APP STATE GRADUATE SEEKS
OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Hi there, “Murky” is such an appropriate descriptor. I never honestly went directly into the broad sustainability field due to personal factors, timing, and the acknowledgement that the SD course load was almost entirely theory based with little practical application. I also had a hard time with the messaging around completely sacrificing your quality of life for meager wages and exhausting weekly hours, something I had experienced directly paying my way through college. All this to say, I did indirectly, eventually land in roles where I could apply the theories we learned to practical application through social good. 

This will sound contradictory but I now work in finance for one of the largest national childcare providers. Beyond strict profit (which arguably can be beneficial when used right), the work I do helps to bring free, federally funded programs to large swaths of communities without the ability to pay for quality childcare. We do so with curriculum designed around DEI, SEL, and promoting a general sense of belonging to all and across intersections as well as with a desire to impact the most communities as possible through alternative funding or lower margins. 

In addition to my day job, I’ve found external fulfillment and application through volunteering (a bit of the self sacrifice but I have the day job to float me, financially). Two roles are involved in OR state level advocacy and policy for LGBTQIA2S+ populations and I also am able to challenge the systems within my own company as an ERG leader. In summation, the paths that are indirect often come with the most surprising fulfillment. 

My advice to you is to stay open minded. You might find yourself in an industry or position that feels separate from SD but you have those ingrained fundamentals to apply to inequitable systems, building all spaces into more inclusive environments where we all benefit.