2013-14 Be What I Want To Be Magazine

.COM

BE WHAT

TO BEI WANT

Volume 10 2013-2014

222

High SchoolCourses matter 4

Maryland scholars 6Setting goals 8

Scholar interview 9Cost of living 10

Counting down 12After school 14

CollegeSix degrees 16

Education pays 18College tuition 20

Paying for college 22Campus visit 24

CareerResumés 28

Growing industries 30

ProfilesBegin on 32

What does being college and career ready mean?As those terms are used more frequently in education circles, today’s students — more

accustomed to updating their Facebook statuses than their résumés — could be left feeling con-fused and overwhelmed about the prospects of graduating from high school, moving on to collegeand selecting a career.

In this magazine, The Daily Record, in partnership with the Maryland Business Roundtablefor Education, has for the 10th year provided an honest look into what students can expect afterhigh school. The magazine also serves as a resource for soon-to-be graduates, detailing the coursesand other requirements necessary to get into a college of their choice, set realistic goals and understand the cost of living away from home.

Much of the current buzz is about careers in science, technology, engineering and math, alsoknown as STEM. The focus on STEM is shared in education and business circles alike. And President Barack Obama recently established the goals of improving U.S. students’ achievement

in science and math in the next decade, as well as training 100,000 new STEM teachers.The best advice I can give you is to do what you love, always work hard and follow your heart. Don’t let anyone tell you that

you cannot achieve something. Through focus, perseverance and making the right choices can you control your future.Right now, while you are still in high school, take the time to commit to the tasks necessary so that you are successful in school.

Get involved in an extracurricular activity that interests you. Pick issues that are important to you and learn everything you canabout both sides of them. Volunteer for a nonprofit to make a difference. Finally, listen to those around you — not negative influences, but the people who truly care about you. If you learn from others’ experiences and open your mind to opportunities,you will find yourself on a path that will lead to success, personal fulfillment and happiness.

We all define success differently, but I believe career success is doing what you are passionate about, having a positive impacton others and taking a stand for what you believe in. If you follow that advice, you will find success in whatever path you chooseto take after high school.

Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, Publisher, The Daily Record

Biotechnology Energy Health Care Law Government

Aerospace Engineering Bioscience Earth Science Education Technology Business

Space ScienceFinanceTransportationCyber SecurityHospitalityInformation TechnologySports

Be What I Want to Be is produced by The Daily Record for the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education.

Contributing writer: Gina Gallucci-WhiteContributing photographers: Maximilian Franz, Steve Ruark

How to reach us | The Daily RecordSubscriptions 1.800.451.9998 | News 410.752.3849 | Advertising 410.752.3849 | Reprints 443.524.8141

TheDailyRecord.com [email protected]

THE VALUE OF LEARNING MAKES

US ALL GROW.

Northrop Grumman believes in

supporting science and technology

through education. Because when you

give in the classroom, the whole world

benefits.

THE VALUE OF PERFORMANCE.

www.nor thropgrumman.com

©2013 N

orthrop G

rumman

Corporation

BeWhatIWantToBe.com |1|

THE DAILY RECORD STAFFSuzanne E. Fischer-Huettner | Publisher

Maria Kelly | Comptroller

David Simon| Editor

Erin Cunningham| Special Products Editor

Gail Clough | Director of Business Development

Jennifer Kim | Graphic Designer

125 YEARS

CE LEBRAT I NG

1888 - 2013

HighHighSchoolSchool

QR codes in 3 simple steps

ONESee a code.

TWOScan a code.

THREECheck out fun facts on

BeWhatIWantToBe.com.

BeWhatIWantToBe.com |3||2| BeWhatIWantToBe.com

QR codes in 3

ONESee a code.

The incredible value of education.www.ccbcmd.edu

Start College Now!It’s never too soon to start thinking about your

future. The Community College of Baltimore

County offers high school students the opportunity

to get a jump start on their college education and

career training with our Parallel Enrollment Program

(PEP). Juniors and Seniors can enroll in college courses while still in high school. Talk to your

parents and guidance counselors to see how you

can start getting ready now.

Find out more about CCBC!Visit www.ccbcmd.edu/requestinfo to learn more.

TEACHER? LAWYER? ENGINEER? NURSE?

THINK OF EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER WANTED TO DO.

NOW DO IT. Undergraduate Admission: 410.837.4777

ubalt.edu/go

You've got big ideas. Make them happen at the University of Baltimore.

Find friends. Find your passions. Find yourself. At UB,

you’re part of a diverse but close-knit community

where professors know your name and where you’ll do

amazing things.

Our campus is located in the heart of UB Midtown,

just steps from the best culture, entertainment, and

shopping in Baltimore. It’s the ideal blend of school life

and real life—and a perfect place to discover what

you're all about.

YOU’VE EVER WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU’’VVVVVVVVVVEEEEE EEEVVVVEEEEEEERRRRR WWWWWWAAAA ANTED TO DO.ANNNNNNTTTTTEEEEDDDDDD TTTTOOOOOO DDDDDOOOOOOOOOOO.....


Courses matter ... Choices matterWhat you do in your four years of high school

is important to having a successful future.Colleges and employers ask for high school transcripts because they want to know:

You want your transcript to shout to all of those questions.

Did you take challenging courses?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?

❏

❏

❏

❏

❏

❏

YES!

Be honest, who would you hire?

❏ The Maryland Scholar with above average grades.❏ The student with below average grades and poor attendance.

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,

I’m the one you want!

That’s the minimum number of

math units required for freshmen entering

University System of Maryland (USM)

universities, beginning with students who

entered ninth grade in fall 2011.

Want to learn more?Visit USM's Way2GoMaryland campaign

to order your free grade-by-grade

Chart Your Path To College poster.


ARE YOU ON TRACK TO BE COLLEGE AND CAREER READY?

If you scored 14 points or higher: Congratulations! Youare well on your way to being college/career ready. You willlikely complete all the right courses to get a good job withbenefits, succeed in college AND qualify for scholarshipsand grants to help pay for college. Studies have shown thathigh school graduates who have completed higher levels ofmath and science classes, come to class on time, and get involved in volunteer and school activities have earned $1million more over their lifetime than those who did not.Talk with your school counselor about taking Honors andAP classes, and begin researching colleges you are interestedin to make sure you know what they require from you.

If you scored between 7 – 13 points: With some effort,you could become college/career ready. At a minimum,make sure you take and complete Algebra 2, Chemistry,Physics and at least 2 years of the same world language dur-

ing high school. By completing these courses in high school,you will be twice as likely to graduate from college and earn13% more in wages a year! Meet with your school counselorat least one time each year to make sure you’re on track withyour courses. Also consider joining clubs/activities/sportsoffered at school and in your community. Colleges and em-ployers want to know that you are involved in your schoolcommunity and getting involved can also help you accessmoney to pay for college through scholarships and grants.

If you scored 6 points or less: You have the potential tobe college/career ready but you will need to step up yourgame. Employers say that high school graduates that theyhire need the same skills and knowledge that colleges re-quire of incoming freshman! Talk to your family and schoolcounselor. They will help you get – and stay – on the righttrack. Now’s the time to start taking control of your future.

Put a check in the box for each item that best describes you and your plans.

Get A’s and B’s in my classes

I show up to class on time

I do more than expected of me in class

I plan to take high levels of math and science

I know what I need to do to qualify for scholarships and grants

I plan to learn a world language in highschool

I am/plan to get involved in extracurricularactivities

❏ Mostly True❏ Sometimes True❏ Not True1

2

3

❏ Mostly True❏ Sometimes True❏ Not True

I currently/plan to volunteer in my community

I am careful about what I post on social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

I know what I want to do after high school









4

5

6

7

8

9

10KEY

Mostly True = 2 points ____PointsSometimes True = 1 point ____PointsNot True = 0 points ____Points

_____Total

Maryland Scholar Courses

4 credits of English4 credits of Math (including Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2)3 credits of Lab Science ( Biology, Chemistry, Physics**)3 credits of Social Science (U.S. History, World History, Government)2 credits of the same World Language

Students must attain a 3.0 GPA to qualify.Courses highlighted in yellow are beyond state graduation requirements.** A 3rd lab science may be substituted for Physics

Which courses have you completed? Which courses do you need?

English

Math

Science

Social Studies

World Language

Middle School* Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior

*Received high school credit during middle school

STUDY NOW,SUCCEED LATER

Picture yourself just 10 years from now. Imagine designing unmanned aircraft that are used by the U.S. Army every single day. Or building small, high-tech boats that can accomplish even the toughest and most dangerous missions, with no crew onboard. AAI’s employees do all this, and so much more. With the right education and skills, there’s no limit to what you can accomplish.

www.aaicorp.com EOE M/F D/V

© 2012 AAI Corporation. All rights reserved. AAI is an

operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc.

(NYSE: TXT) company. AAI and design is a registered

trademark of AAI Corporation.

|6| BeWhatIWantToBe.com

SO NOW WHAT? BECOME A MARYLAND SCHOLAR!Whether your goal is to go to college, the military or get a job after graduation, getting the bestpossible foundation in high school is essential! You don’t have to know what you want to do afterhigh school right now; however, taking the right courses now will allow you to follow any path youchoose later on. Being a Maryland Scholar will help you:• Get a good job that pays more • Succeed in college-level courses• Qualify for scholarships and/or grants to help you pay for college tuition

NEXT STEPS:Be sure to create a “SMART” goal on the next page. See your counselor to make sure you are on track.

By taking these courses, you will increase your chances of being admitted to any college you choose, instate or out of state.


I think goals should never be easy, theyshould force you to work, even if they areuncomfortable at the time.

— Michael Phelps

______________________________________’s Goal WorksheetMy goals are I will do the following to

help me reach my goalI will reach my goal by (date)

Towson University’s Debate Team is ranked one of America’s top 25 in national competitions.

You can’t argue with that.

www.towson.edu

Great Expectations. Realized.

A goal is what you aim for, or strive to accomplish.Why set goals?Setting goals for yourself lets you get more out of life by deciding who youwant to be and what you want to do. It is not just a process to identify yourdreams, but it helps you achieve them.

How do you set a goal?Make it SMART!• Be SPECIFIC: what is it that you would

like to accomplish?• How will you MEASURE your success?• Is it ACHIEVABLE? What actions will

you take?• Set REALISTIC results that you hope to

see.• And how much TIME will you give your-

self to reach the goal?

Within the next 3 – 5 days…• Share your goals with a teacher, school

counselor and/or parent/guardian so theycan help support you.

• Go to www.BeWhatIWantToBe.com, cre-ate an account and enter your goals.

Within the next 2 weeks…• Review your goals to see if you are on target.• Make adjustments to your goals if needed.

REWARD YOURSELF WHEN YOU COMPLETE YOUR GOAL – CELEBRATE!Words of Advice:• Start challenging yourself early;

it will make the transition to col-lege courses a LOT easier.

• Your high school transcript iscritical to your future successes:college, career, and scholarships.

• Stay on the right path, and don’tbe afraid to take those APclasses! I’m graduating highschool with 15 college credits -that’s a whole semester of collegeand a HUGE amount of moneysaved!

• Enjoy these years, they truly dofly by!

What do you want to do when yougraduate from college?I plan on majoring in Broadcast Journalism whichwould ultimately lead to my success in the MediaIndustry as an on air news anchor.

What made you want to become aBroadcast Journalist?I did a public service announcement for the Alle-gany County Board of Education on bullying pre-vention; I absolutely loved being in the studio,recording and rerecording, and finally hearing thefinished product. I also love public speaking, whichis what I believe really ignited my interest in theMedia Industry.

What has being a Maryland Scholarmeant to you?Being a Maryland Scholar has meant striving for aca-demic excellence in all that I do, including but not lim-ited to, studying, challenging myself, and making themost out of every opportunity presented to me in all

4 years of high school. I’ve challenged myself to go tothe next level, rising to find my true potential both in-side AND outside of the classroom.

Was it hard to become a MarylandScholar?No. I have always had a natural desire to keep chal-lenging myself to do better, to BE better. So reallyjust taking classes that challenged me and doingthe absolute best I could propelled me to becominga Maryland Scholar.

Is there anything that you would havedone differently in high school? If so,what would it be?I believe I took advantage of my time in highschool to the point where there is nothing I wouldhave done differently. I took extra classes, summergym, AP and Honors courses, and I took an extrayear of language. Although my school schedule wasalways packed, I still had time to enjoy the “fun”classes like band, chorus, and dance.

Mount Savage MiddleMount Savage, MD

June 2009

Mountain Ridge High SchoolFrostburg, MD

June 2013

High Point UniversityHigh Point, NC

Majoring in Communications (Broadcast Journalism)

Career GoalNews Anchor

Education:::::::::::::

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Aleksandra K.Interview with

MD Scholar

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


What does it cost to live?Pay Check

Pay to the order of

$ 4 0 6 . 0 0Jane Eyre

Four-hundred s ix do l la rs and zero cents

Earnings Rate Hours This Period

Regular 15.00 40 600.00Gross Pay $600.00

DeductionsFederal Income Tax -102.00State/Local Income Tax -36.00Social Security Tax -36.00

OtherHealth Insurance -20.00Net Pay(What you take home) $406.00

Per monthGross wages (x4 weeks)

$2,400Taxes withheld

-$408-$144-$144

Other Deductions-$80

Net pay$1,624

Degree Completion and TransferPrince George’s Community College’s top priority is ensuring that students begin their higher education

journey and complete a degree. Through flexible and convenient learning options, students earn degrees,

transfer to four-year institutions, and prepare for rewarding careers. We are transforming lives.

