Chantell Bailey

Responsibilities

My main responsibilities included client intake, styling women professionally, guiding them through available programs, and serving as a confidence booster. I worked with women who had fallen on hard times and were looking to re-enter the workforce, so we were their first line of defense. This also means that a major responsibility of mine was to always lead with empathy and compassion.

Accomplishments

Having a major hand in coordinating events wasn't something that I anticipated, but they were all wonderful experiences. I had the pleasure of organizing a Ladies Night where the main focus was on expressing to women the importance of self-care, both physically and mentally. Mental self-care tied in with a mindfulness and meditation class, which was a 2-parter to Ladies Night. Hosting events is great, but knowing that it's helping women who truly deserve and need it means the most.

Learning experience

The greatest lesson I learned was that every day is a new start. Don't go in thinking that every encounter with a client will be textbook. Sometimes people may come in needing help, and you'll have to meet them where they are and try to help them in a way that is specific to what they feel they need, rather than assuming. Some days don't go as planned, but you just work through them, learn from them, and add the experiences to your toolbox.

What advice would you give?

If Human Development and Family Studies is your major, my advice to you is to always lead with humility and empathy. This major means that you may work closely with individuals who may not always have a positive experience in life, and you will be their next point of contact for help in some way. It's essential to recognize that we are all striving to succeed, and some individuals may require more support than others. This major will put you closer to hands-on experiences with people, so you need to be prepared to present yourself humbly and respectfully.