming teacher sat down with me and helped me realize the potential I had. After that, I buckled down and started taking the rest of my classes seriously. I bumped up my grades from C’s to A’s.
I started my freshman year of college as an engineering major at a prestigious university. Then in my second semester, I learned about the Simulation and Digital Entertainment program at the Community College of Baltimore County. It took a lot of guts to leave the prestigious program I’d just started to chase my dreams. Every day I’m thankful I did.
| 36 | BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM
How would you like to design games for a living? Find out what you need to do at BeWhatIWantToBe.com/Games.
What I do As a game designer I work as part of a team to make fantasy video games. I make really cool monsters for the games and come up with ideas for how the creature will act in the game. Then I work closely with animators who develop the characters and story
line. Once a draft of the game is complete, I play it and watch others play it. Then my team members and I refine the characters and polish the player experience.
Why I do what I do My favorite part of the job is getting paid to create games I loved to play as a kid. My least favorite part of the job is handing over my ideas to somebody else and letting them take the reins. It requires a lot of trust in my team members. And, since it’s a creative job, getting ideas rejected can also be tough.
Advice to students My advice to students who want a career in game designing: Keep designing — any
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 37 |
somewhere you’ve never been! My travel experiences completely changed my view of life. I’ve met people from all walks of life — different ethnicities, religions and cultures.
Typical day 6:30 a.m.: I’m still sleeping! My alarm clock is just starting to ring. 9 a.m.: Read through my e-mails and begin my first task. That may include writing a brief, researching an upcoming project or designing a Web page. 11 a.m.: Give a training class to govern-
ment employees about using Twitter or Facebook to help them in their jobs. 1 p.m.: After lunch (typically eaten at my desk), meet with team members or the client, where I present a PowerPoint presentation or take notes to distribute to the rest of the team. 4 p.m.: Finish assigned tasks for the day. Join in a conference call with fellow IBMers to discuss current projects. Begin doing administrative tasks, like filling out my expense report or time sheet. 5-6 p.m.: Leave work. 7 p.m.: Attend choir rehearsal or go to the gym.
I was inspired by the strong and independent women in my family. PHOTOS BY MAXIMILIAN FRANZ
Brittany T. Who or what inspired me
I work in Montgomery County
Learn about the perks of working for IBM
Get ideas for how to build your confidence and discover your interests through extracurricular activities at BeWhatIWantToBe.com/IT.
Web 2.0 Consultant, IBM
Growing up, I was inspired by the strong and independent women in my family. My mother, aunts and grandmothers grew up in working-class neighborhoods, but they were able to create opportunities for themselves. For example, my aunt became the first African-American from her high school to study abroad, in Belgium.
tored children from my neighborhood. I also looked for opportunities that would allow me to travel outside of my neighborhood and outside of the United States. Looking back on my high school years, I wish I had taken more time to hang out and enjoy being a teenager. My ambition got me where I am today, but I didn’t realize that there was enough time to work hard and also enjoy myself.
Choices and key decisions
What I do
Being soft-spoken and shy in high school made it difficult for me to meet new people. Getting involved in extracurricular activities I felt passionate about helped my confidence grow. I joined choruses and choirs, went to French cultural events and men-
As a consultant, I work with government clients — the Navy, the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense — to figure out the best way for them to do their jobs effectively and efficiently. I have to really listen to my clients to understand what
| 38 | BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM
Career
they do, then interpret ways I can help them do it better. As a Web 2.0 specialist, I take social networking systems like Facebook and Twitter, which are typically used for fun, and teach my clients how they can make them applicable to the workplace.
Why I do what I do Being a consultant means I can enjoy the flexibility of working from home or a coffee shop instead of the traditional office. Plus, working for an international company offers many exciting projects and travel opportunities.
Advice to students Don’t be afraid to try something new or go
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 39 |
really cool new technology like the Webb telescope. My field is called observational cosmology. It answers the big questions — how the universe began, how it is changing — and I like that.
Advice to students My advice is to find mentors at every stage of your education. Be proactive in seeking out opportunities like summer internships. Coming from a place where it was so uncommon to study science and math, it is my feeling that you should do what you want to do.
Typical day I get up at 6:30 and do an hour of yoga. I get to work about 8:30. I’m pretty much in front of my computer most of the time. One of the perks is I do lot of traveling all over the world to present my research at meetings. A couple of months ago I was in Germany for a conference. I’m going to Venice in the fall. Another perk is that a lot of the world’s ground-based telescopes are in beautiful places like Hawaii and Chile and I go there, too. I leave work at about 6. I love to cook; it’s my creative outlet. About 10:30 I go to bed.
Seek out help and opportunities like mentors and internships — throughout high school and college. PHOTOS BY MAXIMILIAN FRANZ
Amber S.
I work in Prince George’s County
Read the stories of other professional astronomers
Reach for the stars and you might land on the moon. Start setting your goals today at BeWhatIWantToBe.com/ SpaceScience.
Space Scientist, NASA
Who or what inspired me
Choices and key decisions
I grew up in a small farming town in rural Arkansas, and the skies were beautifully dark at night. I got interested in the stars and my parents encouraged my interest in science. My parents were farmers. We had a farm — cows, pigs, cattle, a vegetable garden, the whole nine yards. It was the stereotypical Southern farm. In junior and high school, I got the basic science courses, but there were no advanced courses, no astronomy club. I did have a junior high teacher who encouraged my interest, but it was definitely unusual — my peers felt I was silly to want to be an astronomer. No one did that sort of thing. No one leaves a small town like that.
I had a passion for astronomy, so I did my own thing. I didn’t let [my peers’ attitude] bother me. And having parents as cheerleaders was helpful. I am the first person in my family to go to college. In college I did a summer research internship at a college in Boston. That was my first time having a real research experience and the first time I was out of my home state for an extended period. It was an eye-opening in the scientific and cultural senses.
pens. I work mainly with data from the Hubble Space Telescope, which is in orbit and the data is sent back to the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is located in Baltimore on the campus of Johns Hopkins University. I work specifically with a group for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, the scientific successor to Hubble that is currently being built and is due to be launched in 2014. I’d say 75 percent of my time is research and 25 percent is outreach for the Webb telescope. I give talks at area schools and attend science fairs.
What I do
Why I do what I do
I study star-forming properties in galaxies. Different galaxies form stars in different ways and I study how and why that hap-
People ask me all the time why I do what I do. I get to study the way the universe works and that’s very cool. I get to work on
| 40 | BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM
Career
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 41 |
to get where you want to go. But you’ll never get there without setting goals and putting yourself out there.
Typical day I get to work by 7:30 a.m. I may have meetings. If not, I work at my desk on
projects. After lunch, the afternoons look the same as the mornings. Every day is different. The lack of monotony keeps me engaged and on my toes. Even though I am now an engineer, I still take classes part-time. I know I can always improve.
Career
I work in Anne Arundel County
, Ive learned that , life isnt a straight line.
PHOTOS BY MAXIMILIAN FRANZ
Nathan C. Who or what inspired me My inspiration came from my father. He was an engineer who got to work on what I thought was the coolest stuff. Because of this I have always been immersed in technology.
Perhaps my biggest struggle in school was to stay motivated. Having a career seemed so far away. Through studying with friends and keeping my eyes on the goal of being an engineer, I was able to stay focused. As a high school student, even if you’re not sure exactly where you want to be, that’s OK. Just have some sort of goal to aim for. After obtaining my undergraduate
| 42 | BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM
Set your goals today at BeWhatIWantToBe.com! What goals have you set up for yourself?
Innovation Engineer, Northrop Grumman
degree, I still wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do with my life. All I knew was I wanted to do engineering. I attended graduate school, a key decision. It redirected me to systems engineering.
What I do Choices and key decisions
Find out how to get Nathan C.'s career
Currently I am working on a couple of internal projects to generate innovation within the company. That means trying to get others to think of new ideas so we can create new products and increase shareholder value.
Why I do what I do I do what I do because I love challenges. Also, since Northrop Grumman is a
defense contractor, I am happy to be working for a company that is committed to making the world a better place.