Envision success

Take the journey

Complete your degree

Apply online at www.pgcc.edu or call 301-336-6000

13932

TRANSFORMING LIVES

OR You could cut out a few

things (such as a car

and entertainment).

Do you really need

such a big apartment?

What about cooking

instead of going to

a restaurant?

Monthly expenses

Apartment $1,000

Car payment 300

Car insurance/gas/maintenance 450

Gas/electricity 150

Cell Phone/internet/cable tv 200

Food 350

Entertainment 200

Total $2,650

Apartment $600

Bus fare 64

Phone/gas/electricity 200

Food 200

Total $1,064

Will you be able to afford it?

Sample salaries (based on 40 hours per week) – minimum wage is $7.25/hour.

$7.25 hourly$1,160 monthly

– taxes

$789 monthly take-home pay


– taxes

$925 monthly take-home pay


– taxes

$1,088 monthly take-home pay

$20.00 hourly $3,200 monthly

– taxes

$2,176 monthly take-home pay

Occupation EducationMedian

Hourly WageMedian

Monthly WageMedian

Annual WageEmployment

Projections in 2020Pediatrician Doctoral or Professional degree $64.48 $11,175 $134,100 640

Veterinarian Doctoral or Professional degree $48.94 $8,483 $101,800 1,554

Lawyer Doctoral or Professional degree $48.24 $8,358 $100,300 15,350

Mechanical Engineer Bachelor's degree $43.04 $7,458 $89,500 5,417

Biomedical Engineer Bachelor's degree $42.81 $7,416 $89,000 673

Speech Language Pathologist Master’s degree $40.09 $6,950 $83,400 3,345

Nurse (registered) Associate’s degree $35.00 $6,067 $72,800 62,424

Accountant/Auditor Bachelor's degree $33.00 $5,717 $68,600 27,980

Environmental Scientist Bachelor's degree $32.60 $5,650 $67,800 2,699

Writer Bachelor's degree $32.04 $5,550 $66,600 2,958

Teacher Bachelor’s degree $33.91 $5,425 $65,100 17,378

Police Officer High School diploma $26.19 $4,542 $54,500 16,556

Forensic Science Technician Bachelor's degree $25.54 $4,425 $53,100 459

Exec. Administrative Assistant High School diploma $24.80 $4,300 $51,600 22,674

Graphic Designer Bachelor's degree $24.17 $4,192 $50,300 5,796

Civil Engineering Technician Associate’s degree $22.87 $3,963 $47,560 1,945

Carpenter High School diploma $20.43 $3,542 $42,500 20,021

Emergency Medical Technician Certificate $19.32 $3,350 $40,200 6,115

Real Estate Agent High School diploma $19.13 $3,317 $39,800 8,176

Dental Assistant Certificate $16.99 $2,942 $35,300 6,175

Fitness Trainer High School diploma $15.34 $2,658 $31,900 9,267

Retail Salesperson High School diploma $10.04 $1,742 $20,900 79,999

Waiter or Waitress High School diploma $8.90 $1,529 $18,350 49,547

Here is what some Maryland jobs pay

What are you doing to prepare yourself to earn a good salary? For more occupations, visit www.dllr.state.md.us/lmi/ and click on “2010 to 2020 occupational projections-wage data link.” Or, visit www.BeWhatIWantToBe.com.

Updated May 15, 2013: The salary information and employment projections for 2020 were taken from www.careerinfonet.org.


Don’t forget!One of your graduation requirements is 75 servicelearning hours. Make sure you look for opportunitiesand schedule time to complete them.


8th Grade❏ Sign up for Maryland Scholars courses in your high school. Plan

to include algebra 2, chemistry, physics and 2 credits of a worldlanguage.

❏ Start researching colleges and careers that interest you.❏ Take and complete grade 8 mathematics or algebra 1.❏ Work hard and study to get good grades – it will make a differ-

ence in your options for high school.❏ Develop your leadership and citizenship skills; join clubs/ activi-

ties, play a sport or volunteer.

9th Grade❏ Check in with your school counselor regularly to discuss goals

and plans.❏ Take and complete algebra 1 or geometry.❏ Take and complete a lab-based science course such as biology.❏ Study, study, study! Colleges look at your transcript beginning

with freshman grades. ALL 4 YEARS COUNT!❏ Ask a parent, teacher or school counselor for help when you need it.❏ High school sophomores can begin taking Advanced Placement

(AP) classes. Talk to your school counselor about which classesare right for you.

❏ Find an extracurricular activity that interests you and join.

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.❏ Take and complete geometry or algebra 2.❏ Take rigorous lab-based science courses such as chemistry or biology. ❏ Take honors and AP courses.❏ Continue extracurricular activities and take a leadership role if

possible.❏ Take the PSAT or ACT PLAN tests to be prepared to take the

SAT and ACT tests.❏ Begin to research dual enrollment opportunities.❏ Plan enrichment activities for the summer, like summer work-

shops, internships, apprenticeships and jobs.

11th Grade❏ Maintain good grades. Junior-year grades are especially impor-

tant for college admissions. But all four years count.❏ Take honors and AP courses.❏ Take rigorous math and science courses such as pre-calculus and

physics.❏ Register, study and take the SAT or ACT test.❏ Take advantage of dual enrollment opportunities offered at your

school.❏ Check out the colleges you are interested in – in person and on-

line. Know their admissions criteria.❏ Think about scholarships – start early so you can build a record

that allows you to qualify.❏ Make sure you have passed all the High School Assessments. Get

help if you haven’t.

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 successful when taking

college entrance exams.❏ Meet with your school counselor and review your transcript.❏ Know and meet the deadlines to fill out college applications,

and start early to write essays and get teacher recommenda-tions.

❏ Submit your college financial aid application (FAFSA) byMarch 1 – even if you think you don’t need or won’t qualify forfinancial aid.

❏ Search the Web and private groups for scholarships and apply.❏ Be recognized as a Maryland Scholar. Celebrate!


Are you on track?

Take our quiz and letus know how you’repreparing!

Interested in Advanced Placementclasses (AP)?Here are some classes that are offered in Marylandschools at the AP level:Art HistoryBiologyCalculusChemistryComputer ScienceEnglish Language and CompositionEnvironmental ScienceModern European HistoryPhysics

PsychologyStatisticsUnited States Government & PoliticsUnited States HistoryWorld HistoryWorld Language - FrenchWorld Language - Spanish

... And more

Check with your counselor for a full list of AP courses offered at your school.

Countdown to college

STEVENSON UNIVERSITY

GET IN THE ZONE

Stevenson University, a national leader in career education, is a great place to get in the zone. Along with two lively campuses, 23 sports teams and too many clubs to count, you’ll find great residence halls or a commuter-friendly environment.

PLAN A VISIT NOW.Check out our student Open House dates at <stevenson.edu> or call 410-486-7001.

❏ Check the box as you complete each step.Meet twins Aure and Kaitlyn, current students at the University of Maryland Baltimore County

Athletic Teams❏ Cheerleading squad❏ JROTC❏ Sports teams❏ Step squads

Academic Clubs❏ Debate team❏ STEM clubs such as Robotics❏ Future Business Leaders of America❏ World languages (like the Spanish Club)❏ Honor society❏ Math team❏ Mock trial❏ Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA)❏ Future Educators of America❏ Yearbook

Arts Clubs❏ Art❏ Band❏ Orchestra❏ Dance❏ Theater and drama❏ Poetry❏ Chorus or choir❏ Film and video❏ Photography

VolunteeringAll Maryland high school students mustperform a certain number of hours ofcommunity service to graduate. Fulfillyour Service Learning Requirement bydoing something you enjoy, whether it’shelping animals, the elderly or the environment! To get started, talk to ateacher, call a local hospital, or religious group, or check out www.volunteermaryland.org. Here are some of the ways you can volunteerand give back to your own community.

❏ Spend your summer building homes for Habitat for Humanity.

❏ Work with children at a day care center or after-school program.

❏ Assist your local library with communityprograms.

❏ 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.

❏ Walk dogs or play with cats at an animal shelter.

❏ Check extracurricular activities that interest you and take steps to get involved.

after school?

Joining a team or club can be a lot of fun and a great way to make friends in highschool. It can even help you get into a great college — admissions officers like tosee extracurricular activities in addition to good grades. Here are just a few exam-ples of what you can do after school.

What do you do


CollegeCollege



Six degrees of education

Associate’s DegreeExamples: Dental Hygienist, Graphic Designer, or Registered Nurse

What is required for an Associate’s Degree?• Two years of full-time coursework, or 60 credits, are needed.• Associate’s degrees are offered by community colleges.• Associate of Arts (A.A.) or Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees are available.• Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees are for technical or career

programs.

CertificateExamples: Electrical Technician, Real Estate Broker, or OccupationalTherapist Assistant

What is required for a Certificate?• Certificates can take just a few weeks or up to two years to earn.• They are awarded by community colleges and private career schools.• They also can be earned by completing job training or even in a high school

program.

Bachelor’s DegreeExamples: Financial Advisor, Forensic Science Technician, or ComputerSoftware Engineer

What is required for a Bachelor’s Degree?• Four or five years of full-time coursework, or 120 credits, are needed.• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees (also known as liberal arts degrees) require

courses in art, culture, history, English, social and life sciences and languages.• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees often prepare people for careers in

engineering, physical sciences and other technical subjects. www.umbc.edu | 1-800-UMBC-4U2

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 my.umbc.edu, created by and

for UMBC students.

Are you curious and creative?

Like doing things with friends?

A MarylandUniversity of

NationalDistinction

The Princeton Review’s The Best Colleges

U.S. News &World Report’s Best Colleges

Kiplinger’sPersonal Finance

Top 100 “Best Valuesin Public Colleges”

The Princeton Review and U.S. Green Building Council

“322 Green Colleges”

410-543-6000

www.salisbury.edu

Doctoral DegreeExamples: Mathematician, Astronomer, or Medical Scientist

What is required for a Doctoral Degree?• The doctorate, or Ph.D., takes at least two full-time years of study, or 30

credits, beyond the master’s degree.• In many cases students need four or five years of study,

or 90 credits, after the master’s degree.• Some students earn a master’s degree while getting their Ph.D.

Master’s DegreeExamples: Environmental Scientist, Statistician or Physical Therapist

What is required for a Master’s Degree?• It usually takes one or two years after earning a bachelor’s degree.• It often requires very specific undergraduate courses.• Many students need to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) to be accepted

to a graduate school.

Professional DegreeExamples: Veterinarian, Pediatrician, or Lawyer

What is required for a Professional Degree?• It usually takes at least six years of college work.• Academic requirements must be completed to become licensed in careers

such as law, medicine or architecture.• Students generally spend four years working on a bachelor’s degree plus

another few years on their professional degree.


Education paysEducation pays in higher earnings and lower unemployment rates

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey

Doctoral degree

Professional degree

Master’s degree

Bachelor’s degree

Associate’s degree

Some college. no degree

High school diploma

Less than high school diploma

Unemployment rate in 2012 (%)

All workers: 6.8% All workers: $815

Median weekly earnings in 2012 ($)

2.5

2.1

3.5

4.5

6.2

7.7

8.3

12.4

1,624

1,735

1,300

1,066

785

727

652

471

We want you to find a field of study and a career path that will carry you into the future. You’ll have a hard time

finding an area of interest that’s not available among AACC’s clubs, performing arts and special interest groups that

literally run A-Z (well, OK: A to Y – Anime and Astronomy to Young Republicans and Young Americans for Liberty).

Do you love sports? So do we! AACC is home to a vibrant and competitive intercollegiate athletics program, including

many nationally ranked teams, which has produced seven All-Americans in the past year. As a member of the National

Junior College Athletic Association, AACC recently received a statewide sportsmanship award and five student-athletes

were named Academic Athletes of Distinction for outstanding scholarship.

With so many ways to get engaged in college life, and so many people ready to help you discover your talents and

interests, AACC offers you the opportunity to turn your future vision into reality.

Would you like to get a jump start on college? Through AACC’s Jump Start

program, students age 16 and up can take college-level courses while still

in high school!

Learn more at www.aacc.edu/[email protected] | 410-777-2222

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supporter of Be

What I Want To Be

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© 2013 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and the U.S. member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. The KPMG name, logo and “cutting through complexity” are registered trademarks or trademarks of KPMG International. NDPPS 196577

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College tuitions in Maryland

How will you afford college?

Don’t get discouraged; see page 22 and 23 for information on paying for college.

Don’t see the schoolyou’re interested in?

www.MDgo4It.orgwww.collegeboard.com

www.petersons.comwww.princetonreview.comwww.search4colleges.com

www.usnews.com

Take note:Interested in one or more of these colleges?

❏ Check the box to remind yourself to look into it later.

