"How Did You Get That Job?!" is a series of interviews with professionals who have parlayed their university degrees and unique skill sets into successful careers.
Each featured guest will explain, in his or her own words, how they chose a course of study, how their professional interests evolved over time, and provide informed advice for students still trying to discern their academic and professional paths.
Ashley Looker:
Holistic HEalth Counselor & Coach
I attribute most of my success to honoring myself and listening to what I thought was best for me and my loved ones. Oh, and a lot of hard work! Being an entrepreneur in the health and wellness field is not the easiest job in the world, but it is in alignment with my values in life which are: positive influence, originality, happiness, growth, and abundance.
1. Where and what did you study in school and how did you pick your major?
When I got accepted at Pacific Lutheran University, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do: I had full intentions of doing a year of prerequisites and applying to nursing school. However, after a year of nursing 101, statistics, biology and a plethora of chemistry classes, I was already burned out and getting a gut feeling maybe nursing wasn't for me. In the meantime, it became even more clear that I was really enjoying the psychology classes I was taking (and I was getting good grades in them!). I was fascinated with human behavior and once I started thinking about a career in psychology and what exactly that would look like, I immediately knew it was the right path for me.
When you pick a major, put yourself there, mentally and physically. Get to know the field so you can get an understanding of what life in that field would look like for you.
2. Did you know what you wanted to be when you were in college / grad school? If so, did this change over time? If not, did you take any measures to discern what career you wanted to pursue?
I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do when I entered PLU. But the truth is, I had no experience in the health field aside from some randomly accumulated volunteer hours at the hospital children's unit. It's so important to acknowledge not only what interests you, but what you are passionate about, and interview people in that field. If you love painting or writing, interview artists or local authors; if you love building or designing, volunteer for an engineer or architect. One major may sound incredibly interesting until you get waist deep into it. And if you really aren't sure what you are passionate about, start taking some interesting classes at your local community college. I know I would have saved my parents some money by doing this initially! This is often the smartest thing you can do, especially if you are unsure what you want to do. Your major and your career is not something that should be taken lightly; enjoyment and fulfillment should be your goals.
3. How did you find your way to your current career?
When I graduated from PLU with my Bachelor's of Science in Psychology I entered the counseling realm almost immediately (after a two month stint in Europe!). I spent about 6 years working with underprivileged populations, which was an amazingly rewarding experience. However, it was also incredibly heart-wrenching. I loved it, but I was having a hard time "leaving work at work." Again, I had to listen to my gut, which was telling me it was time for a change.
I knew I wanted to be in the helping/counseling field but I didn't know what that would look like. I began doing a lot of journaling and meditation to get to the root of what my mission was in life, as well as what I was most passionate about. It didn't take long to realize it was health and wellness. The signs were there all along: I spent most of my free time exploring food and recipes, and exercised every single day. I loved it. It made me happy and I looked forward to it everyday. It took a lot of guts to leave my "reliable" career as a counselor, but money and reliability were not what I valued in a career...
4. What do you attribute to your success (can be a personal characteristic, supportive person(s), tool or skill set, etc.)?
I attribute most of my success to honoring myself and listening to what I thought was best for me and my loved ones. Oh, and a lot of hard work! Being an entrepreneur in the health and wellness field is not the easiest job in the world, but it is in alignment with my values in life which are: positive influence, originality, happiness, growth, and abundance.
Being an entrepreneur, it is also incredibly important to create a strong support system around you. I encourage you to ask yourself "what are the values I want to live out in my career?" It's also important to understand what you are innately good at. This makes choosing your major and your career so fulfilling when you are flowing in the stream of what you are naturally good at. If you are living a life in alignment with your values, your passions and what you are innately good at, you will be successful no matter what.
5. What do you suggest for students interested in pursuing a career in your field?
We need more educated, motivated and inspiring people in the health and wellness field! If this field is something you are interested in, I suggest getting out there and getting your hands dirty. Job shadow someone, volunteer, ask questions. You must understand what your experience in this field could potentially be like and if it is something you could see yourself doing for the rest of your life. Do your research. Again, explore what motivates you and makes you happy, that is the clearest path to where you want to go.
My advice to any student entering college is to do what is right for you, not what others expect of you. If you want to be a paleontologist but heard it doesn't make money, who cares? If you will be happy doing this, that is worth all the money in the world. The last advice I have is to have fun! Yes, you will work your butt off in college but your college years are also prime years to travel, explore personal growth, and challenge yourself. Be brave and be true to yourself! Good luck!