Advice to students My advice is to listen to what others have to say. No matter who they are, you’ll have something to learn from them. Obtain as much schooling as you can. You’ll have chances to meet many new people. It wasn’t until I started work that I learned how truly intertwined different subjects are. So take a class that might be a little bit out there for you. Who knows? You may love it. I’ve been lucky to have parents to guide me as well as many mentors along the way. But what I’ve learned is that life isn’t a straight line. There are many ways
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 43 |
Jobs for a
healthy planet Just like doctors, nurses and therapists work to keep our bodies and minds healthy, there are people who work to keep the planet healthy. Each one of us needs our planet to be healthy to provide for us food, clean water, reliable energy and fresh air, just to name the basics. Many of the jobs that make our planet healthier are helping people save water and energy and pollute less. These “green jobs” can be in many fields, such as building, engineering, teaching and manufacturing. Many green careers also are emerging in solar and wind power, exciting new fields that need scientists, engineers, builders and entrepreneurs. Meet some of these people with green careers in this magazine and of course check out BeWhatIWantToBe.com to learn about green career opportunities and what you need to get those jobs.
Look for
for green careers
This workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. Maryland Energy Sector Partnership Grant http://www.gwib.maryland.gov, 410-767-2017.
ance counselors. Be on the lookout for green technology jobs and internships. There is a green component in almost every industry.
Typical day I get up at 6:30 a.m. and go to work. I might have a lunch meeting with a col-
league. My job involves a lot of strategizing, which means looking at our objectives and seeing how we are doing. I leave work around 5. I’m a fan of the outdoors. My favorite activity is to grab my bike or to go hiking. The trail is only one mile from my house and nice state parks are nearby. I’m in bed by 10.
Career
I work in Western Maryland
Monika U. Who or what inspired me My parents’ passion is environmental sustainability. They were living in Eastern Europe during the Cold War, when shortages were the norm. People had to be selfreliant. I was born in Poland and moved to the United States when I was one year old. One of my earliest memories is of my mother planting vegetables in our family garden. I participated in an enviro-thon, a competition among high schools on environmental science. I did science fair projects every year. I went to the regionals and won awards.
Choices and key decisions One of my most critical decisions was to go to college. When I was a junior in high
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Believe in what you do.
Learn what other green careers are available
PHOTOS BY RICH DENNISON
Want to learn about other green jobs? Visit BeWhatIWantToBe.com/Green.
Research Analyst, Office of Planning and Analysis, Living Green Learning Green Initiative, Frostburg State University school, my plan was to go into the military and then afterwards go to college on a military scholarship. Very late, after high school graduation, I got a merit scholarship that covered my freshman year in college. I decided not to pass this up, so I canceled my plans to go into the military.
What I do One area of my job is sustainability and strategic planning for Frostburg. I also wrote a plan for climate action for almost 700 higher education institutions. It entails our institution’s pledge to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. We are working toward zero emissions within a specific time frame. For Frostburg, the goal is zero net emissions by year 2030. The plan out-
lines long- and short-term objectives like installing solar panels and buying electricity from renewable sources.
Why I do what I do I believe in what I do. We are reaching out to college students who are the future leaders of the world. I get to work with wonderful people. My work requires a high degree of collaboration with students, colleagues and activists. Work never gets dull. I like the fact that it’s always different.
Advice to students My advice is to take advantage of the resources in high school, such as the guid-
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 47 |
sion of owning my own business. So I am able to combine the two.
me to figure out how to get into the environmental industry.
Advice to students
Typical day
My advice is that if you really love something, research ways that you can work in it. Sometimes you find an aspect of doing what you love by research and by getting advice, talking to people in the industry. Ninety percent of what I do is because of my education. I worked in commercial real estate out of college, and that enabled
I get to work about 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. I spend the morning on e-mails and working on financial models. During the day, I meet with clients and contractors. I travel around the state a lot. The time I leave work varies. Sometimes it’s 4 p.m., sometimes 4 a.m. I have dinner, watch TV, work on my website. I go to bed around midnight.
If you really love something, research ways you can work in it. PHOTOS BY RICH DENNISON
Teris P.
I work in Anne Arundel County
Find out more about solar careers
Visit BeWhatIWantToBe.com/Green to learn how you can get a career in the expanding solar industry.
Solar Entrepreneur, Seven Seas Energy
Who or what inspired me My father owned and operated a small business, and then he would sell it and start another. I liked the freedom he had to run the business the way he wanted to. I liked the idea of being an entrepreneur. Another influence was a professor in college. I’m a big outdoors fan. He started teaching me about environmental issues, about global warming and ways to help the environment.
Choices and key decisions I really had to research a way to work in [this] industry and support myself. So many people go straight out of college [into a job]. They may love cycling for
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Career
example, but they never do business in it. I did the opposite. I found a way to work in the environment. Being young in my industry is a huge challenge. I formed my company in 2007 when I was 26 years old. I am dealing with multimillion-dollar equipment for these big projects, and you have to go to someone and tell them that you have the ability, even though you’re young. I proved I could do the job by working hard.
What I do I install and finance solar and renewable systems like wind, biomass and biodiesel. I work on private residences, businesses, government buildings and former landfills. I go into a building and
figure out which technology will work. I help the customer get money for the system. There are federal, state and county grants and incentives. Then I install the technology and make sure it operates correctly. The key to any environmental system is not only putting it in but making sure that it is doing its job. My main client base involves commercial buildings, and a lot of these guys — and you can’t blame them — are bottom-line driven. You have to educate them. I use a two-pronged approach: I show them that the system works and I show them that they can save money.
Why I do what I do I love the environment and I love the pas-
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 49 |
, Wha t s in it for me?
Why become a
Being a Maryland Scholar will help you get:
MARYLAND SCHOLAR?
a good job into college scholarships/grants
... in 2 easy steps
1. Talk with your family tonight. Let them know of your goal to be a Maryland Scholar.
You could earn money for college tuition: Academic Competitiveness Grants
FAFSA
How do I sign up?
$750 for college freshmen $1,300 for college sophomores
2. Talk with your school counselor tomorrow. Your counselor can help ensure the right courses are on your schedule and keep you on track to be a Maryland Scholar.
SMART Grants $4,000 for juniors and seniors who major in math, science or certain foreign languages
This is the key that will open doors for you after high school.
Taking the right courses now will allow you to follow any path you choose.
Being a Maryland Scholar helps you with financial aid.
Maryland Scholars course of study 4 credits of English 3 credits of math algebra 1, geometry, algebra 2
3 credits of lab science
It is only 5 more credits ...
Why not?
biology, chemistry, physics (preferred)
3 credits of social science U.S. history, world history, government
2 credits of the same foreign language Students must attain a 2.5 GPA to qualify. Bolded courses are beyond state graduation requirements.
Who can be one? Any Maryland high school student who completes the required courses with an overall 2.5 GPA is a Maryland Scholar.
5,928
Last year, Maryland college students received more than
$6.4 million
in Academic Competitiveness and SMART Grants.
Check out www.BeWhatIWantToBe.com to learn more and sign up for your free personal account! | 50 | BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 51 |
you’d like to work in a field. Take an entrepreneurship course and follow the trends, and keep aware of what’s happening. Also, universities are big on backing entrepreneurs, so use those resources. Go to your professors for help and advice.
Typical day I get up at 7:30 a.m. and read my emails and tweak my website. I spend
the morning reading technology articles, especially those about high school and college students, and working on documents, like profiling and evaluating other companies. In the afternoon I meet with my partner in the company, who is a UMBC professor, and then meet with students who’ve expressed an interest in my project. Before going to bed around 2 a.m., I check Facebook, text friends and talk on the phone.
Career
I work in Baltimore County
Go to your teachers for help and advice.
PHOTOS BY MAXIMILIAN FRANZ
Dehyu S.
Love the latest technology and problem solving? Learn about other careers in the expanding field at BeWhatIWantToBe.com/Entrepreneur.
UMBC Graduate Student, Computer Scientist Intern, Lockheed Martin
Who or what inspired me
Choices and key decisions Why I do what I do
As a college student, I found that time management was not my strongest ability. I attended an academic success seminar in my sophomore year that gave me an effective approach to studying and managing my time. Now a graduate student, I realized that there was no system in place that helps students manage their time and keeps them on track with their academic schedules. Capitalizing on this need, I developed "Remind Me" -- an electronic platform to empower students to perform better academically and develop real-world organizational skills.