Public Colleges

Name Location Website# of Undergrads

2012-2013Tuition & Fees

2013-2014

Bowie State University Bowie www.bowiestate.edu 5,421 $11,166

Coppin State University Baltimore www.coppin.edu 3,127 $10,116

Frostburg State University Frostburg www.frostburg.edu 4,755 $7,728

Morgan State University Baltimore www.morgan.edu 5,794 $7,218

Salisbury University Salisbury www.salisbury.edu 7,969 $8,128

St. Mary’s College of Maryland St. Mary’s City www.smcm.edu 1,755 $14,865

Towson University Towson www.towson.edu 17,988 $8,342

University of Baltimore Baltimore www.ubalt.edu 3,207 $7,838

U. Maryland – Baltimore County Catonsville www.umbc.edu 10,973 $10,057

U. Maryland – College Park College Park www.umd.edu 26,538 $9,182

U. Maryland – Eastern Shore Princess Anne www.umes.edu 3,758 $6,998

U. Maryland – University College Adelphi www.umuc.edu 20,434 $9,828

Private Colleges (Four-Year Independent Colleges & Universities)


2012-2013Tuition & Fees

2013-2014

Capitol College Laurel www.capitol-college.edu 395 $21,576

Goucher College Towson www.goucher.edu 1,481 $39,084

Hood College Frederick www.hood.edu 1,434 $33,280

Johns Hopkins University Baltimore www.jhu.edu 5,000 $45,407

Loyola University, Maryland Baltimore www.loyola.edu 3,917 $43,250

Maryland Institute College of Art Baltimore www.mica.edu 1,863 $41,005

McDaniel College Westminster www.mcdaniel.edu 1,600 $36,960

Mount St. Mary’s University Emmitsburg www.msmary.edu 1,724 $33,744

Notre Dame of Maryland University Baltimore www.ndm.edu 1,229 $32,031

Sojourner Douglass College Baltimore www.sdc.edu 3,987 $8,160

St. John’s College Annapolis www.stjohnscollege.edu 450 $46,296

Stevenson University Stevenson www.stevenson.edu 4,212 $27,082

Washington College Chestertown www.washcoll.edu 1,400 $41,120

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Community Colleges


(Full- & Part-Time)Cost Per

Credit Hour

Allegany College of Maryland Cumberland www.allegany.edu 3,500+ $105

Anne Arundel Community College Arnold www.aacc.edu 17,650 $99

Baltimore City Community College Baltimore www.bccc.edu 5,474 $88

Carroll Community College Westminster www.carrollcc.edu 5,473 $138

Cecil College North East www.cecil.edu 2,700+ $95

Chesapeake College Wye Mills www.chesapeake.edu 2,660 $105

College of Southern Maryland LaPlata, Leonardtown, www.csmd.edu 9,217 $111Prince Frederick

Community College of Baltimore County Catonsville, www.ccbcmd.edu 35,498 $109Dundalk, Essex

Frederick Community College Frederick www.frederick.edu 6,519 $109

Garrett College McHenry www.garrettcollege.edu 873 $94

Hagerstown Community College Hagerstown www.hagerstowncc.edu 5,000+ $106

Harford Community College Bel Air www.harford.edu 9,756 $92

Howard Community College Columbia www.howardcc.edu 10,152 $124

Montgomery College Germantown, Rockville, www.montgomerycollege.edu 27,453 $112Silver Spring

Prince George’s Community College Largo www.pgcc.edu 13,824 $98

Wor-Wic Community College Salisbury www.worwic.edu 5,397 $96

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Apprenticeships

Name Website # of occupation types

Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Programs mwejobs.maryland.gov over 230❏

* University of MD Baltimore: a campus of graduate and professional schools.

458458458

PAYING FOR COLLEGEThe 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 four main types of financial aid students can get:

Grants usually help offset the rising costs of college for families in need of 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.

Student loans must be repaid, some with interest, after the student graduates or stops going to school. Parents also may take out loans for their children’s education.

Work study is a federal aid program run by colleges that allows students to work to earn money to help pay for school.

Sources and types of aid include:Federal Aid: Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Work Study, Direct Family Educational Loan Program, Perkins Loan and TEACH Grant.

State aid: Howard P. Rawlings Program of Educa-tional Excellence, Guaranteed Access and Educational Assistance Grants, Legislative Scholarships, Unique Population programs, and others.

Colleges and universities: Schools have a variety of aid that includes grants, scholarships, employ-ment and loans.

Private organizations: Many clubs, professional organizations and community groups provide scholarships.

Employers: Many employers also offer tuition assistance for children of employees or tuition reimbursement for employees.

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 “College 411: Student Guide to Higher Education and Financial Aid in Maryland” at www.mhec.state.md.us under the Preparing for College section.

• Enroll in high level courses (i.e. Maryland Scholars) 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.

• Take Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes during high school. Earn college credits now!

• Get involved in school and volunteer activities. Many scholarship programs, especially private scholarships, look for these activities when selecting students for scholarships. Many clubs and other groups (Girl/Boy Scouts, honor societies, etc.) offer scholarships, some of which you can win before your senior year of high school.

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 FAFSA. 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.

When and 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 http://www.fafsa. gov/. Both you and your parents must apply for a personal identification number (PIN) to sign your online FAFSA. This can be done when you file your FAFSA. You will need federal income tax information for the last tax year for both you and your parents. To ensure you do not miss the deadline, estimates can be used at first; however, a corrected FASFA must be submitted once tax returns are complete.

Ten tips for paying for college1. 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 concurrent enrollment classes.

5. Lessen costs by starting at a nearby community college and/or living at home.

6. Earn your degree faster by taking summer courses.

7. Save money by taking more classes - at some colleges you can take 15 credit-hours at the same cost as the more typical 12 credit-hours.

8. Get a part-time job on or off campus.

9. Many community groups and often your parents’ company have scholarships available. But it’s up to you to find these sources of money.

10. If you have a scholarship, don’t blow it by getting bad grades or acting up.

Good Web sites to check out:

www.mhec.state.md.us

www.waytogomaryland.org

www.fafsa.ed.gov

www.fastweb.com

www.finaid.org

www.studentaid.ed.gov

www.collegeboard.com

www.collegeanswer.com

www.petersons.com

www.easfaa.org

www.supercollege.com

www.mdgo4it.org

How much does college cost?College is more than just tuition and fees – so start saving now. Other things you may need to pay for 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, calculators, etc.

• Other personal expenses such as laundry, groceries, entertainment, etc.

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $Check out pages 20-21 to learn what it costs to go to school in Maryland!

More on scholarships There are literally hundreds of thousands of scholarships available. There is more than $100 million of scholarship money 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:

• People who are the first in their family to go to college

• Women

• Men

• Ninth, 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


What to see...The dormsHow far is the walk to class? ____________

Are the dorms co-ed?

Do they have study areas?

Is there a laundry room for students?

The bookstoreDo they carry everything you will

need for class or will you have to

leave campus for necessities?

The cafeteriaIs there a variety of food?

What is the student food plan? __________

__________________________________

Try the food if you can. Is it good?

The libraryIs there computer access for

student use?

The sports centers❏ Take a peek at the arenas while on

campus. You may even be able to

attend a game or concert.


Your campus visit:What to see, do & ask

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 toschedule your next visit on a professional development day for teachers , 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!

❏ Check the boxes & fill in your answers as you explore a campus.

College name ______________________________________________________________________________

Location ________________________________________________ Date visited________________________

❏ ❏ Y N

❏ ❏ Y N❏ ❏ Y N

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❏ ❏ Y N

What to do...❏ Interview with an admissions officer.

❏ Get information about financial aid and

work 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 or blog.

What is happening on campus?

❏ Venture off-campus.

Is it a safe area?

Are there things to do/visit?

Could you find an off-campus job?

Is public transportation available?

RememberChoosing a college is a big decision. Make

sure you’re choosing the right one for you.

Was there anything that you particularly

liked or disliked about the college? Be sure

to note it here so you don’t forget.

_________________________________

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_________________________________

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What to ask...What courses of study/majors does the col-

lege offer/specialize in? ________________

__________________________________

What kinds of transition support services do

they offer freshmen? __________________

__________________________________

How do you get help when you need it? ____

__________________________________

What’s the student-teacher ratio? _____/___

Towson UniversityThe university store seemed to have prettymuch everything I would ever need forclass.

Morgan State UniversityWant to look more intoTeam Up to Clean Up,a MSU organizationto promote campusunity.

Frostburg State UniversityI can snowboard on campus!

UMBCHeard they have lotsof dance, music andtheater performancesthat I’d love to see.

CCBC EssexState-of-the-art nursing program.

University of MD College ParkThe football game was so fun! And a great way to get to know otherstudents.

Stevenson UniversityKeeps on-campus jobsposted online to make it easy for me to find work. Also, brand new football stadium!

Picture yourself spending the next 4 years in this place.

Is it the right school for you?After visiting a few schools, your recollectionsmay start to blur. Be sure to take photos and notesto help you remember the different experiences.

Salisbury UniversityWow campus! Beautiful new buildings with great technology.Friendly, too!

You can do it.Right here in Baltimore County.

Baltimore County Department of Economic Developmentwww.baltimorecountymd.gov/business

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetzand the Baltimore County Council

Imagine... Imagine... Creating the next computer game.

Working with one of the largest databases in the U.S.

Discovering a cure.

Developing a communications system that receives signals anywhere in the world.

Creating the next computer game.

Working with one of the largest databases in the U.S.

Discovering a cure.

Developing a communications system that receives signals anywhere in the world.

CareerCareer


www.lockheedmartin.com

At Lockheed Martin, when we envision the future, we see a world of never-ending possibilities. But that future will never be realized unless we prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s challenges. That’s why it is so vitally important for educators, parents, and industry partners like ours to encourage young people to study science, technology, engineering,

and math. And it’s also why Lockheed Martin is proud to support the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education.

ONE DAY SHE MAY LOOK BACK AND SAY THAT HER

FUTURE STARTED HERE©

201

3 Lo

ckhe

ed M

artin

Cor

pora

tion

Advertiser IndexAAI Corporation ....................................................6

Anne Arundel Community College....................19

Baltimore Co. Economic Development..............25

Community College of Baltimore County ..........2

Comcast Beltway Region ..........Inside Back Cover

Earth Networks-Weather Bug................................7

Johns Hopkins Medicine ......................................29

KPMG ....................................................................18

Lockheed Martin ..................................................26

McCormick ............................................................15

Morgan State University ......................Back Cover

Northrop Grumman ..........................Inside Cover

Prince George’s Community College ..................10

Salisbury University ..............................................16

Stevenson University ............................................13

Towson University ..................................................8

T. Rowe Price..........................................................27

University of Baltimore ..........................................3

University of Maryland Baltimore County ........17

University System of Maryland..............................5

Jane Eyre444 Main StreetEllicott City, MD [email protected]

EDUCATION

EMPLOYMENT

ACTIVITIES

SKILLS

INTERESTS

Central High School GPA: 2.8/4.0Perfect attendance during first semesterMaryland Scholar

Ellicott City Community Pool, Lifeguard Summer 201316 hours of work every weekendTrained in CPR and first aidMaintained pool cleanliness and safety

J.V. Soccer, team captain 2012-2013Eight hours of practice and two games every weekLed team to 14-2 recordHighest goal percentage on teamWon Spririt Award at end-of-the-year banquet

Helping Hand Nursing Center, volunteer 2011-2013Four hours of volunteer work twice a monthTalked to residents, designed activities and assisted nursesRecruited two more volunteers

Bilingual: Spanish and EnglishBasic computer skills, including word processing (Microsoft Word)

and PowerPoint; excellent knowledge of Internet search enginesResponsibility learned through taking care of two siblings most eveningsOrganizational skills learned through balancing school, sports

and family obligationsDedication and hard work proven through athletic success

Reading, photography, spending time with family

Is your email address something like [email protected]?Doesn’t sound too professional, does it? Make a new one for job

searching using just your name or initials.

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.

Key traits and skillsthat will impresswould-be employers:responsibility, organiza-tion, dedication, hardwork, multi-tasking,leadership, creativity,time management.Think about howyou’ve learned or beenable to use these skillsor traits and describethe experience.

List can includeawards, honors or other specialclasses or vocational programs. Tip: Listyour sculpture class if you’re applying foran internship at a museum.

How long have youbeen involved or were

you involved? Employers like to see

commitment.

Include things you doat school and in your

community, as well asvolunteer activities.

Write about your rolein the activity, what

you do/did, whatskills you’ve gainedas a result, and any

achievements and honors.

This is a good place to list things you do or like, especially if theyare related to the kind of job you want. For instance, if you want to

be a lifeguard, mention that you love swimming and exercising.

Resumés that rock!Tips to get you that all-important interview

Most high school students 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 resumé.

In general…• Be sure the information you give is relevant, true and com-

plete.• Make your resumé easy to read (large enough text) and

attractive (consistent formatting and good organization).• Check your spelling and grammar.|28| BeWhatIWantToBe.com BeWhatIWantToBe.com |29|

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68 70 72 74 76 78

Johns Hopkins Medicine

is proud to support

hopkinsmedicine.org

Be What I Want to Be


TOP INDUSTRIESIN MARYLAND

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates at least

8,654,000U.S. STEM jobswill exist in 2018 not including

self-employed STEM individuals

In the U.S., the average professional with a STEM degree earns about

$78,000$42,979

ANNUALLY

The national average wage is

STEM in SchoolYou may think that STEM skills are not important because you are not in-terested in becoming an engineer or a computer programmer (thoughthose jobs ARE in demand). What you need to keep in mind is that almostall jobs will require some STEM-related skills. An easy way to get a jumpstart on those skills is to take courses in middle and high school that pre-pare you to succeed in college and beyond. Here are some of the coursesthat will give you a good foundation for STEM skills. • Algebra• Statistics• Biology• Geography• Physics

• Chemistry• Computer

Science• Calculus• Economics

• Environmental Science

• Technology Education• Geometry • Engineering

Understanding Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics(STEM) SkillsThink about key skills needed in today’s workplace: problem solving,critical thinking, communication and collaboration. What do they allhave in common? They’re all skills of a STEM proficient student.

