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My Journey through education and work

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I finished high school in 2002 - it was hard for me, and I didn't do very well in school.

 

I took upgrading classes through the next year to get ready for College

I decided to go back to school, because I wanted learn more about different parts of tourism, and I wanted to travel. I chose the University of Alaska, because tuition was so low, and I could learn from great professors, and I could live somewhere new. It was really hard, but it helped me become a better writer.

I went to Mount Royal College for four years to get a degree in Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership. Even though I didn't really like school, I loved this program. It helped me learn about myself, and be more confident.

While I was at school I did two practicums (internships). One was a volunteer tourism project in the Caribbean and the next one was at the Aboriginal Friendship Center in Calgary. After I finished school I was hired at the Friendship Center, so interning really helped me get a job. I worked at the Frienship Centre for three years.

I got a job in research after I finished my Master of Arts degree in Alaska, but it seemed like it was hard to find work in the type of tourism that I wanted to do. I started volunteering for Stoney Education, then I got a job there. I liked it, but I still wasn't using my degree much. So I thought about the job I wanted and asked for an "informational interview" at Glenbow Museum

Dog Sledding

I learned that museum collections staff and curators had "museum certificates" and I decided to get one. I saw that I could go to New York University and get to see a lot of museums while going to school, plus live in New York! I went there and while I was getting my certificate I decided that maybe it would be worth the extra time to get a full degree so I stayed 4 more months.

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When I came home to Calgary I started working in museums. I still had to start at the bottom. I worked at a front desk (admissions) and in education. It took four years before I got a full time job in a museum. During those four years I had to work at two or three museums at a time to make enough money to support my family.

When I was at school in New York I did two internships. These were at the Italian American Museum and Residency Unlimited. They helped make my resume get better, and I got my first expereince working in a museum. If I had just started volunteering in a museum when I finished high school, I could have saved myself a lot of time and money on school.

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If I had just started volunteering at a museum before I had a family, and debt, and expenses I could have had a well paying job sooner. But I suppose that I learned a lot along the way, and had a lot of good adventures. There is not one right way to get a job in museums, this is just the way that I did it. I hope I can keep working in museums for a long time!

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