As a part of my master’s degree in systems engineering, I decided to take an entrepreneurship course as an elective study. Through taking this course, I’ve learned how to think creatively and turn an idea into a viable business model.
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Read the stories of others who have started their own businesses
What I do Through the use of automated text messages, I help to provide a service that aims to help students make the connection between what they’re doing and learning in school to what they need to succeed in life after high school.
My goal is to find out what motivates students to learn and how people can use technology to accomplish their personal goals. I am creating a better situation for others. The more people I can make things easier for, the more I can help them achieve their goals — that and being a role model to others is rewarding in itself.
Advice to students I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, especially in high school. My advice is to be open-minded and try a lot of different things. At the college level, internships are huge. You can find out if
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 53 |
don’t know about. I have family and friends who call me with questions.
Advice to students You have to believe in yourself and know that you can go back to school, apply yourself and find financial backing to go to school. I went to a community college, applied myself and got a 3.8 GPA, then got into the college I wanted and into its business program. I earned a master’s degree while working at T. Rowe Price — they paid for that. Even if you’ve made a few mistakes, you can create your own destiny.
Typical day I get up at 5:30 a.m. to go to the airport — sometimes to the train station — to visit a client, who is usually out of state. When I get there, I meet with the client about the company’s retirement plan. I advise them on the investments, services and products for their plans. I return to the airport at 2 p.m. for the return flight to Baltimore. I’m back in Baltimore by 5 p.m., then I pick up my kids from day care and make dinner for my family by 7 p.m.
Career
I work in Baltimore County & City 222
, Even if you ve made a few mistakes, you can create your own destiny. PHOTOS BY RICH DENNISON
Laura S.
Curious about what kind of financial careers are out there? Find out at BeWhatIWantToBe.com/Finance.
Assistant Vice President and Relationship Manager, T. Rowe Price
Who or what inspired me I grew up very poor, without money, and I wanted to learn how to make money. I wanted to be able to control the house I would live in and the clothes I could wear. Growing up, I had no control over those things. I can’t pinpoint an amazing conversation that inspired me, but there were people I admired, like singer Pat Benatar and The Go-Go’s [an all-female rock band]. I saw them as strong female role models. They showed how a successful female could create her own path, her own destiny.
Choices and key decisions In high school, I struggled to apply
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Learn about the perks of working for T. Rowe Price
myself and be the best student I could be. Friends and extracurricular activities took away my time. I got OK grades, graduating high school with a 2.7 grade point average. I wasn’t thinking long term nor did I have any guidance. I wanted to be a singer and I didn’t think my high school grades would be important. In my high school of 500 students, I was one of the best singers. But when you get out in the real world, you are one of thousands of great singers. The competition made me rethink my future. It was important to me that I make enough money to support myself comfortably. I needed something more stable. I did not want to be constantly struggling like my mother, who was a single mother.
What I do At T. Rowe Price, I oversee companies’ retirement plans. I oversee $1.6 billion in retirement assets for 18 companies and 36,000 employees. I consult with clients about their plans’ strategy and investments. It involves flying all over the country to present my plans to the top executives. When they accept a change in their plan that benefits thousands of employees, that makes me feel good.
Why I do what I do I like it when people ask me for advice about money. I like being known as an expert in a field, investing and financial planning, that the vast majority of people
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Typical day I like to get in at 7 a.m. The lab schedule is relaxed, though. I usually have a list of experiments that I need to do for the week. Each one takes a couple of days, so I work on one
throughout the day. There’s a series of protocols for each one. Sometimes they require overnight periods. I run experiments from the time I get there to the time I leave. I usually leave around 3 p.m.
Career
I work in Frederick County
Go for what you want ... and be the best you can be.
PHOTOS BY MAXIMILIAN FRANZ
Ryan K.
Curious how you can get an internship in your area of interest that might lead to your dream job? Visit BeWhatIWantToBe.com/Stevenson.
Biological Sciences Laboratory Technician, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases; Alumnus, Stevenson University
Who or what inspired me It was 10th grade high school biology. I was in regular biology, but in the first week of class my teacher moved me to the honors class. He got me hooked, so it was high school biology that made me want to do science.
Choices and key decisions I originally went to West Virginia University from high school and it was just too big. I came home after a few weeks and went to a community college. In the spring semester I transferred to Stevenson University. The first class was general chemistry, which was the hardest class I had to take. I wasn’t doing so well
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Find out how to get your own internship in a lab
around midterms and the teacher told me to drop the class. I decided to suck it up and I passed. That was the wake-up call. You have to do well in your classes. You can do it if you put your mind to it.
What I do This job started as an internship while I was in school and turned into a full-time job when I graduated in May. I do research on viruses and how they interact with the human immune system. We infect human cells with the virus and look at the proteins involved. We study viruses and how they block the inflammatory response and how viruses make you sick. The person in charge is the principal investigator and then there are the postdoctorates and then
people like me, who are the lab technicians who run the experiments and give the results to the people in charge so they can make sense of them.
Why I do what I do When I was in high school I worked for one of my biology teachers. I set up experiments for his microbiology class and I had so much fun. I decided I wanted to keep doing it. Then in college, I picked the project at Fort Detrick.
Advice to students Go for what you want, and if you’re going to go for it, go for it as hard as you can and be the best you can be.
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 57 |
advice to students, I would tell them to remember this: When you fall down — and you will — remember to get back up. And if you need help, don’t hesitate to ask for it.
Typical day 7 a.m.: Report to work, complete my time sheet, and review any e-mail or training updates. Once a week, I attend a staff meeting to discuss current work progress and needs. 9 a.m.-noon: Review service members’ medical records to prepare to write a complete evaluation of their mental
health to determine whether they’re able to remain in the military. Talk about cases and also general life issues with my officemates. Noon-1 p.m.: Take a lunch break with co-workers, sometimes go for a walk. Receive phone calls from friends and family. 1 p.m.: Contact other facilities to obtain additional information for my evaluations. Talk with my supervisor about cases. 4 p.m.: Finalize whatever project I had been doing that day. 6-8 p.m.: See clients at my private practice, or shop, exercise or just relax.
, If you need help, don t hesitate to ask for it. PHOTOS BY MAXIMILIAN FRANZ
Angelina D. Who or what inspired me I didn’t figure out what I wanted to do professionally until my second year of college. I secured a part-time job working with autistic children and young adults, which taught me how much I enjoyed helping others. That experience inspired me to pursue the helping field of psychology.
Choices and key decisions I was 11 years old when I migrated to the United States from Cape Verde Island, off the west coast of Africa. When I came to this country, the language barrier made it difficult for me to understand my teachers and relate to my peers. Consequently, I was placed in the third grade. In high school, the most critical decision I made
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Career
I work in Montgomery County
Learn about scholarship opportunities that will help you pay for school
Check out other careers that help people live their lives to the fullest at BeWhatIWantToBe.com/Health.
Psychologist, Walter Reed Army Medical Center
was not to quit school, despite feeling frustrated over the language barrier and subsequent alienation. One of the hardest decisions I made was to move away from Providence, R.I., to pursue my education and future. Although it was scary leaving home on my own, I knew it was the only way to move forward and get to a position where I could help my family financially.
What I do Currently, I juggle two jobs. I’m a full-time psychologist for the military, where I meet with service members, review their medical records and write evaluations. Much of my work involves assessing whether service members are mentally healthy enough to remain in the military or
change their job function. I also provide individual therapy and, as a “surge provider,” I travel to different Army bases to counsel service members before and after they deploy for duty. I also work parttime as a private practice psychologist, where I counsel patients — children, adolescents and sometimes entire families.
Why I do what I do The best part of my job is talking with people and assessing how I can help them overcome personal obstacles that prevent them from functioning in their day-to-day lives.
Advice to students If I had to offer one piece of professional
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conservation problem. The worst part is having to spend time on mundane administrative tasks, like writing purchase orders to buy equipment or forecasting how much projects will cost.
Advice to students My advice to students is this: Focus on a career you are passionate about and everything else will take care of itself.