STEM on the JobMost employers want workers who are able to reason and solve problemsusing some mathematics, science, and technology knowledge. Key STEMskills include:

• Analytical thinking skills to research a topic, develop a project plan andtimeline, and draw conclusions from research results.

• Creative thinking skills to employ divergent and convergent thinking todevelop solutions to problems and answers to questions.

• Critical thinking skills to employ a systematic approach to problem solv-ing that includes breaking down a problem into parts to discover its natureand relationships and monitoring and evaluating progress toward solutiondevelopment.

• Collaboration skills to work effectively on a team to accomplish a com-mon goal.

• Communication skills to produce clear and coherent writing and presen-tations in which the development, organization, and style are appropriateto task, purpose, and audience.

• Mathematic skills for calculations, measurements, modeling and quanti-tative predictions.

• Science skills to develop and refine researchable questions, plan and carryout investigations, collect and analyze data, and construct explanationsbased on evidence.

• Technical reading skills to follow a standard blueprint or multistep pro-cedures and to determine the meaning of symbols and technical terms.

• Technology skills to select or create and employ the appropriate toolfor developing solutions to problems or answers to questions.


Photography

Animation

Nutrition Medicine Architecture

Computer or Videogame design

Aeronautics Forensic Science

STEM SKILLS ARE REQUIRED FOR JOBSACROSS MANY DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES

Maryland's industry clusters are at the forefront of innovation and technology, fueling economicgrowth and opportunity.

MANUFACTURING & PRODUCTION

AEROSPACE & DEFENSE

ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY

sources: www.iseek.org/careers/stemskills.html, www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/programs/stem/

sources: www.choosemaryland.org

434,000 WORKERS

382,000 WORKERS

340,000 WORKERS

253,000 WORKERS

140,000 WORKERS

135,000 WORKERS

91,000 WORKERS

35,000 WORKERS

17%17%FINANCE & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

EDUCATION & RESEARCH15%15%

13%13%HEALTH & LIFE SCIENCE

10%10%HOSPITALITY & RECREATION

6%6%INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

5%5%

4%4%

1%1%

FINANCE & PROFESSIONAL SERVICESMaryland is proud to host company headquarters, serv-ice providers, investor centers and back-office operationsfor some of the best-known names in the financial andprofessional industry.

EDUCATION & RESEARCHAn exceptional network of more than 400 research centersand 60 colleges provide a solid and steady catalyst forresearch and higher education in Maryland. Marylandranks second nationally in R&D investments by the federalgovernment — with $11.6 billion in annual funding

HEALTH & LIFE SCIENCERecognized world wide for its outstanding medical facil-

ities, the state is home to nearly 50 acute care hospitals,ranking second nationally in physicians per 100,000population, with more than 23,000 doctors.

HOSPITALITY & RECREATIONA popular tourism destination entertaining more than 28million visitors annually, Maryland visitors spend $14 bil-lion at restaurants, attractions and retailers.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYOne of the nation’s highest concentrations of IT workers andnearly 9,500 businesses position Maryland at the epicenterfor global cybersecurity. Top industry leaders in Marylanddevelop the latest technologies and advanced encryptionmethods to secure electronic communications worldwide.

MANUFACTURING & PRODUCTIONMaryland’s diverse community of manufacturing com-panies produce everything from handcrafted PRS Guitarsto exotic flavors of McCormick & Company.

AEROSPACE & DEFENSESixteen of America’s top 25 aerospace companies and70 of the top 100 defense contractors are in Maryland,making it one of the world’s most extensive and compet-itive aerospace and defense clusters.

ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITYA diverse topography that includes mountains, 3,000 milesof coastline and rich open spaces make Maryland ideal foremerging wind, solar, energy and biomass businesses.

My InspirationDr. Teng Zhu was my mentor from my under-graduate days at Grambling State University.He is the person who encouraged me to pur-sue a career in physics. From his hospital bed,he was kind enough to suggest universities towhich I should apply for internships. I havebeen fortunate to participate in every one hementioned. Dr. Zhu passed away during mysophomore year, but his spirit and characterare a consistent inspiration to me.

My Choices & Key DecisionsAt the end of my master’s program, I made thedecision to pursue a career in outreach. I wasgoing against the traditional career path, andit was not where I had originally envisionedmy life leading. Because I did a summer in-ternship at the Space Telescope Science Insti-tute, the experience solidified my decision tofollow my passion and enabled me to be in theprofession I am in now.

My Favorite SubjectBy taking Spanish, I was given the opportunityto learn about a different language whilemathematics and science offered me chal-lenges.

What I DoAs an outreach specialist at the Space Tele-scope Science Institute, I have a dual role ofcreating activities for two space telescopes:Hubble and James Webb. I assist in teacher de-velopment workshops and present scientificinformation about the James Webb telescopeto middle and high school students. Usingdata from the Hubble Legacy Archive, I havealso created educational activities for middleschool students.

Why I Do ItThe Hubble and James Webb are great tele-scopes, and I enjoy the opportunity to tell thepublic about them.

My Typical DayMy schedule varies

daily, but I start off thework day by getting myself and my newbornson ready. I drive to the school where I amscheduled to speak and set up my materials.My audience varies from kindergarteners to12th graders. My presentation includesdoing hands-on activities with the students.After the speaking engagement, I come backto the Institute to drop off my materials,check my e-mail and prepare for the nextday’s outreach events. I write out frequentlyasked questions by the students and type upa summary of the day’s event at the school.Once I am done, I head home for the dayafter picking up my son from daycare. By7:30 p.m., I am preparing dinner and gettingmy son ready for bed.

My AdviceAlways push past your comfort zone. You willbe amazed by what you can accomplish.

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Always push past your comfort zone.

You will be amazed by what you can

accomplish.


Vilseck Middle SchoolGermany

Bartlett High SchoolAnchorage, AK

Grambling State UniversityGrambling, LA

Bachelor of Science in Physics

Fisk UniversityNashville, TN

Master of Arts in Physics

THE PATH I TOOK

I work in Baltimore City Hubble Space TelescopeThe first permanent astronomical observatory above the Ear th’s atmos-phere, the telescope was designed to provide much more detailed views ofthe universe than can be obtained from the ground. Since its launch in1990, it has served as one of the major tools by which astronomers havelearned about the universe.

:::: :::::: ::::::

Jessica H.Outreach Specialist

Space Telescope Science Institute


Space Science

My InspirationAll that I have accomplished both profession-ally and personally is a direct result of mymother’s hard work, dedication and sacrifice.

My Choices & Key DecisionsI established an overachieving philosophy thatguides every decision I face. My primary goalis to focus on the pursuit of personal excel-lence so that resulting successes can be used asa tool to enrich the lives of family and friendsand to pursue community prosperity throughpurpose-driven and civic duty projects.

My Favorite SubjectI really enjoyed problem solving and the im-portance of selecting the right formula or the-ory to discover the answers to practical orthought provoking questions in mathematicsand science.

What I DoAs a chief technology transition officer, I

manage the delivery of innovative enterprisetechnology solutions to the federal govern-ment, which spans areas such as cloud com-puting, cyber security, mobility and big dataanalytics.

Why I Do ItThe field of technology excites me and Ienjoy keeping track of how it continuouslychanges. My job allows me to contribute tomatters of national and international signif-icance.

My Typical DayAs the sun is rising, I start my day by pack-ing my daughters lunches for school andmaking their breakfast. I talk with themabout what exciting activities are plannedat their school for the day and I tell themwhat I will be doing at work. Partneringwith my wife, we get them ready and outthe door for school. In the office, there israrely a dull moment as I admittedly enjoy

being immersedin large-scale, com-

plex enterprise infor-mation technology challenges and workingon them to find innovative solutions. Thedays can be a bit long, but I try to get backhome in time to help my children withafter-school activities and homework. Afterdinner and bedtime, I get back on the com-puter to finalize tasks for the day.

My AdviceExplore your individual curiosity and al-ways strive to create learning experiencesboth within and outside the classroom.Grab hold of opportunities to build uponlearning with practical, real-world appli-cations that are grounded in problems ofnational and international significance.Translate gained experience and acquiredknowledge into opportunities to helpyour peers and others to achieve successas well.

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Translate gained experience and acquired

knowledge into opportunities...


High Point High SchoolBeltsville, MD

Bowie State UniversityBowie, MD

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Technology

University of Maryland University College Adelphi, MD

Master of Science in Technology Management

THE PATH I TOOK

I work in Montgomery County Cloud computingThe practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet tostore, manage, and process data, rather than a local server.

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Traviss G.Chief Technology Transition Officer

Lockheed Martin Corporation


InformationTechnology

My InspirationI have always felt that what inspired me wasnot a person but a feeling. As a kid, I recallbeing alone in my room, listening to musicnight after night, and thinking to myself, “Idon’t need to tell anyone that I’m bright andtalented, but I am going to prove it.” It was justan inner drive in myself to prove that I was asgood or better than anyone who made me feelotherwise.

My Choices & Key DecisionsWhen I was in college, I took a lot of sciencecourses, but I found out later that I did nothave enough courses in one field to get a de-gree. After quickly making an appointmentwith an advisor, she told me I was qualified forseveral “Allied Health” degrees. I had no ideawhat allied health was, but I applied for all ofthem including physical therapy and radiolog-ical technology. Nuclear medicine technologyis the only one that accepted me, and now Ihave been involved in the field for 25 years.Strange how things work out.

My Favorite SubjectScience classes were always my favorite be-cause I thought it was super cool to learnabout chemistry, physics, anatomy, atoms,molecules, velocity, bones, lungs, etc. I enjoyedlearning the components of things in theworld and how they operate.

What I DoAs a nuclear medicine technology instructorat Johns Hopkins Hospital, I teach studentsabout this form of radiology, which involvesinjecting radioactive materials into patientsand watching the physiology of different or-gans. The technology helps in the diagnosis ofdifferent diseases and conditions.

Why I Do ItBeing in a hospital feels like a second home tome. It is very comfortable and it is nice to notbe afraid to go to a hospital. My job has alsoallowed me firsthand experience to stress theimportance to students of treating patients likeyour own family and always maintaining a

high ethical stan-dard toward other hu-

mans — not just in thehospital but in life. Every person deservesequal treatment and respect.

My Typical DayTaking my dog for a walk starts my day. Then I’llhead into the office or to a local hospital wheremy students are training. During my time in myoffice, I write tests, grade papers, prepare presen-tations, keep track of student progress and takecare of anything related to the students and theirprogression in the nuclear medicine technologytraining program. While at the hospitals, I do labswith the students, which includes learning howto handle radioactive materials, and observe theircritical skills while working in the real world.After a full day, I go home and walk my dog.

My AdviceNever stop going to school and learning. Ed-ucation is one of the very few things in life thatnever loses its value and it cannot be takenfrom you.

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Education is one of the very few things

in life that never loses its value and it

cannot be taken from you.


South Knox Middle-High SchoolVincennes, IN

Indiana University Bloomington, IN

Bachelor of Science

Indiana University Indianapolis, IN

Master of Science

Capella UniversityOnline

Doctorate

THE PATH I TOOK

I work in Baltimore City Nuclear MedicineThe branch of medicine that deals with the use of radioactive substances inresearch, diagnosis and treatment.

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Mary M.Nuclear Medicine

Technology TeacherJohns Hopkins Hospital


Education

WHAT INSPIRED YOUMy inspiration to pursue electrical engineeringcame from those who tried to discourage me, say-ing engineering wasn’t a good field for women.This only fueled my desire to pursue it even more.

CHOICES AND KEY DECISIONSOne key decision I had to make was whether ornot to accept a full scholarship to WashingtonCollege, with which I wasn’t familiar. I appliedto approximately 11 schools and was acceptedto 10 and was waitlisted at one. The only fullscholarship I received was to attend Washing-ton College through Project Excellence. I thenhad to decide whether to attend a small schoolI knew nothing about for free or to attend aschool I really wanted to go to and take outloans. On top of that, I had to decide if I wantedto go through the 3-2 Dual Degree Program ofWashington College, where I’d study physicsand electrical engineering, or go straight to aschool with a four-year program in electricalengineering. Sixteen years later I’m happy withmy decision to attend Washington College and

complete the 3-2 Dual Degree Program.

FAVORITE SUBJECTMy favorite subject is math. It is necessary forproblem solving, critical thinking skills and tocreate equations in Excel in order to get figuresrelating to logistics like FPMH (failures per mil-lion hours).

WHAT I DOAs a Logistics Engineer, I combine strong man-agerial skills with a solid understanding ofmathematics and numbers in the science ofplanning and implementing the acquisition anduse of resources, materials and finished prod-ucts of Northrop Grumman.

WHY I DO ITLogistics engineers ensure the reliability, main-tainability and availability of designed productsor systems. This is an important job as theproducts Northrop Grumman produces are foruse by the U.S. military and its allies. The job ofthe military is to protect us so we must ensure

that the products weproduce for them not

only are built to last but also can be repairedquickly and efficiently, if necessary. I see thisposition as an opportunity to use my technicalknowledge in a way to help the service mem-bers protect our country.

MY TYPICAL DAYOn any given day, work is generally spent seekingout information from other engineers. I definitelyuse my networking skills everyday as I have tocommunicate with people to find out how theirknowledge can help me in completing my task.

MY ADVICEMy advice would be to gain exposure in your fieldof interest as much as possible before college. Takeadvantage of summer internships and summerenrichment programs. Don’t wait until freshmanyear in college to decide on a major. Establish re-lationships with people in your field of interest sothat while you are in college you’ll have mentorsand connections for summer internships.

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Always exude confidence ineverything you do... people

will pay attention to whatyou do and say.


