Career Path Of A College School Board President At College School District
Peter's career path, initially aimed at becoming a college president due to "the fun" observed in a college president, took unexpected turns, involving political consulting and global disaster relief work alongside academic pursuits. This ultimately led to the rewarding role of College School Board President, impacting "hundreds of children" and demonstrating how diverse experiences, rather than a linear progression, can lead to fulfilling career outcomes.
Executive/Leadership, Career Development, Overcoming Challenges, Motivational Stories, Higher Education
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Peter Wright
President of the Board
College School District
Occidental College
MPA: University of Southern California; PhD: University of California, Santa Barbara
Political Science, American Studies
Education
Education
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Peter pursued a PhD after college, driven by a desire to become a college president.
2. His career path wasn't linear; he explored diverse fields like political consulting and global disaster relief.
3. He highlights how his college friends' successful careers demonstrate that diverse college majors can lead to fulfilling and unexpected career paths, emphasizing the value of critical thinking skills gained in college over specific major-related skills.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Did you have any internships or jobs before your current role?
I loved college. I would go back in a heartbeat. It was a very special four years for me, so special that I kept going for another 10 more.
My goal was to become a college president because my college president made it look so fun. So that's why I went on to do my PhD.
I loved being a college professor and recognized that the arrow for success we think points straight up. I've found that that is not actually the truth; it kind of goes in a spiral, sometimes it's a rollercoaster.
When I wasn't on the presidential track, I looked at things I was also passionate about, like political consulting and doing development for global disaster relief. Those were really fun opportunities that I've had that matched my skillset.
When you talk about college, I think of some of my best friends from those years. One was an English major, the other was a diplomacy and world affairs major, and they went on to start a chain of very successful restaurants across the country. Nothing about their majors prepared them for that other than the thinking they got to do in their learning.
Another great friend was a French major, and he went on not to do anything with French. He was instrumental in securing LGBTQ+ rights in California and then again nationally.
I think about my career path. How I projected it in my mind has turned out very different, but very happy. Now I love getting to be a college school board president and getting to be instrumental in the lives of hundreds of children. I aim to make sure they have the best conditions in which to learn.