What An Executive Director At Central Coast State Parks Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Parks And Recreation Industry
Sierra's advice to her younger self is to "say yes" when opportunities arise, even if it feels uncertain, as the right career path may unexpectedly present itself. This unexpected opportunity, which initially felt like "wearing hand-me-downs," allowed for growth and development into the role, demonstrating the importance of perseverance and embracing discomfort in career progression.
Career Development, Overcoming Challenges, Resilience, Job Search, Motivational Stories
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sierra Emrick
Executive Director
Central Coast State Parks Association
UCSB
No
Environmental & Related Sciences
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Sales and Client Management
Scholarship Recipient, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Be open to unexpected opportunities and say "yes" when they arise.
2. It's okay to feel uncomfortable or unprepared in a new role; growth happens through experience.
3. Perseverance and passion are key to finding a fulfilling career that aligns with your skills and interests.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry?
That's such a good question. If I were to go back in time and give my younger self some words of wisdom, I would say you never know when an opportunity will come up. When it does, say yes and then just hold on.
I can elaborate a little more. After college, I worked so hard to find the right career and started losing hope that I'd ever find a job I really liked that also paid enough to sustain my simple lifestyle. But I didn't give up.
I kept working hard and diligently towards the things I was passionate about and good at. Eventually, this opportunity really just fell into my lap. I could have said no, but I said, "Yes, I'll give it a try."
I've just been holding on and growing into it ever since. So it's okay to not know things, and it's okay to feel like you're wearing hand-me-downs, where everything's too big and you're uncomfortable. You will grow into it. Just hang in there and stay the course.