THE PATH I TOOK

I work in Anne Arundel County Systems EngineeringIntegrates all engineering disciplines and specialty groups for a project intoan efficient, streamlined process that smoothly takes the project from con-cept to production to operation, meeting all business and technical goals ofthe project.

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Dericka O.Systems Engineer

Northrop Grumman


Aerospace

Jefferson Junior High SchoolWashington, D.C.

The Potomac SchoolMcLean, VA

Washington CollegeChestertown, MD

Bachelor of Science in Physics

University of Maryland College Park College Park, MD

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

University of Maryland University CollegeAdelphi, MD

Master of Science in Technology Management

My InspirationMy family has supported and encouragedme to follow this journey and to overcomeevery obstacle I have found along the way.The person I am today is because of thoseclose to me that encouraged me to keepmoving forward.

My Choices & Key DecisionsI began college with a major focusing onmathematics and computers. They weresubjects I enjoyed, but I was not passion-ate about them. During my freshmanyear, I took an introductory biologicalsciences course, which awakened my in-terest in the natural world around me. Iwent on to change my major and earn abachelor’s and master’s degree in biology.While considering pursuing a doctoratedegree, I was unsure of which area in bi-ological science to concentrate. Because Ilove the ocean, I decided to focus on ma-

rine sciences with a concentration in bio-logical oceanography. The choice broughtme full circle back to math and computerskills because I use satellites and comput-ers to understand the biology of theoceans.

My Favorite SubjectI have always been curious about the worldaround me and how things work. I enjoyedscience because it allowed me to exploresome of the answers.

What I DoAs a post doctorate fellow at the laboratory,I perform research on ocean color remotesensing, which means I study the biology ofthe ocean using satellites.

Why I Do ItMy job gives me the opportunity to be atsea, finding ways to protect the environ-

ment and develop abetter understanding

of how the ocean functions.

My Typical DayThere are two different typical work days I havewhich depends on the stage of my research thatI am currently working on. The first involvesloading equipment onto an oceanographic re-search vessel and traveling out into the waterto collect data and perform experiments. Theseresearch expeditions sometimes last weeks de-pending on the goals of our research. My othertypical day involves going to the office to usecomputers and satellites to analyze the oceanareas we have visited during our expeditions.

My AdviceBe persistent in pursuing your goals, butmore important, be true to yourself andfollow what you are passionate about inyour life.

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Be persistent inpursuing your goals but,

more important,be true to yourself...


Franklin D. Roosevelt High School Puerto Rico

University of Puerto Rico at MayagüezPuerto Rico

Master of Science in Biology

University of Puerto Rico at MayagüezPuerto Rico

Doctorate in Biological Oceanography

THE PATH I TOOK

OceanographyThe branch of science that deals with the physical and biological proper tiesand phenomena of the sea.

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Ramón L-R.Biological

OceanographerThe Johns Hopkins UniversityApplied Physics Laboratory


I work in Howard County

Earth Science

My InspirationMy mom and my stepmom are the best. WhenI don’t believe in myself, my mother says “Youcan do it.” I may not believe me, but I believeher because she would never lie to me. Mystepmother has been a constant resource.Once, when I was 15, I told her I wanted to bejust like her. She looked at me and said, “No,you don’t. You are going to be you, and that’sgoing to be so much better.” These womenhave inspired me to be the best. I never pic-tured the life that they saw ahead of me, butnow I am living it. It’s amazing.

My Choices & Key DecisionsWhile working at another company, I reallydidn’t enjoy my job, which was unexpected be-cause I always wanted to be an engineer. Istarted looking for a new position and appliedfor another job, but didn’t get it. It was a hugelet down, but I wanted to know why, so Iasked. The hiring manager said I needed moreexperience. I was good at my job, so I decidedto challenge myself to find something else to

do when I got all my other work done thatwasn’t project management. From that mo-ment on, I decided that I didn’t want to bemediocre... I would be the best! Every momentwas and is an opportunity for greatness.

My Favorite SubjectI enjoyed mathematics and science because Iliked that there was a right answer, and if I un-derstood the information, I could figure it out.

What I DoMy job responsibilities include reviewing andapproving technical work for engineeringprojects such as Traffic Impact Studies andHydraulic Reports. I try to figure out the bestway to build roads so that vehicles, people andbicycles can share them in a safe way.

Why I Do ItMy job gives me the opportunity to solveproblems with creative solutions. I likeknowing I leave things better than the way Ifound them.

My Typical DayUsually I am at my

desk by 7 a.m. I check e-mails and assign tasks to the engineers on myteam. My work includes questions from devel-opers and other SHA divisions/offices. I checkwith my supervisor to see if there are any ad-ditional tasks I can work on and also work onconsultant invoices and proposal reviews.

My AdviceI would recommend students watch a videoon YouTube by a man named Eric Thomasentitled “How Bad Do You Want It?” Thereare a few things he talks about in the videothat really touched me. First, it’s not aboutwhere you come from, you have to have heartto get where you want to go. Second, youhave to sacrifice who you are for who youwant to be by making hard choices aboutwhat is really important in your life. Third,sometimes life is painful, but the pain is tem-porary and will be replaced by somethingmuch better. If being successful were easy,everyone would be.

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Every moment is an opportunity for

greatness.


St. Mary of the AssumptionUpper Marlboro, MD

The Bryn Mawr SchoolBaltimore, MD

Tufts UniversityMedford, MA

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering

Radford UniversityRadford, VA

Master of Science in Environmentaland Engineering Geology

THE PATH I TOOK

I work in Baltimore City HydraulicsThe branch of science concerned with the conveyance of liquids throughpipes and channels, especially as a source of mechanical force or control.

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Erica R.Transportation

Engineer State Highway Administration


Transportation

My InspirationMost recently I was inspired by Dr. Alice Stew-art, one of few female physicians during the1940s and the youngest fellow to be elected tothe Royal College of Physicians of the UnitedKingdom. She was interested in epidemiology,the science of disease patterns, and — within alimited budget and time constraints — she con-ducted a study that indicated x-ray use on preg-nant women as a cause of childhood cancer. Asshe went against the conventional wisdom of hertime, she fought for more than 25 years with co-pious research to get what is now consideredgood practice accepted by medical establish-ments. To me, she was a historical anomaly whodemonstrated a great deal of perseverance tomake the world a better place.

My Choices & Key DecisionsThroughout college, I held numerous career-related occupations from research analyst toexecutive assistant for a small business. Thosejobs not only helped pay for my tuition and liv-ing expenses, but they also developed my

skillsets in a low-risk environment. Based onthose initial capabilities, I was able to land myfirst career position and take on many roleswithin my company.

My Favorite SubjectMy favorite subject of all time was biology. As ahigh school student, I absolutely loved readingabout the mechanisms behind the human body,why aging occurs, how eye colors are passedthrough generations and the reason for theprevalence of allergies over the past 20 years.

What I DoAs a product development/biomedical engineer,I am in the unique position of ensuring thathuman operators can use our mechanical designas intuitively as possible without a deficit inhuman work performance or safety.

Why I Do ItI love brainstorming design solutions and problemsolving. I have great leaders that mentor me andhave given me great tips and techniques along the

way. My day is funbecause of the team of

people I work with daily.

My Typical DayThe day starts for me at 6:30 a.m. when I get upand go for a quick jog around the local park. Afterbreakfast and getting ready for work, I listen to apodcast during my commute. I am at my desk by9 a.m. responding to e-mails from my team, plan-ning the tasks to be completed for the day andpreparing for meetings to discuss the latest designdevelopment concepts. By 4:30 p.m., the work daywinds down as I am determining the tasks for to-morrow and responding to any last minute emails.Once I am finished with work, I like trying a newrestaurant or activity in the city with friends.

My AdviceI really believe you get out of life what you put intoit. The world is such a large place and there are somany opportunities and resources available nowthat it can be overwhelming at times. Don’t beafraid to go out and explore. Have a few adven-tures and expand your capabilities and interests.

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You get out of life whatyou put into it.


J.E.B. Stuart High SchoolFairfax, VA

University of Maryland College ParkA. James Clark School of Engineering

College Park, MDBachelor of Science in Biological

Resources Engineering

University of Maryland College ParkA. James Clark School of Engineering

College Park, MDMaster of Science in Bioengineering

THE PATH I TOOK

I work in Harford County BiomedicineThe branch of medical science that applies biological and physiologicalprinciples to clinical practice.

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Shaya J.Product Development/Biomedical Engineer

SAIC


Bioscience

My InspirationThere are many people who inspire me – thosein the business world, local community membersand others who perform random acts of kind-ness. Traits of those who inspire me include drive,dedication and a willingness to make sacrifices toachieve what they want out of their lives. I believethat inspiration can come from almost anywhere.You just need to stop and take notice.

My Choices & Key DecisionsMany times your first job after college is not theone you see yourself in forever. I took a job aftercollege, but I got to a point where I wantedmore. It was a good job, just not something Iwanted to do long term. I decided to leave theposition even though I did not have another joblined up. Three weeks later, I started a new job.Today, I use skills that I learned from both jobs.Don’t be afraid to take chances — just makesure they are well thought out.

My Favorite SubjectI really liked the lab activities in my science

classes. I also enjoyed gym class because it wasa great way to blow off steam and get movingafter sitting in a chair for extended periods oftime.

What I DoManaging a sales team of 13, we work withcolleges and universities to teach studentsabout loans, financial literacy and debt man-agement. My job duties include establishingnew products, coaching team members andhelping the bank assist students and theirfamilies.

Why I Do ItI am inspired by helping students achieve theirgoal of going to college. I also get to talk tofamilies to help them understand the highereducation process.

My Typical DayI get to do different things every day whichhelps to keep my job new and exciting.There really never is a typical day. I start

my morning witha cup of coffee and

checking my e-mail tosee if there is anything that needs my atten-tion from the night before. My staff and Itravel a lot so we do not always work thetypical 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule. Most ofus end up doing work late at night in thehotel. I usually have several meetings dur-ing the day with other managers, businesspartners and my team. My tasks includecreating budgets for spending and travel,employee and product development andcollaborating with other departmentswithin the bank. When I am traveling, I at-tend trade shows, meetings with clients andplanned conference activities.

My AdviceExperience as much as you can in high schooland college. Get involved because the moreyou are involved — the more experiences yougain. What you learn may one day help you toplan your future.

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Don’t wait for things tohappen to you. Make

them happen.


Northern Garrett High SchoolAccident, MD

Frostburg State UniversityFrostburg, MD

Sociology Major/Business Minor


Master of Science in Management

THE PATH I TOOK

Financial ManagersPlan, direct and coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, secu-rities and other financial activities.

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Jason V.Vice President

of National SalesPNC Bank


I work in Garrett County

Finance

222

My InspirationWhen I was growing up, my parents got me in-terested in the outdoors. We spent a lot of timein the mountains and sailing on the Chesa-peake Bay. While at those beautiful places, Ideveloped a deep sense of appreciation for thebeauty of the natural world. My parents notonly showed me those places but gave me a lotof independence to explore them. By secondgrade or so, I could row a little boat by myselfand explore pristine shorelines and the head-waters of little creeks.

My Choices & Key DecisionsIn undergraduate school, I had one particu-larly amazing summer. I spent half of thetime in Alaska studying bald eagles as part ofa student field studies program. I got to livein a tent at the base of a glacier. The rest ofthe summer, I found work as a deckhand ona tall ship in Mystic, CT. During this time, I

decided to combine my interest in conserva-tion and environmental issues with my loveof being on the water into my current career.

My Favorite SubjectAs a high school graduate, I enjoyed subjectssuch as art and science because they allowedme to be creative and go outdoors.

What I DoThe current oyster population in the Chesa-peake Bay is only about 1 percent of historiclevels. We need more of them because oystersclean the water by filtering as they eat, and theirreefs create habitat for other species. As an oys-ter biologist, I work with state and federal agen-cies and non-profits to build oyster reefs.

Why I Do ItMy job gives me the opportunity to help im-prove the health of the Chesapeake Bay plus I

get to spend timeoutdoors.

My Typical DayMy days vary a lot, which I like. Some days Ispend in front of a computer while others Imeet with partner organizations and co-workers to plan oyster restoration projectsand develop policies that support those proj-ects. The best days of all are the ones I get tospend aboard boats, seeing the projects I’veplanned actually go into the water.

My AdviceFind your bliss, as my good friend always says.Do what you love, and if you have a particulartalent that you also love, then focus on that.There are so many amazing careers out there,and if you apply creativity and ingenuity youcan probably build your own career doingthings you love.

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If you apply creativity and ingenuity, you can

probably build your owncareer doing things

you love.


Harper’s Choice MiddleColumbia, MD

Centennial High School Ellicott City, MD

University of Maryland College ParkCollege Park, MD

Bachelor of Science

Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MDMaster Degree

THE PATH I TOOK

Marine BiologistThe scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackishbodies of water.

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Stephanie W.Oyster Biologist

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


I work in Anne Arundel County

Earth Science

My InspirationMy students inspire me every day to continueteaching. I also have a mentor who is a retiredteacher and assistant principal, Patricia Mar-tin, who I speak to and go to for advice. Shehas always been honest with me, telling meexactly how things are even if it is not some-thing I want to hear.

My Favorite SubjectGrowing up in Oregon, my favorite subject wasmathematics. I loved solving math problemsbecause there was always one answer — nopossibility for additional responses. My favoriteclass was calculus because as the problems be-came more complex, the challenge of solvingsuch problems made it more fun and exciting.