Typical day 6:30 a.m.: Wake up. 9 a.m.: Check e-mail and voicemail, look at calendar for the day, prepare for
any meetings to either investigate project opportunities, meet with teams to discuss project pros/cons or present projects to management for approval. 1 p.m.: Meet with companies that can provide equipment or services to McCormick. Attend internal meetings to discuss projects. Visit project sites to meet with contractors that may be in the process of installing equipment. 4 p.m.: Recheck e-mail and voicemail, look at calendar for the next day. 7 p.m.: Exercise, relax, socialize and attend professional networking events or seminars (several evenings per month).
Career
I work in Baltimore County
Find out how Jeff B. saves his company money
Focus on a career you are passionate about. PHOTOS BY RICH DENNISON
Jeff B.
Curious about how you could become the one making industries more sustainable? Visit BeWhatIWantToBe.com/Green.
Sustainable Manufacturing Manager, McCormick & Company
Who or what inspired me Ever since middle school I’ve known I wanted a career where I could help the environment by reducing our use of fossil fuels. Solar energy particularly interested me. Growing up in the 1970s during the energy crisis motivated me to pursue a career in energy conservation. As a kid, I was struck by President Jimmy Carter’s televised speech on how we needed to get serious about the oil we import. Documentaries about protecting the rainforest and reducing our impact on the environment also inspired me.
mechanical engineering. This meant taking a lot of tough classes in high school, like AP math and science. As a junior, I had to double up on math classes. I worked a lot harder in school than my friends did. In college I faced even more challenging coursework that, at times, was not very interesting to me. It was very theoretical and I had a hard time seeing the connection between these classes and the real world. I could have switched to an easier major. But because I wanted to be involved in solar energy and energy efficiency, that would have been a mistake.
Choices and key decisions What I do My three older brothers, all engineers, told me that a career in energy production and consumption would require a degree in
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In my job, I look at ways to make McCormick a more environmentally friendly company — by reducing our use of fossil fuel energy,
our waste stream and water consumption, most of [these steps] save the company money by cutting down on waste of natural resources. I also investigate new technologies, like solar panels, that will allow the company to reduce its environmental impact. First I determine if the technology will apply to McCormick. If the company decides it’s a good fit, I oversee projects that will implement the energy-saving technology. That includes proposing funding, recommending needed materials and supervising installation contractors for the project.
Why I do what I do The best part of my job is the satisfaction that comes after my team and I have developed a solution to a challenging energy
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 61 |
expect once they graduate from high school and how to prepare for college and careers.
Advice to students My advice is to always give more than what’s expected of you. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Get involved in your community and you can discover your gifts that way. I found my ability for this job through volunteering. Figure out what you do well and what you enjoy doing, and that will dictate the path you should follow. It took me a long time to figure that out.
Typical day I start and end the day with prayer. My
mornings are spent getting my children ready for school and catching up on the latest news. After I get to work at 9 a.m., I prioritize my day. We have daily meetings. Our most valuable asset is our people, so I keep in touch with volunteers, with the communities and the school leaders. I may do a training of business volunteers one day and speak with a group of students in their classroom the other. I leave the office around 5:30 p.m., and then go to a community event or board meeting at least 2 nights a week. I get home around 7 p.m., cook dinner and get the kids ready for the next day. I’m in a master’s of business administration program and, after my children are in bed, I study until 1 a.m. Right now, I’m a master at multi-tasking.
Always give , more than whats expected of you. PHOTOS BY CLARE PIET
LaTara H.
I work all over Maryland
Find out more about MBRT's mission
Get an account at BeWhatIWantToBe.com, one of MBRT's programs, and begin tracking the path to your dreams today!
Director — Partnerships and Outreach, Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT)
Who or what inspired me
Choices and key decisions
I was inspired by my parents, specifically my father. When my father says he’s going to do something, he gets it done. When he makes a commitment, he fulfills it. Both of my parents taught me to always give more than what’s expected of me and stay true to myself. My choice to go to college was inspired by my 11th grade English teacher. She saw something in me that not many had seen; the commitment, dedication and hard work. She was one of the reasons that I pushed myself and took Advanced Placement classes and stayed active in sports and extra curricular activities in school.
I’m from a military family. We stayed in a place for a few years and then moved on before our extended stay in Hawaii. I was always the new kid on the block and found it hard at times to connect with other kids. In elementary school, I wanted a best friend but the other children already had best friends. I made a decision to come out of my shell. As a result, I am an outgoing person today.
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Career
What I do MBRT works to ensure that students are prepared for life after high school. Part of what I do is to coordinate the organization’s outreach efforts in the public
schools around the state. Our 3,000 volunteers talk to eighth and ninth graders about choices after high school, about the courses they are taking and how that will impact their life after high school. My job is to recruit and train the volunteers and to get them into the classroom. I engage with leaders throughout the state to customize the program for each school site.
Why I do what I do I got a job after college in accounting because it represented security. But I really didn’t like it. I found that communicating and engaging with people is what I enjoyed doing. I am very passionate about what I do now. Our 3,000 terrific volunteers and I talk to students about what to
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 63 |
care to the force. What I always liked doing is being able to support those who are out there. I can help make the surgeon general of the Army be successful so he can do his job.
Advice to students It’s important that they challenge themselves in high school. Even though they may not have an interest in chemistry or calculus per se, those science classes help you learn how to problem-solve. That’s a key to success. That’s what employers are looking for. If you’re going to be a competitive athlete, if you want to be at the top of the game, you have to do drills. Taking more rigorous courses is no different.
Typical day This particular job forces me to be very adept at being able to work in all environments. We can set up a mobile office in a car, a hotel room. When we’re not traveling, the surgeon general is very busy with meetings in the Pentagon or his office, or he’s called to testify on the Hill or he is doing internal stuff at MEDCOM. My life during the day is pretty much what his schedule is. I’m expected to be there for him for whatever he needs. If he’s in a meeting, and the executive assistant is not there, I’ll fill in and take notes. If I’m outside the meeting, I’m literally outside the door of that office, planning ahead for our next engagement or trip.
Career
I work in Frederick County
Read more stories of those who serve our country
Science classes help you learn how to problem-solve. PHOTOS BY RICH DENNISON
Major Victor S.
Aide-de-camp to the Army Surgeon General. Wife Kate is an Army Reserve Major.
Who or what inspired me
Choices and key decisions
Probably the biggest single influence was my father, an Army officer who served in Vietnam. Having lots of long talks with him as a child made me interested in becoming an Army officer. I had an interest in something to do with health care; I just didn’t know what it was. I was in high school when Desert Storm kicked off in 1991. I saw that service members were out there, and I saw the American public support the military. That inspired me as well. I wanted to serve something bigger than what I am. In college I went through EMT [emergency medical technician] training, and even though that was interesting, I wanted to do something on a larger scale.
One of the things that got me to where I am now is an Air Force ROTC [Reserve Officers’ Training Corps] class that I took my freshman year in high school. We learned the basics of what the Air Force does. I got a scholarship to attend UCLA for the Army. I chose the Army because it offered the most flexibility to pick my career path. I did four years of ROTC at UCLA and majored in biological anthropology, which led me to take both hard science and humanities classes.
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Want a job like Major Victor’s that involves traveling? Read about other science careers on BeWhatIWantToBe.com/STEM.
What I do I am the aide-de-camp to the Army surgeon general. My boss is a three-star general and the commanding general of the U.S.
Army Medical Command (MEDCOM), which oversees Army treatment centers and research facilities all over the world. I am his personal assistant. I help with any of the duties that are time-consuming for a general officer, with a lot of focus on travel, security and scheduling. I do all the trip itineraries. I coordinate with the folks at the far end. He’s invited to a variety of engagements around the world, and I travel with him and make sure all his arrangements are taken care of. My job is to know who is picking us up, where we are staying, the main purpose of the meetings and the bios of the people we’re going to meet.
Why I do what I do We’re the folks who help deliver health
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 65 |
and share it. It’s amazing how many older people out there want to help young people attain their dreams.
