I am a licensed Career Development Coordinator at Rockingham County High School in Rockingham County Schools, North Carolina. I support high school students by providing career advising, exploration, exposure and work based learning opportunities. Prior to becoming a CDC, I was a School Counselor for eighteen years and involved in education at various levels for over twenty years. I particularly enjoy helping low-income, first-generation, socioeconomically disadvantaged populations overcome personal and educational barriers. Working with students individually is what I do best and my strongest asset is the ability to form positive, respectful collaborations with students, parents, and other educational stakeholders. In addition to having counseled adolescents for almost two decades, I have taught preschool, tutored and counseled elementary students, taught Special Education at the middle school level, served as an Adjunct Sociology and Psychology Instructor at the community college level, and served as an Academic Advisor for undergraduate and graduate students at the university level. Overall, I am a strong advocate for non-traditional, first-generation students and those struggling with adversity. There is no greater reward than empowering students to successfully maneuver challenges to foster their personal growth and meet their educational and career goals.