What I DoAs a math teacher at Overlea High School, I

lead classes and mentor students. My job alsoinvolves writing, revising and editing lessonplans. Hearing the words ‘thank you’ and get-ting compliments from my students is one ofthe best benefits to my job.

Why I Do ItI honestly became a teacher because I thoughtit would be easy and a break from getting myPh.D. in psychology. I never realized howmuch work teachers really do. Even though itseems like it will get easier each year, it trulynever does. You must keep up to date with allthe changes that are occurring around the stateand county as well as know what’s hip in orderto find a way to capture the students’ attentionand motivate them.

My Typical DayI am not a morning person so when I wake

up I’m usuallyrunning around the

house trying to getready and make sure I get to work on time.I teach three classes for an hour and a halfeach. Duty, which is substituting in an-other class or doing hall monitoring, is atask I do every other day which lasts about45 minutes. I spend the remainder of theday running around trying to makecopies, preparing the next day’s lessonplan and grading papers. After school, Iattend Notre Dame of Maryland Univer-sity where I am taking classes toward myPh.D. in instructional leadership. I teachswimming after school until 7:30 p.m fivedays a week.

My AdviceNever give up. Just try and you will under-stand.

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Never give up. Just try and you will understand.


THE PATH I TOOK

I work in Baltimore County CalculusThe branch of mathematics that deals with the finding andproper ties of derivatives and integrals of functions.

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Arra C.Math TeacherBaltimore County

Public Schools


Education

Jesuit High SchoolPortland, OR

Loyola UniversityBaltimore, MD

Bachelors of Science in Psychology & Biology

Towson UniversityTowson, MD

Master of Arts in Experimental Psychology

Notre Dame of Maryland UniversityBaltimore, MD

Pursuing a doctorate degree in instructional leadership

My InspirationMy parents taught me about sacrifice, publicservice, personal responsibility, hard work andthat excuses are obstacles to true growth andprogress. I am also inspired by the late lawyerand U.S. Supreme Court Justice ThurgoodMarshall who used his abilities to make Amer-ica better. He chose to fight against discrimi-nation and inequality in areas of race, genderand disability.

My Choices & Key DecisionsOver the course of eight years, I participatedas a volunteer staff member and mentor forthe Maryland Youth Leadership Forum. Thechairperson for the event is now my boss.The experience gave me the opportunity todemonstrate skills that she valued which ledto an opportunity to work together in the future.

My Favorite SubjectEnglish, social studies, Spanish and musicwere the ones I enjoyed the most. I also liked

reading different kinds of books about topicsI was interested in.

What I DoAs deputy secretary, I direct development, im-plementation, and communication of theagency’s policy initiatives across state govern-ment through the State’s Disabilities Plan. I co-ordinate the department’s legislative agendabefore the General Assembly and supervise pro-fessional staff in policy domains.

Why I Do ItWorking at the Department of Disabilities, Ihave the ability to help people and use the lawand policy to create good outcomes for peoplewith disabilities.

My Typical DayDuring the legislative session, my day startsaround 6 a.m. I eat breakfast with my wife and2-year-old son before heading out for my hour-long commute. By 9 a.m., my work day beginswith a variety of tasks on my to-do list. I attend

meetings with mystaff or other policy

makers from around thestate. Reviewing and editing documents aboutpolicy issues in matters like education, employ-ment, health, community living or transporta-tion is another job duty. Throughout the day, Ireview my calendar, return e-mails and phonecalls and tend to administrative duties. I final-ize written or oral testimony for any bills hear-ing that day. Eating lunch on the way, I drivefrom our Baltimore office to Annapolis to dropoff testimony and attend bill hearings or worksessions we are following. I often meet with leg-islators, their staff, staff from advocacy groupsor other state agencies to discuss pending mat-ters or issues. Because bill hearings can last intothe evening hours, I usually get home between7 and 8 p.m.

My AdviceAlways be willing to take on additional tasks androles in your work. Do all the parts of your jobas well as you can, particularly the tasks youdon’t find interesting.

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Do all the parts of your jobas well as you can,

particularly the tasks youdon’t find interesting.


Randallstown High School Baltimore County, MD


Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/ Criminology

University of Maryland School of LawBaltimore, MDJuris Doctorate

THE PATH I TOOK

I work in Baltimore City Maryland Department of DisabilitiesMDOD advances the rights and interests of people with disabilities so theymay fully par ticipate in their communities.

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George F.Deputy SecretaryMaryland Department

of Disabilities


Government

My InspirationWhen I was a toddler, my father finished hisservice in the U.S. Army. He then went to Touga-loo College on a basketball scholarship. On theweekends, he would hitch-hike from school tocome home to be with his family. He taught methe importance of pursuing an education to bet-ter yourself and provide for your family. Mymother is a stalwart in the community where Igrew up and always strives to provide for underprivileged children.

My Choices & Key DecisionsAfter serving in three rather intensive positionsin President George W. Bush’s Administration, Imade a decision that my next career phase wouldbe to serve children’s needs in some capacity. Iresponded to an executive recruiter’s search fora few positions. They were both opportunitieswhere I could have made a lot of money for myfamily, but it would have required being awayfrom home long hours, travel, etc. These were allof the things that I didn’t like about my jobs. I ex-plained to the recruiter that, after working exten-sive hours and traveling so much, what I was

looking for in the next stage of my career had tobe about providing a better foundation for chil-dren. As she promised, she did pass my resumeon to another department in her organization,and they called me about a couple of children’sadvocacy positions which I applied for and waschosen to lead a public policy office for a nationalchild welfare foundation.

My Favorite SubjectScience offered me hands-on experiences whilesocial studies presented the application of geog-raphy as it relates to the world and government.

What I DoI help our employees and schools in specific com-munities become more strategic about reachingspecific goals in Science, Technology, Education,and Math (STEM) outcomes. Battelle alsolaunched an advocacy group called STEMx lastJune to which I provide policy or advocacy sup-port as a part of my job duties.

Why I Do ItMy job allows me to create and implement new

programs. I enjoysupporting efforts to

make children’s lives better.

My Typical DayAs a parent, my day begins by trying to shepherdmy children out the door for school. After fight-ing traffic to get to work, I usually have a littlecalm before meetings begin. One thing I’velearned is to give yourself space between meet-ings. My days range from conference calls tomeetings with education officials across theWashington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia region.

My AdviceHigh school graduation is an accomplishment,but it’s important for students to know that it’sone of your first achievements in life. A typicallife-span today is 79 years, so you might notknow exactly what you’ll be doing over the next60 years. Plan for a robust, mind-challenging life.Be prepared to be flexible and always apply les-sons learned before moving on to the next stagein life. Talk to adults who are employed whereyou might want to be employed.

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High school graduation isan accomplishment but it’s important to know

that it’s one of your firstachievements in life.


Franklin County SchoolMeadville, MS

Franklin County High SchoolMeadville, MS

Mississippi CollegeClinton, MS

Bachelor of Science in Management

Jackson State UniversityJackson, MS

MBA with a Management Focus

THE PATH I TOOK

I work in Harford County Corporate CitizenshipThe extent to which businesses are socially responsible for meeting legal, ethical and economic responsibilities placed on them by shareholders. The aim is for businesses to create higher standards of living and quality of life in the communities in which they operate, while still preserving profitability for stakeholders.

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Regina S.Director,

Corporate Engagement& Education OutreachBattelle Memorial Institute


Education

My InspirationMy family is the reason I get up every morningand do what I do every day.

My Choices & Key DecisionsI had a job working on cars, but I did not seean opportunity for growth. My father was aplumber and the trade intrigued me. I decidedto quit in order to work as a plumbing appren-tice for my father. Later, I decided to open upmy own business. I’ve always wanted to be myown boss, and the entrepreneur spirit waswithin me.

My Favorite SubjectI always enjoyed mathematics because severalof my hobbies, such as working on cars andbuilding things, required me to use it. In highschool, I figured out I would need to use it inmy future career.

What I DoI design, install and repair plumbing systems

and gas piping in homes, restaurants, officebuildings and construction sites. As the busi-ness owner, I also negotiate pricing with mysuppliers, manage a crew of employees, answercustomer’s questions and write contracts forlarger jobs.

Why I Do ItI’ve always enjoyed putting things together,and placing pipe in a house is like working ona big puzzle. I enjoy helping my customers be-cause seeing them smile when a job is welldone is inspiring.

My Typical DayMy work day begins in my home office be-tween 6:30 and 7 a.m. I go over what isscheduled for each employee for the dayand make sure they have what they need.My employees arrive at the office at7:30 a.m. They get their vans straightenedup from the day before and we go overtheir planned day. They leave for their

first job or servicecall by 8:30 a.m.

After my employeesleave, my day varies. Some days, I have afull schedule of service calls to go on. Thecalls could be simple half hour jobs orcould take all day. Occasionally, I’ll gowith my employees to help them on jobs.My day could also include driving fromjob site to job site to meet potentialclients, pulling permits and checking onwork that is being done. Another task in-cludes doing paper work such as estimatesand contracts for builders and homeown-ers. My day normally ends around 4p.m. Since we are a 24-hour emergencycompany, if the phone rings at any hour, Iwill go on a call.

My AdviceA little dedication and hard work now will payoff in your future. Study hard and learn asmuch as you can when you can.

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A little dedication and hard work

now will pay off in the future.


Baker Middle SchoolDamascus, MD

Damascus High SchoolDamascus, MD

Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors(PHCC) Apprenticeship Program

to obtain state Journeyman Plumber License

THE PATH I TOOK

Skilled tradeThis term refers to occupations where the normal course to a fully trainedjourneyperson is a four-year apprenticeship.

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Jason P.Owner and Plumber

Palmer’s Plumbing


I work in Queen Anne’s County

Engineering

My InspirationFor the past two years, one of my players hasbeen fighting thyroid cancer. She was diagnosedthe day after she graduated from high school. Shehas been down a difficult road for a 19-year-old,a road no one should have to travel. However, ifyou met her you would never know it. Cancerhas not stopped her from living her life. She hasinspired me to continue to live my life to thefullest, no matter what it throws at me and to doit with a smile on my face.

My Choices & Key DecisionsWhen I graduated from college, I was ready topursue an elementary teaching position. Mycollege basketball coach, Billy Finney, askedme about my plans for the future and if I hadever considered becoming a graduate assistant.The job was for a full-time basketball assistantat Gettysburg College and, in return, theywould pay for me to receive my master’s de-gree. Coach Finney offered to call on my be-half. I got the interview and was offered theposition. Do I take the path I had been prepar-ing for academically for four years to pursue,

or do I attempt something I never expected todo? With the support of my family, I took theposition at Gettysburg. Looking back, it was amajor stepping stone in how I got to where Iam today.

My Favorite SubjectSocial studies, psychology and sociology werethe ones I enjoyed the most because of the en-thusiasm my teachers at high school demon-strated in the classroom. My teachers had such apositive impact on my life.

What I DoI am the leader of the women’s basketball pro-gram at Marymount University. Because weare a Division III school, our players do not re-ceive atheletic scholarships. They play for thelove of the game. In season, we practice sixdays a week for two hours. I plan, organize andrun practices, scout out opponents, break-down game film, and monitor the academicprogress of my players. Another aspect to myjob is recruiting admissible student-athletes,which is a year-long process.

Why I Do ItIt is rewarding to help

my players reach their potential. My players in-spire me to do my job.

My Typical DayMy schedule depends on whether I am in-seasonor out-of-season. In-season we can put in 10-hour workdays, six days a week. A typical day in-season focuses on how to prepare my team forour next game. I watch film of our most recentgame, begin to focus on our next opponent, andread scouting reports. Our practices consist ofteaching fundamentals, player development,strategies and conditioning. Once practice is over,I will make calls to recruits. My staff and I travelup and down the east coast to evaluate players.

My AdviceMake things happen for yourself. I think this ispossible through a strong work ethic, integrityand service to others. Do not expect things tohappen for you because of who your parents areor where you are from. Make an honest name foryourself.

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Make things happen for yourself.


Ridgely Middle SchoolLutherville-Timonium, MD

Mercy High SchoolBaltimore, MD

THE PATH I TOOK

I grew up in Baltimore County Graduate AssistantA person who serves in a suppor t role at a university, usually whilecompleting post-graduate education.

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Ashlee C.Head Women’s

Basketball CoachMarymount University


Athletics

Marymount UniversityArlington, VA

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology withMinor in Elementary Education

McDaniel CollegeWestminster, MD

Master of Science in Special Education

My InspirationMy father always inspired me and taught me at avery young age that it’s important to be willingto try new things. When I was 5 years old, I wassigned up for soccer, but didn’t want to play. Hetold me that I had to try it and, if I didn’t like it, Iwouldn’t have to keep playing. I ended up lovingsoccer. It was a good lesson learned, and one thatI have kept with me my whole life.

My Favorite SubjectMy favorite class in high school was pre-calcu-lus. This class was a foundation of advanced al-gebra and trigonometry to help prepare me forthe many calculus courses taken as an engineer-ing student in college. We focused on areas suchas conic sections, vectors and more. Throughoutthe early stages in my career, this course reallyhelped me with the in-depth analysis required.

My Choices & Key DecisionsMy high school was very small; in fact, my grad-uating class had only 69 students. I knew Iwanted to attend the University of Maryland at

College Park, but needed a “stepping stone” tohelp myself transition from a small high schoolto such a large university. I decided to go to theUniversity of Maryland, Eastern Shore for threesemesters and then transferred to College Park.That really helped me to prepare. I also facedsome key decisions about my career path. Dur-ing my junior year of college, the engineeringprogram at Maryland became very challenging.I thought about changing my major and goingto culinary school. My parents, having owned arestaurant since I was very young, made methink that was the path I wanted to pursue. But,I had to weigh the pros and cons of running arestaurant against the opportunities I wouldhave if I completed my degree in engineering. Iended up sticking with engineering, and I amglad I did.

