KSOE Alumni Spotlight - Maria Rajana

I'm incredibly proud of the overall experience of working on a college campus and meeting all the different folks in all kinds of departments from Academic Affairs to Student Life. I feel validated that my career pivot from middle school teacher to college counselor was the best choice for me in this phase of my life. But if I were to highlight the student experience, I'm also incredibly proud of the students who take a chance on themselves and are vulnerable during the job search, including on-campus jobs, or grad school application process and choose me to be a part of that journey; it can be mentally and emotionally challenging to write graduate school responses for 10+ questions or complete a new resume for a new job and then prepare for different types of interviews i.e. 1:1, multiple mini interview (MMI), panel interview, or virtual. The process of 'professionalization' is labor and when the students I've worked with from beginning to end succeed and get accepted into their top choice graduate/professional school or land the full-time job before graduation, then my heart is full and I'm privileged to witness the many hours of preparation and dedication being rewarded. Then on top of that, these students and alumni have taken time and generously showed me their appreciation, including big smiles and hugs, sweet treats, handwritten notes and thank you emails, self-care products, and a lego orchid! As I like to empower and validate students, I am also in return feeling validated that working with students outside of the classroom was the best choice for me.

I find that the SMC community (faculty/staff, students) offers diverse programming events that are open for staff and that's the most rewarding factor of working at SMC. Since the school is accessible in terms of size and population, there is always an event to drop into or a new person to meet. As a relatively new Career Counselor (less than 5 years in the job), I want to "practice what I preach" so if I say "networking is important," then I need to put myself out there in spaces on campus to make those meaningful connections. For the first time this semester, I attended Coffee & Communitas and met faculty from SEBA and heard about their curriculum and different program initiatives. Last semester, I stepped foot inside Alemany Community to participate in Soup & Substance and shared good food and space with a few Brothers and new faces. And as an Educator for over 10+ years, I always want to support students and meet more of them on campus from all majors and grade levels; I like to schedule at least 1 non-job related event a week to literally meet students where they're at i.e. Ensemble Assemblage in the Museum of Art, Crafternoons in the Library, or anything that Student Disability Services offers.

Outside of working inside and outside the home, I enjoy reading mystery-thriller novels, non-fiction, YA literature and if I can't read as much at home, then I save the book and bring it with me to the Quiet Book Club at SMC. I also enjoy collecting miniature figurines that go well in my 2 outdoor fairy gardens i.e. mushroom houses, mini lamp posts, mini fireplaces. I watch a lot of inspirational home improvement and organizing shows as well. Having interests outside of work is important and sometimes it's a common ground between me and a new person. However, I do bring it back to work and I tell students it shows employers that you have well-balanced and creative outlets in addition to being a professional so it's okay to share that with employers and/or future graduate programs.