College Experiences Helped an LA Senior Program Co-Director at Minds Matter SoCal Succeed
To prepare for a career focused on positive global impact, Beth intentionally sought out challenging experiences during undergraduate studies, including two summers teaching at Ramah Navajo High School in New Mexico, where Beth "developed a fabulous relationship with the students," and working at Camp Friendship for young people with physical disabilities. These experiences, outside of Beth's comfort zone, helped Beth define personal priorities and develop valuable skills applicable to a career path centered on service and community engagement.
Cross-Cultural Experience, Community Engagement, Challenging Norms, Personal Growth, Empathy Development
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Beth Garfield
Co-Director, LA Senior Program
Minds Matter SoCal
Stanford University, 1974
University of Michigan Law School
Psychology
Law, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Legal
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. She challenged herself by seeking out experiences that were different from her upbringing, such as teaching at a Native American high school in New Mexico and working at a camp for students with physical disabilities.
2. Through these experiences, she developed strong relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and learned valuable lessons about empathy, persistence, and cultural understanding.
3. She emphasizes the importance of challenging oneself and stepping outside of one's comfort zone to gain personal and professional growth. This includes seeking opportunities that expose you to new perspectives and situations
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
I always felt that I wanted to do good in the world, and I experimented a little in college, figuring out what that was. I remember going my freshman year to the head of the Native American students at Stanford. I think he was called the Indian Student Quarter. That's how I got that.
I said, "I really want to go work on a reservation and I want to go work in a school." He said, "Well, there was someone who went to this school in New Mexico, in Raymond, New Mexico. You might want to check that out."
I did, and I spent two summers teaching at the school. It was one of the first schools run by a Native American community in the United States. It's still exists: Ramah Navajo High School. Before that, most students had been going to Bureau of Indian Affairs schools and boarding schools where they weren't allowed to speak their native language.
This was a fabulous place, but it was tough at first. When I went there, I would sit next to the students, and they would move away. We'd talk in class, and they didn't want to talk, they didn't want to share. I kept persisting and ended up developing a fabulous relationship with the students.
It was interesting because they thought I was from a different tribe. They didn't think I was a white woman; they thought I was a Native American woman, just not a Navajo Native American. It was wonderful.
I lived with two women who were Navajo in a dormitory. It wasn't being used, but they let us use it for the summer. The relationships I built with them were absolutely wonderful. They were both working at the school.
I came back again the summer before I went to law school and worked at the school again, teaching. That was a fabulous experience for me. I think that having experiences like that and really challenging the norms of your life is very important when you are growing up. I think it's important for us throughout all of our lives.
I wanted to put myself in situations that were not like the places I grew up and not necessarily like the people I grew up with. I found that that was a wonderful experience. I also worked at a camp called Camp Friendship in San Diego for two summers.
This camp was for young people who had physical disabilities. I loved that too. Again, I put myself in a situation that wasn't a natural path for me, but I learned so much and grew so much.
When you're young and have the ability to do those things, it's a spectacular way to figure out who you are and what you really prioritize in life.