What I DoI am a Technical Manager with the Suborbitaland Special Orbital Project Directorate. I leadand support efforts involving prospective newaerospace flight projects, scientific research and

technology develop-ment activities at the

Wallops Flight Facility.Activities include working with prospective cus-tomer organizations from NASA, other govern-ment agencies, industry and academia to assessthe technical feasibility of accomplishing theirprojects at Wallops. I also work with Wallops or-ganizations to develop technical plans, schedules,and estimated costs.

Why I Do ItI love what I do. It is very unique work, and beinga part of it is exciting. The projects I am con-tributing to are diverse and extremely dynamic. Ienjoy working with each and every organizationat Wallops, within the NASA Agency, and exter-nal customers within the Department of Defenseand the commercial industry.

My AdviceSome people won’t make decisions because theyfear being wrong. Be the person who is willingto decide. Don’t be afraid to try. If you do makea mistake, learn from it and move on.

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If you do make a mistake, learn from

it and move on.


Woodson Middle & High School Crisfield, MD

University of Maryland Eastern Shore Princess Anne, MD

transferred out

University of Maryland College Park College Park, MD

Bachelor in Engineering


Master in Engineering

THE PATH I TOOK

I work on the Eastern Shore AerospaceThe branch of technology and industry concerned with both aviation and space flight.

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Keith T.AST, Technical

ManagerNASA Goddard Space

Flight Center / Wallops Flight Facility


Aerospace

MY INSPIRATIONMy dad showed me the meaning of having apassion for something and working hard toachieve your goals. When I was seven, hestarted his own company. I watched him takea one office local company and grow it into amulti-national corporation. He was able tofind a balance between his love for his kidsand his passion for his company in a way thatmade me know how much he loved me whilestill being immensely successful.

MY CHOICES AND KEY DECISIONSWhen I was a junior in high school, I got in-volved with a youth group called Young Life. At first, it was just a fun place to go hang outand meet new people, but along the way I re-alized what it meant to have a relationshipwith God. My senior year, I decided to makea commitment to myself and Jesus to live mylife in a way that would be pleasing to Him.From that point on, I knew that my life wouldbe an adventure and that, as long as my pri-orities were in line, my life would be success-ful. My commitment has given me the

strength to make scary decisions such asmoving my husband and myself to Switzer-land for my job.

MY FAVORITE SUBJECTIn high school, I loved math and science.

WHAT I DOAs a financial statement auditor, I work withcompanies who have to issue financial state-ments to their shareholders. I review the ac-counting and financial ledgers to ensure theyare correct. Throughout an audit, I workclosely with the employees at the client site toreview and test different schedules and esti-mates. I work with several different teamsthroughout the year for a variety of clients,which makes my job extremely interesting.Most people assume I do taxes since I am anaccountant, but I don’t even do my own taxes!

WHY I DO ITMy job challenges me on a regular basis whichI enjoy. I like constantly learning new things.

MY TYPICAL DAYThere is no such thing

as a typical day for me be-cause I am always going to different client sitesand working on a variety of projects. I typi-cally wake up around 5:30 a.m. and go to thegym. I’ll come home, have breakfast with myhusband and get ready for work. My commutewill either take me to my office or the client’s of-fice. I check my email, have a status meetingwith my team and work on analyzing a reportprovided by the client. I spend lunch with myteam. Once we have finished, I call or stop bythe client’s office to have a meeting. A progressupdate with my manager is next to make surethings are going as planned. I read through fi-nancial statements and provide comments to theclient. After my work day comes to a close, I gohome and have dinner with my husband.

MY ADVICEDon’t live in a bubble. Go out into the world,not just the United States, and make a differ-ence. Don’t settle for just getting by. Be ex-traordinary.

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Don’t live in a bubble. Go out into the world

and make a difference.


Trinity SchoolIllchester, MD

Maryvale Preparatory School Brooklandville, MD


Majored in Accounting and Finance

THE PATH I TOOK

AuditAn official inspection of an individual’s or organization’s accounts, typicallyby an independent body.

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Lindsey W.Audit Senior Associate

KPMG


I work in Baltimore City

Audit

222

My InspirationMy paternal grandfather was born in 1900 andwas a man of many trades. He was a baker,electrician, brick mason, corner store ownerand handyman. He built his house, which stillstands today in Atlanta, by hand. He gave theneighborhood children candy if they broughthim undamaged bricks. My family was notwealthy, however, my grandfather used hishands to build a life for himself. He gives truemeaning to the saying “You should know a lit-tle bit about a lot.” He was a hard workerwhose work ethic has been passed downthrough the generations.

My Choices & Key DecisionsI made a decision to stay beyond my four yearcommitment in the military. I did an evalua-tion of the opportunities that were afforded tome through the various military programs ver-sus going into the civilian engineering sector.Despite the ongoing conflicts in Iraq andAfghanistan, I wanted to explore what theArmy had to offer.

My Favorite SubjectUnderstanding and interpreting data collectionin statistics was intriguing to me. I also enjoyedbiology and genetics classes. Understanding thebody and the genetic structure of what made mewho I am was very interesting.

What I DoMy job entails working with scientists and re-searchers to develop future products and systems.I aim to facilitate government contracts to get theU.S. Army the goods and services it needs andhelp to establish cooperative research agreementswith universities across the country.

Why I Do ItI love this country, and I am proud of my serviceto this nation. My job is fun because there are al-ways new concepts to explore. It is inspiring toknow my efforts in developing products will im-prove the Army’s future capabilities.

My Typical DayMy day starts early when the alarm buzzes at 5

a.m. I get ready forthe day and commute.

Before I start work, I ar-rive at the gym at 7:30 a.m. for a workout. Mywork day starts at 9 a.m. and consists of consult-ing with scientists and researchers on how toprocure the items needed to suit their needs andfurther their research. No day is the same. I meetwith the director(s) to gauge the future require-ments in order to create a realistic execution planfor my staff. By 4 p.m., I am closing out emails,doing a daily review of all my contract actionsand prioritizing pending contracts for the nextfew days.

My AdviceEven though, sometimes, it seems as though youare made to consume useless information, take achance and do your best. Engaging these taskshead on and being familiar with these conceptswill help to shape your future. Who knows? Youmay truly have an interest in topics that soundboring, like mathematics and physics, but haven’tfigured out yet that your passion is for advancedalgorithms that control robots.

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Even though, sometimes, it seems as though youare made to consumeuseless information,

take a chance and do your best.


Westlake High SchoolAtlanta, GA

Florida A&M UniversityTallahassee, FL

Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering

Missouri University of Science & TechnologyRolla, MO

Master in Engineering Management

THE PATH I TOOK

StatisticsThe practice or science of collecting and analyzing numerical data in largequantities.

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Major Nicole C.U.S. Army Acquisition Officer

Army Research Laboratory


I work in Prince George’s County

Government

MY INSPIRATIONMy grandfather always believed I could doanything I wanted to do. He taught me thatanything I put my heart behind, I couldachieve. He was a very wise man. We traveledtogether a lot when I was a child. He showedme a lot of the country. Our trip to Nebraskawas one of the best. We got to see a nationalmodel airplane competition.

MY CHOICES AND KEY DECISIONSMy original field of study in college was archi-tecture. As I began studying, I decided Iwanted to be more hands on with my futurejob. I had always been good at repairingthings, yet I didn’t want to be restricted to anoffice job. I decided to change majors from ar-chitecture to automotive repairs.

MY FAVORITE SUBJECTWhile in high school, my technology educa-tion teacher put together a course geared to-ward competing in the National EngineeringDesign Challenge.

The contest asks a group to create a machineor product that can help improve people’slives. The year I participated, the task was tobuild a machine able to carry groceries for dis-abled people. We designed a machine thatcould climb stairs and travel multiple differentterrains carrying groceries.

WHAT I DOI repair a variety of equipment from largeitems such as locomotives, cranes and genera-tors to smaller equipment like chain saws.There is a lot of special equipment they use, soit’s a pretty broad spectrum. Some of theequipment we can repair reasonably quickly,but if there is a major project, some of the stuffcan take as long as a week.

WHY I DO ITWhen something breaks, I modify or repairthe item to work and function for what weneed it to do. I feel like I really accomplishedsomething when I can look back and see myachievements.

MY TYPICAL DAYMy day starts before

the sun comes up. I’ll check on my son first be-fore getting ready for work. My almost 20-minute commute starts around 5:15 a.m.which allows me to beat rush hour traffic.Once I reach work, we have a morning safetymeeting to go over all the details of what weare going to do for the day. I’m given my as-signment, and then I go repair whatever I amasked to do. The repair work lasts all day. Myshift ends with going back to the shop and fin-ishing up paperwork before heading home.After picking up my son from daycare, we gohome to spend the afternoon playing together.My wife comes home, and we spend sometime together as a family.

MY ADVICEA lot of people seem to believe math is not thatimportant but when you get into the realworld, you end up using it a lot. You some-times don’t even realize you are using it, butyou actually are.

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A lot of people seem to believe math is not that

important but when you get into the realworld, you end up

using it a lot.


Magothy River Middle School Arnold, MD

Broadneck High School Annapolis, MD

Community College of Baltimore County Catonsville, MD

THE PATH I TOOK

I work in Prince George’s County Automotive EngineeringA branch of mechanical engineering, incorporating elements of mechanical,electrical, electronic, software and safety engineering as applied to the de-sign, manufacture and operation of automobiles, buses, trucks and their re-spective engineering subsystems.

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Anthony L.Mechanic

Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority


Engineering

Lydia H.Lawyer

Tydings & Rosenberg


Law

My InspirationRetired U.S. Supreme Court Justice SandraDay O’Connor has long been an inspira-tional icon for me. After she graduated fromlaw school at the top of her class, she wasturned down for employment by over 40 lawfirms because of her gender. Rather thansurrender her goals, she eventually foundemployment and went on to hold politicaloffice. Her story exemplifies perseveranceand dedication. When I encounter an obsta-cle that seems insurmountable, I remindmyself of Justice O’Connor’s story and amreassured that, where there is a will, there isa way.

My Choices & Key DecisionsI am the first lawyer in my family. Having rec-ognized my interest in the law while in highschool, I pursued internships in college thatexposed me to the law, including working fora domestic violence legal clinic, interning for

an elected official and with lobbyists in An-napolis. The exposure taught me about theprofession and showed me that a legal careerwas the right path for me.

My Favorite SubjectI love science experiments and learning howthe human body works. I also enjoyed socialstudies because we learned about the forma-tion of our country. As a Marylander, I feel solucky to live next door to our nation’s capital.

What I DoThe area of the law where my caseload focusesis business and commercial litigation. I usuallyrepresent businesses in lawsuits where they arebeing sued or are filing a lawsuit against an-other party. The cases sometimes involve con-tracts, personal injuries or property damages.

Why I Do ItThere are no two cases that are exactly alike,

which keeps myjob challenging, re-

warding and fun. Ienjoy learning new things every day andhelping people.

My Typical DayOne thing I love about my job is that no twodays are alike. Some days, I am running be-tween court and the office, while other days Iam busy interviewing witnesses or conductingresearch for my cases.

My AdviceThe business place is becoming increasinglyinternational, and mastering a second lan-guage will give you a competitive advantage.While in high school, I suggest availing your-self of foreign language courses and continuethe study through college. The foreign lan-guage skill will pay dividends.

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The business place is becoming increasingly

international, and masteringa second language willgive you a competitive

advantage.


South River High School Edgewater, MD


Bachelor of Arts in Communication

University of Baltimore School of Law Baltimore, MDJuris Doctorate

THE PATH I TOOK

I work in Baltimore City LobbyistSomeone who is employed to persuade legislators to vote for legislationthat favors the lobbyist’s employer.

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My InspirationMy parents worked their whole lives and pro-vided a good example every day. My mom is ateacher, and the importance of education was al-ways stressed in our house. My father is a super-visor with United Parcel Service. They bothtaught me to treat others kindly and do the rightthing.

My Choices & Key DecisionsWhile in high school, I worked during the sum-mer months on construction/drywall jobs. Theexperience made me see exactly what I did notwant to do for a living. Those were very tough,physical jobs that taxed your body yet didn’t nec-essarily pay well. I walked away from those jobswith the utmost respect for my uncle, who ownshis own drywall business, and manual laborerslike him who have to physically exert themselvesso much in order to make a living. The experi-ence was an additional motivation for me to reachmy goal of working in sports.

My Favorite SubjectI really enjoyed chemistry in high school. I

liked how it incorporated math into explainingthe composition of matter. I had an outstand-ing teacher named Ms. Kidd who made it fun,and she really cared about her students. Often-times, I wish I would’ve pursued that subjectfurther in college.

What I DoAs a scout, I get to evaluate college footballplayers who are eligible for the NationalFootball League draft. While judging theirphysical abilities as a player, I also try to findout what type of person they are off the fieldof play. There are so many benefits to my job.I get paid to travel across the country towatch football and build relationships withcoaches and players. Plus, when our team isputting together the roster, I get to havesome input.

Why I Do ItI’ve had a love of sports in general since I wasyoung, but football has always been my favorite.As a scout, I enjoy the process of trying to build ateam.

