Biggest Challenges Faced By A Military College Faculty At U.S. Marine Corps
Mark's greatest career challenge, as a U.S. Marine Corps Military College faculty member, hasn't been a specific event, but rather the consistent need for resilience in a demanding profession; however, "I rarely had to face it alone," highlighting the crucial role of mentorship, family, and colleagues in navigating hardship and achieving success.
Resilience, Mentorship, Teamwork, Overcoming Challenges, Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Mark J. Desens
Military College Faculty
U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Naval Academy
National Defense University
General Studies / Not Applicable
Aerospace, Aviation & Defense
Education
Honors Student, Veteran, Student Athlete, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Resilience is crucial for overcoming challenges in a demanding career.
2. Strong support networks (family, mentors, colleagues) are essential for navigating career difficulties.
3. Helping others through tough times is a rewarding aspect of the career.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your current role?
The biggest challenge in my career. There were many, and as an old adage in Marine Corps recruiting says, they never promised you a rose garden. They promised challenges, and those challenges are not always easy or fun, to be perfectly honest.
But in every challenge I faced, I rarely had to face it alone. You need resilience to be in a challenging profession and do hard things, but you also have people around you who want to help you be successful. That includes your family, mentors who helped you get where you are, and the people around you at work.
I've spoken before about the kind of people you want in your ready room. If you're lucky, you have those kinds of people around you throughout your career. Like anyone, I faced tough times, but at the right moment, I always had people around me who either picked me back up or helped me get through and push on.
I was fortunate for that. And once in a while, it's very gratifying if I can help someone get through a hard time they're having. But it's all about the mentors and the support you get from your family, your friends, and your coworkers.