Her Story
About Kara
My day-to-day responsibilities include classroom management, teaching, and creating engaging lesson plans that provide quality instruction. Because we work with adults in a college setting, a lot of my work involves helping students find career paths and educational paths for their future. We don't have traditional students - they are second language learners, and many of them are women who raised their children first or are in the process of raising their children, so they're trying to find a way to get either a GED or some type of certificate that could give them a career post-children. My students literally come from all over the world - in my last class, I had 13 different countries represented. A lot of them have full-on degrees, many of them are doctors, dentists, architects in their own country, and I'm trying to help them find a way to have that same path here in the United States, because their credentials don't transfer directly. I developed academic reading and writing programs at the college - before, they were just real basic English classes, and I went to my supervisor and said I think we need to do something more academic-based and really challenge the students. So I created these programs so that students learn how to be successful at the next level if they go to college, instead of just learning 'this is a bank, this is a car,' trying to teach them how to actually write essays and write good, strong emails. I stay in contact with a lot of my students who go on - I'm still in contact with students who return to their native countries. I just actually talked to somebody in South Korea last weekend.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kara
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would attribute a lot to my family. They're very encouraging, so they will find ways to make me feel positive about what I'm doing, because sometimes you can come home and feel like you've been very unsuccessful for the day. So they always listen to me, so my family, definitely. And then, you know, also my students - I've seen these individuals from all over the world. I know what types of situations they've come from. I know how they're living here. And so they encouraged me to be grateful for what I have, and to keep plugging along.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I always say this to my daughters, be true to what you love. You know, and find a way to make that work in every avenue of your life. Don't make choices because the world tells you you have to do it, or, you know, oh, I have to have the money, or whatever - be true to what you really love. Find your passion and follow it, no matter what that is. I really believe that. You'll be fine if you follow that, because happiness is the core.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the challenges are that we're having to battle the new digital world, you know, of AI. I think that's a challenge, is trying to find a way that it will be beneficial, which it is beneficial to the classroom, but also not have it take over. It's always changing, everything's changing so quickly, so I think finding a way to incorporate the new technology and digital world that we live in and keeping people engaged, and not being replaced, I guess.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value honesty, hard work, integrity. I am guided by my faith. I try to not push it on people, but I try to live by it - to respect everyone, love everyone, honor everyone. And I think I put that in almost every situation that I'm in. I think that if people were to say something about me, they would say that I'm not judging them. I'm always kind, I'm always open.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Illinois
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.