Marie Smith

I attribute accomplishments in my life to my mother, who passed away from cancer. She was my biggest supporter and encouraged me to return to school and complete my education before she died. As a little girl, she tried to teach me about the Civil Rights Movement and key figures during that era such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I know the importance of never giving up on yourself, your dreams, or for a better tomorrow. No one can take hope away from you.

This has come from multiple sources, “no matter what do not give up on yourself.” 

My advice would be to network and ask questions. Ask questions from people in the industry. Read publications in your industry. Join a professional organization. While attending college, obtain an internship or a part-time job in human resources. This is to gain work experience in your field to go along with your education. Lastly, never be afraid of failure. Initially, I failed in shame, however, it could be the best growth experience. Failure teaches us that we are all human and can learn from our mistakes. It allows the person to grow and improve. 

I am intrigued by the potential of A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) in the human resources field. There is a fear that A.I. will take jobs away from people. A.I. is a new opportunity that should be researched and completely understood. This so that we may understand how to appropriately utilize the new discovery in the workplace.

A healthy, work life balance is important to me. Work is important part of my life during the week for eight hours. However, I need to stop and be available for myself, my husband, and family. I am now trying to stay centered by reading again, enjoying my pets, and taking time off from work for myself. An unhealthy work life balance could lead to stress, and other medical problems such as high blood pressure.