My Typical DayMy day varies de-

pending on the season.During football season, I wake up and go toa college or university for the day. I callahead to let them know I am coming so Ican find out where to park, who I shouldspeak to and where I need to go. I’ll spendmy day reviewing film, compiling a list ofdraftable prospects, talking to school per-sonnel and attending practice. After drivingto the next school, I get to my hotel roomand type up reports from my observationsof the day.

My AdviceBeginning at a young age, I played multiplesports, which forced me to manage my timewell. This skill helped me to perform betterin the classroom. Because of my time man-agement, I was able to get involved in thingsoutside of sports like singing in the choir,playing saxophone in the band, mentoringand volunteering. One of the most rewardingthings I have ever done is giving my time tohelp others.

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Beginning at a young age, I played multiple sports,

which forced me to manage my time well.

This skill helped me toperform better in the

classroom.


Ben Davis High School Indianapolis, IN

DePauw University Greencastle, IN

Bachelor of Arts in Economics

Butler University Indianapolis, IN

One year toward Master of Business Administration

THE PATH I TOOK

I work in Baltimore City NFL ScoutEvaluate the talent of collegiate football players with a goal of drafting/signing them to professional contracts.

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David B.Scout

Baltimore Ravens


Athletics

My InspirationMy parents were very supportive and very in-volved in all of my school activities. My dadwas a math teacher and always helped me withmy math homework when I needed it. Mymom helped me with reports and school proj-ects. In high school, my physics teacher wasanother great source of inspiration for me. Hetaught me that life wouldn’t be easy and that Ineeded to work hard to achieve success.

My Choices & Key DecisionsWhen I was in college, I decided to switchmajors. I started as a math major but laterchanged to computer engineering after real-izing that once I graduated my career optionswould be limited with a math degree. I en-joyed math and was good at it, but I didn’twant to be a math teacher. At the time, I feltlike that was my only option with a math de-gree. I wanted a major with a wider range ofopportunities and, after consulting withfriends and counselors, I settled on computerengineering. I’m happy with my decision. Itwas the right choice. Another key choice for

me was seeking intern positions early on. Ata college job fair, I met a nice recruiter fromthe National Security Agency looking for in-terns and co-op students. I applied and wasaccepted for a position. That experience hasshaped the rest of my professional career. Iwould not be where I am today had I notmade that one decision.

My Favorite SubjectI was good at mathematics, plus I thought itwas fun.

What I DoMy fiancé and I came up with an idea for abusiness in the cyber security space based onour experience working in the government. Imanage all non-technical activities like mar-keting, sales, customer support and customeracquisition.

Why I Do ItI like building something of value and workingon challenging problems.

My Typical DayEvery day is a little

different for me. Whenyou run a small business, you end up fillingmore than one role. That’s part of what makesmy job so exciting. I spend a lot of time com-municating with customers, partners and myteam. Running a small business also meansworking long hours. I normally work from thetime I get up to the time I go to bed, but I loveevery minute of it. When I’m not working, Iparticipate at local technology and entrepre-neurship events, and I attend Toastmasters.

My AdviceIt’s OK to fail. I consider myself to be successful,but I’ve had my share of failures and mistakesalong the way. I’ve probably learned more frommy failures than I have from my successes. Thekey is to get back up, and learn from the mistakeso you don’t make the same mistake twice. Lifeis full of challenges and surprises, and nothingever goes as planned. Always have a back upplan. Most importantly, have fun and don’t giveup. Enjoying what you’re doing and perseveranceare two key ingredients to success.

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I’ve probably learnedmore from my failures

than I have from mysuccesses.


THE PATH I TOOK

Cyber securityComputer security is a branch of computer technology known as information security as applied to computers and networks.

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Zuly G.Co-Owner

Light Point Security


I work in Baltimore County

Cybersecurity

Duggan Middle SchoolSpringfield, MA

Springfield Central High SchoolSpringfield, MA

University of Puerto RicoMayaguez Campus

Puerto RicoBachelor of Science in Computer Engineering

Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD

Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering

My InspirationI try to be Christ-like every day. He is the ulti-mate example of how to treat and lead othersand be a positive influence. My father also in-spires me because he is a man who leads withcompassion and conviction. He is a great leaderwho has been successful, yet, when faced withtough times, he came out on top, thanks to per-severance.

My Choices & Key DecisionsFor four years, I was the general manager of aChick-fil-A in Hagerstown. Throughout mytenure there, I was able to learn from the ownerwhat it takes to run a business. When I foundout the Chick-fil-A in my hometown was with-out an owner, I decided to apply to own it.After several interviews and two trips to At-lanta, I was selected as the next owner. I enjoythe freedom of being a business owner as I getto make my own schedule and eat the foodwhenever I like.

My Favorite SubjectWhile attending Beall Junior/Senior High School,

I had a really great mathematics teacher whomade learning the material fun. I grew to love al-gebra. A business management and marketingclass was my favorite at Allegany College ofMaryland. Hearing real life experiences from myprofessors who had also owned a business orworked in a marketing job for a company wasvery valuable.

What I DoAs an owner, I aim to build leaders at my busi-ness to reach the goals I have set forth in areassuch as sales, profit, food and labor cost andguest experiences. I regularly have meetingswith my team, either individually or as a whole,to make sure my expectations are clear and weare striving to reach the goals set forth. Usingreports, I track and monitor our progress andhold those in leadership accountable to stan-dards and goals. I also work with the marketingteam to build the business and help out in thecommunity.

Why I Do ItI love to interact with my team and guests be-

cause they are thepeople who make my

days at the restaurantgreat. I owe them a lot because without them, Iwouldn’t have a business.

My Typical DayBefore heading to the restaurant, I start off myday with coffee and helping my wife get our kidsto school. Once I get to work, I check in with myteam to prepare the day’s game plan and assist inany way I can. I check reports such as sales, serv-ice and costs and make adjustments to keep thebusiness on track to meet our goals. I respond toe-mails, texts and phone calls. I’ll meet again withsome or all of my leaders to see what they are fo-cusing on that day with the business. Before Ihead for home, I talk with team members to seehow everything is going and return any outstand-ing messages.

My AdviceAlways appreciate your teachers, especially theones who enhance your learning in a subject younever thought you would be good at or interested

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Always appreciate your teachers, especially

the ones who enhanceyour learning in a subject

you never thought youwould be good at or interested in.


Beall Junior High Frostburg, MD

Beall Senior High Frostburg, MD

Allegany College of Maryland Cumberland, MDAssociate Degree

THE PATH I TOOK

I work in Allegany County EntrepreneurA person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking onfinancial risk to do so.

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Bill B.Owner

Chick-fil-A


Business

My InspirationMy mother is a woman of courage and hu-mility. Her success is a result of hard workand diligence. I will always admire hersteadfastness.

My Choices & Key DecisionsI dedicated the summer after earning my un-dergraduate degree to perfecting my resumeand cover letter. I understood that the overalljob market was extremely competitive andthat the field that I had studied was crowded.I had to discover ways in which I could bringvalue to an organization and succinctly con-vey that on my resume and cover letter. Ispent three consecutive weeks visiting the li-brary, reading books on resume writing andself-branding, viewing resumes of commu-nications professionals, reading articles onnew hires, and meeting with local decision-makers. Within four months I had receivedthree full-time offers, all in the realm of mypersonal ideal workplace.

My Favorite SubjectWith a love of grammar and spelling, Englishallowed me to express myself creativelythrough poetry and short stories. When Iwas in college, the classes I enjoyed includedspeech, sociology, family studies, religionand services marketing. These coursesstrengthened my interpersonal skills andoften encompassed a diverse group of majorswhich contributed to great class discussions.

What I DoAs an Outreach Coordinator, I market theUniversity System of Maryland’s collegepreparation campaign, Way to Go MD,through special events, large and small grouppresentations and publication production.

Why I Do ItI love students and enjoy mentoring. Itdoesn’t feel like work, more like paid volun-teer hours.

My Typical DayNone of my work-

days are the same.Some days I leave at 5 a.m. to drive acrossthe state to host assemblies for students ingrades 6-10. Other days I go straight tothe office to market presentations andevents via cold-e-mailing, cold-callingand social media. I may work on draftingstories and events for the way2gomary-land website. After work, I head to a highschool where I coach cheerleading to agroup of 15 girls. Typically, we finish prac-tice around 6:30 p.m. I head home andprepare for the next day.

My AdviceUse your summer months to explore yourcareer interests. Intern or volunteer at anorganization you admire and would seekout for employment. This is how you buildrelationships, develop business etiquette,and strengthen interpersonal skills.

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Intern or volunteer at an organization you admire...

this is how you build relationships, develop

business etiquette and strengthen

interpersonal skills.


Charles Herbert Flowers High SchoolSpringdale, MD

Towson University Towson, MD

Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications


Master of Science in Nonprofit Management

THE PATH I TOOK

MarketingThe action or business of promoting and selling products or services.

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Linnita H.Outreach Coordinator

University System of Maryland



Education

My InspirationIt is hard to say specifically who my inspirationis, but what I can say is that I love biographiesand autobiographies. They give me an opportu-nity to pick the brains of brilliant people whohave made notable impact in our world today. Ifind it fascinating to read about people whoachieve above and beyond average, even whenthe odds are stacked against them. People suchas Martin Luther King, Barack Obama, SteveJobs, and the list continues. More recently, I readabout an evangelist and inspirational speakernamed Nicholas James “Nick” Vujicic. His storyis not like any other, and his influence is simplyremarkable. These people make me work evenharder, knowing that with determination andhard work, all things are possible and there re-ally should never be any excuse as to why I can’taccomplish my goals.

My Choices & Key DecisionsAgreeing to come to the United States was a piv-otal decision in my life. I’m a Nigerian Ameri-can, and I came here at the age of 11. America istruly a land of opportunities. For those who are

able to grasp and hold on to these opportunities,there are no limitations in terms of what theycan achieve. Unfortunately, this is not the casein my birth country.

My Favorite SubjectBiology was the only subject I loved thoroughly.As an aspiring doctor at the time, the prospectof knowing what goes on in my body was reallyexciting for me.

What I DoMy job is to get the word out about our companyand work with potential clients that may be inter-ested in our services and tools. The duties of myjob include researching hacking trends withinvarious industries and managing the company’sonline presence via social media outlets.

Why I Do ItMy boss is an ex-FBI agent. Who doesn’t wantto work for a former FBI agent? I am thrilled toget the chance to work for a start up companyplus it gives me the opportunity to get exposureto professional development.

My Typical DayAs a UMBC student, I

live and breathe booksand sometimes forget what the sun looks like.This is slightly stretching the truth of course. Onan average day, I have anywhere from one tothree classes. If I’m not working, then I love totake afternoon naps, usually after my last class. Iwake up very early and stay up late, so the napsare very helpful. I normally spend at least 45minutes in the gym daily. The library is anotherplace I go for a few hours. Besides school, I amalso president of a student organization. I spendtime planning and talking to my board.

My AdviceI was listening to President Obama’s recent ad-dress to the Morehouse College graduatingclass and he made some remarks that I would liketo live by. I think my advice will go along thoselines. “Excuses are tools of the incompetent usedto build bridges to nowhere and monuments ofnothingness. Those who use them seldomamount to anything.” In other words, take re-sponsibility. Look beyond the difficulties of life,the circumstances, and your fears because beyondthose walls, the impossible becomes possible.

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Look beyond the difficultiesof life, the circumstances,

and your fears because beyond those walls,

the impossible becomes possible.


Martin Luther King Middle School Beltsville, MD

DuVal Senior High SchoolLanham, MD

University of Maryland Baltimore CountyBaltimore, MD

Pursuing Bachelor of Science in Biology/Economics

THE PATH I TOOK

InternA student or a recent graduate undergoing supervised practical training.

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Simon E.UMBC Student

and InternSpotkick



Cybersecurity

I have learned to use the word impossible with the greatest caution.

— Werner von Braun

All our dreams can come true– if we have the courage to

pursue them. — Walt Disney


Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

“There’s no substitute for hard work. Always be humble and hungry.

— Dwayne Johnson

I don’t feel guilty about success. You can’t feel guilty about aspiring to begood at something.

— Justin Timberlake

There isn’t a person anywhere who isn’t

capable of doing morethan he thinks he can.

— Henry Ford

Sometimes the smalleststep in the right directionends up being thebiggest step of your life.Tip toe if you must, but take the step.

— Gemma Stone

Life is not a spectatorsport. If you’re goingto spend your wholelife in the grandstand

just watching whatgoes on, in my opinion

you’re wasting your life. — Jackie Robinson

At home with my study group. At home with affordable Internet.

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Looking for a university that produces successful, well-paid graduates?The College Database says, consider Morgan State University!

Morgan is very proud of being among DiversityComm’s top 25 collegesand universities for African Americans, Hispanics and Women for thepast four years. The University is also included on Forbes Magazine’slist of Top Colleges in America, which is based on data compiled by theCenter for College Affordability and Productivity. Add to that Morgan’srecognition by The College Database for providing “high quality educa-tion at an affordable price,” and you have a fairly complete picture ofthe value of a degree from Morgan State University.

College of Liberal ArtsSchool of Architecture and Planning

Earl G. Graves School of Business and ManagementSchool of Community Health and Policy

School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural SciencesSchool of Education and Urban Studies

Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr., School of EngineeringSchool of Global Journalism and Communication

School of Graduate StudiesSchool of Social Work

www.morgan.edu

Move your career across the goal line to a successful future!

©2013 Morgan State University

Documents

2013-14 Be What I Want To Be Magazine