Saturday, October 11, 2014

Persistence is Key

I serve as the Student Evaluation Assistant for the University of Illinois Extension. Over the summer of 2014 the 4-H Summer Nutrition Program provided workshops in many counties across Illinois. The workshop purpose was to inform the students about the importance of a healthy lifestyle and to provide tips and methods to ensure a healthy lifestyle for the students. The workshops were instructed by selected teen leaders from the 4-H program. My objective is to collect, analyze and enter the end of program survey evaluations into an online database. Initially I applied for another position through Extension and was turned down. After being interviewed the first time by my current supervisor Dr. Pennie Crinion, I believed  I made a great impression even though I was declined the offer. Persistent with my efforts, I constantly contacted Dr. Crinion about any positions available just to gain experience. A few weeks after being declined, I received an email from Dr. Crinion offering me the Student Evaluation Assistant. The most important lesson I learned during this experience is that persistence is vital and to always remain motivated.