Typical day 6:30 a.m.: Alarm goes off. Snooze button continues for another 15 minutes. 7 a.m.: Get out of bed and get ready for the day. 7:30 a.m.: Leave the house and pray for little traffic. 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.: Arrive at my current job site in the city. 9:30 a.m.: Get tools together to start pulling windows out. Work on extract-
ing windows. That includes prying off trim, pulling windows out of the frame, cutting them loose from the chain, removing the pulleys to get cleaned up, carrying and packing up the windows, installing plywood so the room is not open to the elements, and cleaning. Lots of cleaning. 5 p.m.: Leave work. 5:30 p.m.: Get home. Jump in the pool! It was hot and dirty work all day. Spend the rest of the evening playing with computer/video games, doing crafty things or going to shows with friends. 11 p.m.: In bed, so I can get enough sleep to function the next day.
People want to help you attain your dreams —let them PHOTOS BY MAXIMILIAN FRANZ
Caitlin Y.
I work in Baltimore County & City
Learn what Caitlin Y. knows now that she wished she had known in high school
Think an apprenticeship program might be for you? Learn more at BeWhatIWantToBe.com/CCBC.
Restoration Assistant, Chestnut Hill Windows; Student, CCBC
Who or what inspired me Halfway through my senior year of high school, I wanted to quit. I didn’t see the point. But my mom always believed in me. She pushed me to complete school.
Choices and key decisions After community college, I worked as an administrative assistant in an office. The work felt pointless to me. It made me think long and hard about what I wanted to do with my life, because it definitely wasn’t that. I wanted to see a physical product from my hard work. I started strongly considering carpentry because I’d been interested in furniture-making since middle school. In the fall of 2008, right before the recession
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Career
hit, I quit my job as an administrative assistant. I called every woodworker in Baltimore to see if they needed help, and they all told me to call back in a year or two. Discovering an apprenticeship program came at the perfect time. I knew what I wanted and I didn’t want to mess around any more. The course taught me basic carpentry skills, construction math, blueprint reading and safety regulations for construction sites. It was run like a construction job, where we met every day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. I finished at the top of my class.
What I do Almost immediately after I completed the apprenticeship program, I was offered a job with Chestnut Hill Windows, a com-
pany that restores historic windows. As an assistant, I take out the old windows and clean up the frames and the work site. The company has plans for moving me up, which is awesome. My favorite part about the job will be learning the ins and outs of fixing the windows. My least favorite part is that my employers are located in Philadelphia, which makes communication challenging sometimes.
Why I do what I do In six years, I’d like to own my own woodworking shop.
Advice to students Think about what will make you happy
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and flies, that’s part of the fulfillment, too.
Advice to students Take as many high-level math and science courses in high school as you can. If you can get an internship at an engineering company, whether during summers in high school or college, it’s a big advantage. It helps you understand the job and gives you an inside track. We do extensive hiring of summer interns.
Typical day When I was an engineer, I worked on one project at a time with a small number of people. Now I am in touch with people all over the company. After I arrive at 7 a.m., I go through my e-mails and plan for the day. I get project updates from my staff and address any new issues that have come up. My job requires a great deal of focus on goals. The industry I’m in is state-of-the-art, so I keep current by attending workshops and reading trade publications.
Take as many high level math and science courses as you can. PHOTOS COURTESY OF AAI CORP.
Craig L.
I work in Baltimore County
Learn what classes aspiring engineers should take in high school
BeWhatIWantToBe.com/Aerospace.
Manager of Process and Software Quality Assurance, AAI Corp.
Who or what inspired me I was one of those kids who take things apart to find out how they work. My parents encouraged me. And I was always good at math and science in school.
Choices and key decisions I attended a high school with 1,500 kids in four grades. It was not cool to get good grades and to be responsible and to think about your future, especially for boys. I resisted that pressure to dumb myself down and to not achieve. I kept focused on my goals after high school and I wasn’t very popular because of that. I reminded myself that once those four years were over, that part of my life
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Career
was behind me. In college, I was originally in electrical engineering, but I realized I really liked the computer part of that field. I changed my major to computer engineering. One of the courses I’d taken in high school was computer programming, which was very primitive back then, but I remembered it.
What I do I’ve been at AAI for 27 years and for my first 23 years I was in engineering. I was involved in building products. Then I moved into quality assurance, which is more of an oversight situation, making sure that other engineers follow the process correctly. It better utilizes my experience. I am able to help in all the
product areas. I enjoy interacting with people from all over the company.
Why I do what I do At AAI, 95 percent of our business is in defense — engineering and producing complex systems to support the U.S. military. We make the Shadow aircraft, which is the biggest unmanned air vehicle — or drone — used by the U.S. Army in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Shadow provides information to the soldiers on the ground, so they can understand what’s happening. It really does save lives. That’s fulfilling. And you are part of a team that takes something very complex and actually sees that it works. When the drone comes off the launcher
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Typical day As a doctor, you never know what medical situation you might face. But on a typical day, I’m up at 5:30 in the morning and I’m in the hospital by 7:30 to make hospital rounds. That means I’m seeing patients who are in
the hospital. I do that until 9 a.m., and then I’m in the office seeing patients from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. I leave the office at 4:30 p.m. If I have to go back to the hospital, I’m there from 4:30 to 6 p.m. If I make it home by 6 p.m. that’s an early day.
Career
I work on the Eastern Shore
, Dont be afraid of failure, or success and dont be afraid to ask questions. PHOTOS BY RICH DENNISON
Mary D.
Learn more about how you can score scholarships to help you pursue your educational dreams at BeWhatIWantToBe.com/STEM.
Doctor, Director of The University of Maryland Cancer Clinical Trials, Shore Health System
Who or what inspired me I wanted to be a doctor in middle school. I used to patch up any stray animals that would come by my house. My father died of lymphoma. He was healthy one day and very sick the next. I could never understand that. So part of my quest to understand what happened to him is why I specialize in cancer.
Choices and key decisions At the time that I was getting into medicine, not a lot of women did so — even in the 1970s, when things were looking better for women. Being a minority female made it hard. My family was not able to financially contribute to my education, so
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Find out if health careers are for you
it was funded through loans and scholarships. Of all of the obstacles, the financial obstacle was the hardest.
What I do I am a medical oncologist, which is a specialty field. It deals directly with taking care of cancer patients. I meet with them when they’re first diagnosed. I work with a team of other physicians and support people. I prescribe chemotherapy, which is a powerful medication to destroy cancer cells. I really get to know the patients and their families very well.
Why I do what I do Helping people is the #1 reason I do what I
do. And science is constantly evolving. There is always something to help people live better and longer. I really like the constant discovery of drugs and techniques. I’m also inspired by seeing the strength and courage of people with cancer go on with their day-to-day lives.
Advice to students I was pretty nerdy, so I didn’t get into too much trouble. But when I think about it, sometimes I struggled because I was afraid of asking questions and being successful and what that would bring. I was also afraid of failure. But when I did make mistakes, I always learned something. My advice is don’t be afraid of failure or success and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
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S T E M
A world of opportunity cience echnology ngineering
Want a career that pays well and is in high demand? Consider STEM. Professional and technical workers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math are in high demand – and 72% of those workers will need at least a bachelor’s degree. The prospects for lucrative employment and rewarding careers have never been better for Maryland graduates with strong proficiency in science and math. Maryland ranks 2nd in the nation in the percentage of its workforce in professional and technical STEM careers. What is a STEM career? One that focuses on and requires skills in science, technology, engineering or math.
ath
Here is a sampling of STEM careers: • Marine biologist • Chemical engineer • Forensic scientist • Architect • Computer programmer • High school algebra teacher • Clinical research technician • Physicist • Astronomer • Software engineer • Physical therapist • College chemistry professor • Aeronautical engineer • Bioscientist • Systems analyst • Nurse practitioner • Biological technician • Industrial ecologist • Climate change analyst • Social science research assistant • Automotive engineer • Veterinarian
High-level math and science will help you in almost every career.
something than say you wish you could have done it.
Typical day There are some weeks when school and races are going on that I don’t sleep.
Generally, I’m pretty much busy until I go to bed. But typically I spend an hour or two on my photos and then another hour or two designing frames. I also spend time e-mailing and calling people back.
Career
I work in Baltimore County
, Dont, do anything that you re not proud of.
PHOTOS BY CLARE PIET
Ryan H.
Learn how much engineers make on average
Interested in how you can combine your passion with a career? Start exploring the possibilities at BeWhatIWantToBe.com/Manufacturing.