When I got accepted at Pacific Lutheran University, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do: I had full intentions of doing a year of prerequisites and applying to nursing school. However, after a year of nursing 101, statistics, biology and a plethora of chemistry classes, I was already burned out and getting a gut feeling maybe nursing wasn't for me. In the meantime, it became even more clear that I was really enjoying the psychology classes I was taking (and I was getting good grades in them!). I was fascinated with human behavior and once I started thinking about a career in psychology and what exactly that would look like, I immediately knew it was the right path for me.
When you pick a major, put yourself there, mentally and physically. Get to know the field so you can get an understanding of what life in that field would look like for you.
2. Did you know what you wanted to be when you were in college / grad school? If so, did this change over time? If not, did you take any measures to discern what career you wanted to pursue?
I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do when I entered PLU. But the truth is, I had no experience in the health field aside from some randomly accumulated volunteer hours at the hospital children's unit. It's so important to acknowledge not only what interests you, but what you are passionate about, and interview people in that field. If you love painting or writing, interview artists or local authors; if you love building or designing, volunteer for an engineer or architect. One major may sound incredibly interesting until you get waist deep into it. And if you really aren't sure what you are passionate about, start taking some interesting classes at your local community college. I know I would have saved my parents some money by doing this initially! This is often the smartest thing you can do, especially if you are unsure what you want to do. Your major and your career is not something that should be taken lightly; enjoyment and fulfillment should be your goals.
3. How did you find your way to your current career?
When I graduated from PLU with my Bachelor's of Science in Psychology I entered the counseling realm almost immediately (after a two month stint in Europe!). I spent about 6 years working with underprivileged populations, which was an amazingly rewarding experience. However, it was also incredibly heart-wrenching. I loved it, but I was having a hard time "leaving work at work." Again, I had to listen to my gut, which was telling me it was time for a change.
I knew I wanted to be in the helping/counseling field but I didn't know what that would look like. I began doing a lot of journaling and meditation to get to the root of what my mission was in life, as well as what I was most passionate about. It didn't take long to realize it was health and wellness. The signs were there all along: I spent most of my free time exploring food and recipes, and exercised every single day. I loved it. It made me happy and I looked forward to it everyday. It took a lot of guts to leave my "reliable" career as a counselor, but money and reliability were not what I valued in a career...
4. What do you attribute to your success (can be a personal characteristic, supportive person(s), tool or skill set, etc.)?
I attribute most of my success to honoring myself and listening to what I thought was best for me and my loved ones. Oh, and a lot of hard work! Being an entrepreneur in the health and wellness field is not the easiest job in the world, but it is in alignment with my values in life which are: positive influence, originality, happiness, growth, and abundance.
Being an entrepreneur, it is also incredibly important to create a strong support system around you. I encourage you to ask yourself "what are the values I want to live out in my career?" It's also important to understand what you are innately good at. This makes choosing your major and your career so fulfilling when you are flowing in the stream of what you are naturally good at. If you are living a life in alignment with your values, your passions and what you are innately good at, you will be successful no matter what.
5. What do you suggest for students interested in pursuing a career in your field?
We need more educated, motivated and inspiring people in the health and wellness field! If this field is something you are interested in, I suggest getting out there and getting your hands dirty. Job shadow someone, volunteer, ask questions. You must understand what your experience in this field could potentially be like and if it is something you could see yourself doing for the rest of your life. Do your research. Again, explore what motivates you and makes you happy, that is the clearest path to where you want to go.
My advice to any student entering college is to do what is right for you, not what others expect of you. If you want to be a paleontologist but heard it doesn't make money, who cares? If you will be happy doing this, that is worth all the money in the world. The last advice I have is to have fun! Yes, you will work your butt off in college but your college years are also prime years to travel, explore personal growth, and challenge yourself. Be brave and be true to yourself! Good luck!
Thanks, Ashley!
You can find out more about Ashley's work and reach her at:
E: [email protected]
W: http://www.uniqueholistichappiness.com
F: https://www.facebook.com/UniqueHolisticHappiness
T: @ashley_looker
You can find out more about Ashley's work and reach her at:
E: [email protected]
W: http://www.uniqueholistichappiness.com
F: https://www.facebook.com/UniqueHolisticHappiness
T: @ashley_looker
If you are a professional (or training for a specific profession) and want to share your story with students, email me at [email protected]. I am always looking for new people to feature!
