Hello! My name is Samara and I am pursing a career in public administration and nonprofit management. In 2015, I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from a project-based program. Since then I have dedicated my time to working with children in all areas of the field including mentoring, tutoring, and recreation. Over time, I decided to move in a different direction with my career, and instead of being an elementary school teacher, I turned my attention toward nonprofit management/public administration with the goal of putting my organizational skills, flexibility, leadership, and creativity toward helping others in a direct and profound way. I recently earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (with a concentration in Public Management) from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (Graduated Nov. 2022). Over my 15 years of various work experience, I have worn a lot of different hats. The beginning of my working life was consumed by various positions in food service, hospitality, and customer support. From these jobs, I learned how to be patient, how to positively connect and communicate with others, and I developed a strong work ethic and sense of commitment that has permeated throughout all of my work experiences. As I pursued and completed my Bachelor’s Degree, I shifted my work focus to teaching. I was a camp counselor, an art teacher, a tutor, and then a recreation leader for an extended-day after school program. My college education and my teaching experience have given me skills in organization, conflict resolution, behavior management, creative problem solving, and public speaking. In my current role as Assistant Director/Directorial Intern at Bright IDEAS Afterschool Program, I have grown from a teacher into a confident manager and leader. I work hard to be available and responsive to our staff, provide them with resources, build strong connections with community members, and manage activities with openness, kindness, and mutual respect. From hospitality to camp jobs, education, and now public administration, I naturally gravitate toward positions of leadership and problem solving.I look forward to this opportunity to connect with peers in my field as well as with potential employers.