Engineering student, Community College of Baltimore County Owner, RH Design 95S
Who or what inspired me One thing that pushed me through high school was trying to compete with my father. I had shadowed my dad in his home-building business since I was 10. His expectations were real high for me. My dad pushed me and I ran for him. It’s one of the best things that ever happened to me. After I became paralyzed from the chest down from a motorcycle race accident, I met a guy who encouraged me to work in a machine shop he owned. I pursued it and eventually it turned into my interest in engineering.
Choices and key decisions I was getting A’s and B’s in high school but
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I never really took school seriously. Junior year, everything clicked for me. I got taller and lost some weight and I was able to start talking to people more. I realized at that point that you only live once. From there I pushed at whatever I did. There’s more to life than just messing around.
What I do I’m three-quarters of the way through an engineering program at the Community College of Baltimore County. Then I’ll transfer to Johns Hopkins University or the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Right now is the peak time in my business. I take pictures of motorcycle races, design custom picture frames, fliers for the races, trophies, awards and T-shirts.
I also write for Motorcycle Racing Action magazine.
Why I do what I do I need stability. I want a career that will always be there. I also like progression. I’m never satisfied with what’s going on. I always want to progress to something bigger.
Advice to students Don’t do anything that you’re not proud of. Make sure you have good foresight so you know it’s not going to hurt you in the future. I sat back for years and didn’t go out and race because my younger brother beat me once. It’s better to go out and do
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It’s important to understand points of view and react to them. The people who do hard science need the soft skills to talk to others.
Advice to students Being persistent is very important. I’ve had students who were very skilled in mathematics but lacking in motivation and I’ve seen them fail, while others with decent skills but who were very motivated to succeed had good careers. Motivation is as important as skill. Also, being able to communicate and write clearly is more important than ever.
Typical day I get into the office around 9. Two days a week I have a lot of meetings. Generally I try to start every day by checking messages and then going to these meetings or teleconferences from the office. The other days I work on the “issue of the week,” which could be writing papers, analyzing data, doing calculations or doing peer reviews of other research. I usually have lunch in the office and leave around 5. Sometimes I work from home in the evenings or on weekends.
Motivation is as important as skill. PHOTOS BY MAXIMILIAN FRANZ
Massimo S. Who or what inspired me I was 8 years old in July of 1969 when the first man set foot on the moon. I remember watching it live, and that was a pretty important thing. I remember thinking maybe one day I’d work for NASA. I more or less followed the direction, and now my salary is paid by NASA.
Choices and key decisions I grew up in Italy and attended public schools. The most prestigious schools were classic style, with a focus on Latin and Greek. I was more interested in science and picked the science-focused curriculum. In high school I liked math, I liked astronomy and I liked physics and I wasn’t sure in
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Career
I work in Baltimore City
Learn what classes aspiring astronomers should take in high school
Learn about what classes you should take in high school to prepare on BeWhatIWantToBe.com/SpaceScience.
James Webb Space Telescope Project Scientist, Space Telescope Science Institute
which direction to go. I wound up choosing physics after high school. I went to the University of Pisa. I would get nervous taking tests and my grades suffered as a result. I decided to use a brute-force approach. I asked my professor for all the past exams — and these are big tests that we had in Italy, like five hours. I would force myself to do the old ones in two hours or three and that made me less nervous because I would have more confidence. That was the technique I used from that moment on.
What I do My job is essentially to represent the scientific community here at the institute and to represent the institute within the scientific community. We are building a new,
expensive telescope and we are trying to make it as easy as possible to make astronomers aware of what we are doing. I write a lot, reports and scientific papers. I am also an astronomer, so normally for 50 percent of my time I can do my own research in the field of distant galaxies.
Why I do what I do I like astronomy, but I’m more of a generalist. I like to know something about many things. By contributing to the construction and launch of the James Webb telescope, I’m helping other scientists to do their research. It’s almost a community service. I think I’m good at seeing a connection between the parts of a project. I’m also pretty good at working with others.
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Typical day My workday starts around 9 a.m. I check e-mail and voicemail and respond to questions from grantees, requests for grant extensions and other general e-mail questions. Occasionally I have meetings in the morning and midday and I may also have site visits. If there’s a request for an amendment to a grant, I have to review that. If it’s a grant cycle, then I’m reading grant
applications and touching base with project directors to make revisions. The middle part of the day I’m doing a lot of technical assistance, meetings and program planning. Toward the end of my day I’m able to focus on writing reports and budget overviews. Before I leave I’ll take a look at my to-do list and see what I was able to get done and then plan for the next day. I leave work around 6:30 p.m.
Career
I work all over Maryland
Build a relationship with your ,teachers because youre going to need recommendations. PHOTOS BY RICH DENNISON
Takeia B.
Find out what it takes at BeWhatIWantToBe.com/ CollegeAccess.
CPIP/GEAR UP Coordinator, Maryland Higher Education Commission, Office of Grants
Who or what inspired me My college psychology professor took an interest in what I wanted to do with my psychology degree. When I told him that I wanted to go to graduate school, he asked me to work on a research project with him. I presented it at the American Psychological Association. Also, my parents, neither of whom had college degrees, encouraged me to go to school and do well.
Choices and key decisions I hate public speaking. But a lot of what I do for my job requires public speaking. I have to do lots of preparation in order to get over that fear. I drive people around me crazy making sure I’m well prepared by
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You can go to college.
practicing often. As I’ve gotten older and become more sure of myself professionally, I’ve gotten more comfortable.
What I do I oversee the administration of the GEAR UP grants program, which provides early intervention services for low-income students to prepare them to enter and succeed in college. I write requests for applications and I release those to institutions of higher education. I also convene a review panel and then make determinations for projects. I also provide technical assistance to grantees who have been awarded funds and those who haven’t received awards yet. I also write reports about what’s going on with the program and oversee the pro-
gram’s budget.
Why I do what I do I really do believe in this work. It feels great to be part of a program that will give underrepresented students support. There is a sense of satisfaction that they are benefiting and able to go to college because of the work I’m doing.
Advice to students Students should take advantage of as many opportunities as they can. Also, really building a relationship with their teachers is important because they’re going to need recommendations. That is something that really helped me in high school and college.
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nurses, and research nursing is a small branch on a large tree that is nursing. I would recommend to any young person to consider nursing as a career. You’ll always have a job, and you can sleep at night. You know that you’re actually helping people.
Typical day I usually work from about 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. I wear street clothes and a white lab coat. I don’t wear scrubs. I have my own exam room, my own computer and a research assistant who sets up the appointments. We now have more than 700 patients and want to get to 1,500.
Career
I work in Baltimore City
Consider nursing, as a career — you ll always have a job, and you can sleep at night. PHOTOS BY RICH DENNISON
Emily S.
Do you like to help others and think Emily's job might be right for you? Start taking the right classes now and find out what those should be at BeWhatIWantToBe.com/Health.
Nurse, Johns Hopkins Hospital
Who or what inspired me I went to Dundalk High School and graduated in 1990, then went to Loyola College. My mother had high hopes for me. She really pushed me and helped me fill out my financial aid forms. Once I was at Loyola, I was able to travel. I spent a year and a half studying in Belgium and Thailand. In Thailand, I saw many people in dire situations and I just knew international work would be a part of my life.
Choices and key decisions Back in the ’90s I was working as a research assistant with Planned Parenthood of Maryland. There was a
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Find out how to become a nurse
nurse practitioner there who was a role model for me. She was able to touch the lives of so many patients. I had been thinking about becoming a doctor, but I saw that being a nurse practitioner opened more avenues.
track them during five visits over the course of two years. We are looking for markers that could indicate the presence of the virus that causes HPV. A single Pap smear in a lifetime can reduce mortality rates.
What I do
Why I do what I do
The School of Public Health received a grant from the National Cancer Institute to study HPV (human papillomavirus) infections in women between the ages of 35 and 60. I work primarily in the outpatient center and am responsible for day-to-day operations and site responsibilities. I recruit participants that fit our criteria, and examine patients and collect specimens and
I love nursing because it provides so many opportunities. A few years ago, I was able to provide medical relief to the tsunami victims in Indonesia as a volunteer from Hopkins. I also love to educate and empower women.
Advice to students There is always going to be a need for
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see is that people feel empowered. The win is that they have a voice and some control over their lives.
Advice to students My first piece of advice would be that if you’re thinking you might want to be a lawyer, do not take a pre-law track in college. Earn an undergraduate degree in something that speaks to your interest, such as art, science or humanities. Learn about critical thinking and writing through that degree. But if there’s one class to take, it’s a math logic class. What makes a good lawyer is someone who is
well-read and who can think critically.
Typical day About half my time is spent directly representing clients and half is spent thinking globally about issues. I spend about half my time on the phone or with clients at a hearing, figuring out exactly what rights a client has or doing legal research. The other half is spent doing more critical research and writing, thinking about bigger cases to bring, thinking about larger issues affecting clients and doing research on those issues.
Earn an undergraduate degree in something that speaks to your interests. PHOTOS BY MAXIMILIAN FRANZ
S arah R Sarah R..
I work in Baltimore County & City
Read about others in the legal profession
Do you want to be a lawyer? Find out what it takes at BeWhatIWantToBe.com/Law.
L awyer, D isability L aw C enter Lawyer, Disability Law Center
Who or what inspired me I grew up on a farm in rural Pennsylvania and was concerned about poverty. I did volunteer work in Philadelphia and in my community. In high school, I was thinking more globally than locally, thinking about the Peace Corps and about volunteering in other countries. I wasn’t thinking quite as locally as I am now. I went to Temple University, but I didn’t think I would be a lawyer. I was thinking about community justice and poverty issues. But I realized it was lawyers who were guiding the work of community groups, thinking differently and critically about the populations I was concerned about.
Choices and key decisions I did go to a rural, poor high school. There
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Career
weren’t a whole lot of college-track classes, so when I went to college the obstacle I had to overcome was figuring out what I was missing. I had a lot of learning to catch up on. That was difficult because I went from being a big fish in a small pond to being a small fish in a very big pond. It was a humbling experience. I had to take some entrylevel college classes to catch up. Also, spelling has always been a huge problem for me and it continues to be a problem. That’s something I’m constantly working on.
What I do I just left a job at the Homeless Persons Representation Project and now work at the Disability Law Center. Both are nonprofit, public-interest law offices. I cur-
rently focus mostly on representing homeless individuals who have been homeless for a year or more and typically have mental health issues. I’m really interested in the connection between the criminal justice system and psychiatric institutions.
Why I do what I do Every day I see the joy and the sorrow of our society and that’s what keeps me going to work. I see individuals who really are struggling and often have huge barriers to overcome. As a lawyer, I am able to help with only a small part of someone’s struggle, but I am able to see from the start to the end of a case the difference in someone’s life. Often, with individuals who are homeless, the joy I
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 83 |
for the day. The tasks always vary. They usually range from design work, fabrication of one of my designs, or analysis and testing of something that I have designed. Often my tasks involve exchanging technical information with one of my colleagues in order to solve a
problem. 1 p.m.: Return from lunch and continue my morning activities or prepare for an afternoon meeting. 4 p.m.: Begin to wind down my day and make notes to prepare for the next day. 7 p.m.: Work at home or exercise.
Career
I work in Prince George’s County
Do not let anyone, including yourself, set limits on what you can achieve.
PHOTOS BY RICH DENNISON
Noble J.
Set your career plan at BeWhatIWantToBe.com.
Aerospace Engineer, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Who or what inspired me My grandmother inspired me growing up. She had an unbelievably strong work ethic and an even stronger spiritual foundation. I am very certain that my childhood summers spent working with her on the farm have helped to shape me into the person I am today. I’ve always had an interest in engineering and my parents nurtured that interest. They helped to plant the seeds of engineering in my life.
Choices and key decisions I chose to participate in an engineering summer internship program my final two years of college instead of the summer strength and conditioning program for
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Having a back up plan for a sports career is a great idea.
football. I knew that there was a bigger picture to life than football and I needed to make the right decisions to ensure a bright future. During my senior year, at the conclusion of my summer internship with NASA, I was offered a job to come back for full-time employment.
What I do I enjoy working with cutting-edge technology and am proud to work with such talented people. But the thing I enjoy the most about my job is the feeling of accomplishment I get in knowing that the fruits of my labor have helped to advance mankind’s knowledge of the universe and mankind’s place in the universe.
Advice to students Do not succumb to peer pressure. I’ve grown to learn that there is no such thing as peer pressure if you don’t allow someone else’s perception of you to affect your actions. If you find that your peers influence you to do things against your moral judgment or cause you to not achieve your goals, then you need to remove those peers from your life. Do not let anyone, including yourself, set limits on what you can achieve.
Typical day 7 a.m.: Wake up, shower and eat breakfast. 9 a.m.: Check my e-mail or voicemail and prioritize what tasks need to be completed
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 85 |
even in the bitter cold or sweltering heat, we’re still working outside.
Typical day 6 a.m.: Wake up, get to work. Check email, gather and check field equipment. 7 a.m.: Travel to our stations via van and/or boat and begin collecting water samples. 1 p.m.: Continue collecting water sam-
ples. Explain what we are looking for/finding to citizens. Eat lunch between collecting samples. 4 p.m.: Arrive back at the office and put away equipment and samples. Prepare equipment needed for the next day in the field. 7 p.m.: Go to volleyball/softball game, gym or park. Fix dinner and watch TV or read.
, Its OK to be wrong sometimes, as long as you learn from your mistakes.
PHOTOS BY RICH DENNISON
Stephanie T. Who or what inspired me My professors inspired me to become a scientist. Their passion about their research drew me into loving fieldwork and the problem-solving nature of research.
Choices and key decisions I’ve always done well in school, but I was so introverted as a child that I wouldn’t raise my hand for fear of being wrong and embarrassed. I eventually learned it’s OK to be wrong sometimes as long as you learn from your mistakes. Schoolwork always came pretty easily to me, until college. Then I had a tough time balancing my coursework with other obligations. I had to maintain a 3.5 GPA to keep my
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Career
I work in counties that surround the Bay
Learn more about how green careers help the environment
Learn about professional opportunities that might be right for you and help you discover your passion at BeWhatIWantToBe.com/Green.
Natural Resources Biologist, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
scholarships while taking very demanding biology classes. In addition, I worked long days doing fieldwork and had to find time to work in the laboratory. Jumping on professional opportunities proved critical to my career. During college, I applied for a job with the St. Mary’s River Project, a job that entailed hiking through streams and boating to sample water quality. When I got called for an interview, I was on my way home for spring break. I immediately turned around, interviewed and landed the job. Pursuing that experience definitely helped me get the job I have now.
What I do I am a scientist for the Maryland
Department of Natural Resources. My office monitors water quality throughout Maryland, testing the health of the Chesapeake Bay, its tributaries, coastal bays and streams. I help prepare equipment used to take water-quality readings, obtain and process water samples and analyze water-quality data.
Why I do what I do I’m lucky to have a job that allows me to combine my passion of helping to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay with my love of the outdoors. I’m much happier out in the field than sitting in an office. The best part of my job is the time I spend on gorgeous sunny days collecting water samples. The worst part of my job is that
BEWHATIWANTTOBE.COM| 87 |
with all the body image issues and living with a disability. But I had to overcome all of that. I had to identify my gifts and talents. Realize that it’s up to us as individuals to advocate for ourselves. It’s your ability that matters, not your disability.
Typical day Today I got up at 6 a.m., had breakfast and by 7 a.m. I was at a big national convention center setting up for a trade show. I was meeting and greet-
ing the public by 9 a.m. Lunch is sometimes at 2 or 3 in the afternoon. Throughout the day I’m making telephone calls to headquarters and to event coordinators across the nation to keep the momentum going and to coordinate all the moving parts. By the end of the day we’re doing debriefings, tearing down of events and exhibits and doing a wrap-up. By 8 or 9 at night we’re getting on the next plane, train or automobile to get to the next event.
, Its up to us as individuals to advocate , for ourselves. Its your ability that matters, not your disability. PHOTOS BY RICH DENNISON
Juliette R.
I work in Montgomery & Prince Georges’s counties
Find out how to get Juliette R.'s job
Explore opportunities for your education at BeWhatIWantToBe.com/Education.
Director, Exhibits and Agency-Wide Outreach, U.S. Department of Education
Who or what inspired me
Choices and key decisions
I grew up with disabilities. I aspired to do a lot of things, but I ran into obstacles. I wanted to be a doctor or lawyer, but I couldn’t participate in a lot of things. During my transition from high school to college I had this bright idea to be a journalist. My greatest mentor arrived when I was in college as I was trying to pass a typing test. I was having trouble because of my arthritis. He asked me to come into the journalism department even though I couldn’t pass the test. He believed in me and was my greatest mentor — and he did not lessen or lower expectations for me. I ended up being a very good one-finger typist.
I had to realize that the three different diagnoses that I had were not a death sentence. I had to change my philosophy from living to die to dying to live. Once I flipped that switch I realized that anything was possible.
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Career
What I do I’m a public servant at the U.S. Department of Education. I oversee the development, management and implementation of a strategic national outreach program that explains and promotes the education policies and initiatives of the education secretary and the president; I also educate the public about education opportunities. In
addition, I direct the U.S. Department of Education’s agency outreach team, whose mission is to ensure that everyone across the department is informed of the department’s current message.
Why I do what I do My job gives me an opportunity to share what I’ve learned about education with the public, including young people with disabilities. Each day affords me the opportunity to change someone’s life by offering them the opportunity of an education.
Advice to students It was hard for me to believe in myself
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The other thing that I really enjoy is the interaction I have with the patients. There’s no feeling better than seeing someone who came in sick get better.
Advice to students Be happy in what you do. The way we gain happiness is feeling good about ourselves. The way we do that is by helping others. The job could be any job but the goal is to help others.
Typical day It varies. Some days I go into the ER at 7 a.m. and some days I go in at 7 p.m. In either case I work 12 hours from the time I start. On days that I’m in the ER, my day is filled with nonstop action. The teaching days are much more laidback. I spend more time sitting down, explaining things, going over lectures. And then there are days that I’m doing administrative stuff, working on a proposal and spending a lot of time typing.
Career
I work in Baltimore City & County
Be happy in what you do. PHOTOS BY MAXIMILIAN FRANZ
Sheila H.
What does it take to become a pediatrician? Find out at BeWhatIWantToBe.com/Health.
Pediatrician, Saint Agnes Hospital; Instructor, Johns Hopkins University
Who or what inspired me I had a fantastic advisor when I was in college. I didn’t know what I wanted to do in high school, but my college advisor felt that I had a good understanding of science. He thought I should pursue a career in health. At first I was timid, but his encouragement helped me pursue it.
Choices and key decisions I came to the United States at 14. My family and I left Iran to escape religious persecution. It took us two years to get here while we waited for the paperwork to be completed to come to the United States. During that time I skipped seventh and eighth grades. When I got here I was auto-
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matically put into ninth grade. For two or three years I struggled with the language. I used a dictionary and a prayer book to get through the difficult time in my life. I started off in English as a Second Language in ninth grade and moved to regular English in 10th grade. Then I ended up in honors English. I spent four hours every day after school studying. In Iran, there’s an expression: From your cradle until your grave, always seek knowledge. That was one of my goals even as a high school student. I was able to graduate from high school as valedictorian and then I went to college with a full scholarship.
What I do I’m an attending physician for pediatric
patients at Saint Agnes Hospital, where I also work in the ER. In addition, I am an instructor of pediatrics teaching residents for Johns Hopkins Hospital. I give lectures, and I supervise them as they take care of pediatric patients. A smaller part of my job is organizing weekly lectures for the other physicians. I also teach the pediatric residents to be better communicators.
Why I do what I do It’s very fulfilling to educate other people. It’s very gratifying to see someone else learn the things I’ve worked hard to learn and master. I really enjoy teaching medical students who are just learning to be doctors to be good communicators.
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Hrabowski often tells us to dream big, and then write down the steps to do it. I think that’s the issue. Students know what they want to do but they don’t know the steps to do it. I really think that solving the problems of education and solving the achievement gap will solve many other societal problems. I think it will help America come back on top again.
Advice to students Have a plan and ask yourself how you are going to do it. Never forget that you
should always be giving back to your community, and always think about your character. Your character is who you are, what you do when nobody else is watching. It’s your character that will determine if you get a scholarship or job.
Typical day Right now I’m lifeguarding and working as a consultant for the Baltimore County public schools in the Office of Equity and Assurance. My day starts at 5:45 a.m. I normally go for a run in the morning.
, Im not content watching life pass me by. PHOTOS BY MAXIMILIAN FRANZ
Gabrielle W. Who or what inspired me It’s always been my family. We all have a passion for education. Everyone is a teacher. When I was in high school, I applied for and became a student member of the Baltimore County Board of Education.
Choices and key decisions I graduated from UMBC as a political science major. I had received a Walter Sondheim Public Affairs Scholarship for a full ride. I will be attending the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in the fall, for a two-year degree in public policy. Part of the Sondheim scholarship was doing a year of service
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Career
I work in Baltimore County
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Educator, UMBC Graduate, Harvard Student
learning. I worked with students in West Baltimore Middle School and North Bend Elementary. I also received a scholarship to attend the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan the summer after my junior year. I took three semesters of graduate-level microeconomics and three semesters’ worth of calculus in seven weeks. We visited Flint and Detroit, which were really transformative experiences, seeing the poverty there. I realized that I wanted to come back to Maryland when I finished school and be the person to find the education solution for Baltimore, to find a concept that could be replicated.
What I do I proposed to Baltimore County schools
superintendent Dr. Joe Hairston that we visit underperforming high schools in the county to talk to average students about what motivates them and what holds them back. Just the two of us visited 10 schools. It was really powerful to hear students say that they knew they could be successful in an honors class but that they were content to sit in a standard class because they didn’t want to do their homework. After our meetings we would sit with the principals and Dr. Hairston would discuss what courses could be eliminated. Actual changes were made.
Why I do what I do I’m not content watching life pass me by. UMBC President Dr. Freeman
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about what you want to do. When I had a fear of public speaking, I was open about it to my teachers. In my heart, I wanted to overcome this fear.
Typical day I get up at 6:30 a.m. and read the newspapers, so I am up to date with the latest fraud investigations. I handle two to three cases at a time, with one to 20 peo-
ple working on each case. At the office, I meet with the project manager of each case. I talk to my clients every day, telling them what work has been done and getting instructions about what they need. I meet with the staff and write reports to give to the client. Everything is precise and well-documented. If there is a legal process, I sometimes help to interview people on matters related to fraud.
Career
I work in Montgomery County
Talk to your parents and teachers about what you want to do.
PHOTOS BY RICH DENNISON
Sachin V.
Find out more about the money mysteries accountants solve at BeWhatIWantToBe.com/Finance.
Forensic Accountant, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP
Who or what inspired me I was inspired by my sister’s father-in-law, a chartered accountant in India and an example of excellence and achievement. The other person who inspired me is a partner from my office with whom I’ve worked for 10 years. He is dedicated to his work, to completing the job properly. In school, I had a real fear of public speaking. I explained my fear to my teachers, who gave me assignments to overcome it. Now in business, I have to deal with the staff, I have to give presentations to clients.
Choices and key decisions Initially, I wanted to be a physician. I completed one year and I did not like it. I spoke
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to several people who knew me — relatives, friends, teachers — about what I liked and didn’t like. I came to the conclusion to go into accounting. You have to be math-minded. You have to be precise and love numbers, and you have to love business, the commercial world.
What I do I was working as an auditor when I was given a special assignment involving an investigation. I loved it. Forensic accountants try to find accounting fraud, and they try to resolve disputes over business transactions. It’s like being a detective and the numbers are the clues. Things are supposed to make sense but they don’t. My job is to find the missing clues. There are no require-
ments for this specialty, no formal training. You need to work for someone who works as a forensic accountant and learn on the job.
Why I do what I do Forensic accounting is not a mainstream field — 95 percent of the time, things are right. It’s only when they aren’t that I get involved. Either someone has done something wrong and tries to hide it or they don’t have enough resources and end up being sloppy. I find it fulfilling to use my ability to solve complex problems and to resolve disputes.
Advice to students My advice is to talk to parents and teachers
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Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. — Helen Keller
Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking. — William B. Sprague
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