Rachel Gelina, MPA

I attribute my success to a few different things. My colleagues - I can't be where I am without them. I'm a team player, so I really do use that support that I have around me. I also have to thank my partner. Through the entire time, he was there to support me, whether it be financially or emotionally, mentally, all of it. He made sure that it wasn't a feeling of defeat, it was a feeling of 'the next one, just look forward to the next one.' So that was kind of keeping the mindset going. Another thing I would say is using outlets. Running was a big outlet that I used, and going to the gym helped immensely with that stress and anxiety of not having that future set. I also went to a TEDx talk last semester, and one individual had a great quote that has ever since stuck with me: 'What goodness do you see today?' Going into every day seeing the good rather than going in negatively, staying as positive as possible, and then just seeking the beauty in every day. That individual was talking about going to the world of beauty once a day and asking what did you find that was beautiful, what resonated with you to stay positive. That's been a big thing to keep me ahead of the game with the positivity aspect.

The best advice I've received is that if you're given an opportunity, take it and see where it goes. A lot of the different opportunities that I have on my plate right now, between working full-time and all the organizations that I'm involved with, especially the Walk to End Alzheimer's Pioneer Valley, came from taking opportunities and going with them, taking them to the level that I want to take them to. My goal in life is to just always be involved and always have the resources for those around me that may need it. Other than making sure that you're taking all these opportunities and making the most out of them, I also live by this: always go into every day doing your best and seek the good.

I would say to women everywhere that the first opportunity may not be the only opportunity. You gotta keep your mind open. Don't be so close-minded to anything that comes your way, and just accept what fate is kind of bringing to you. My biggest advice, though, would be to enjoy life. The little things are just as big as the big things, and you have to seek the good. You have to be able to put aside those negative thoughts, put aside the negativity that you may feel on a day-to-day, so that you can just make the most out of who you are and what you do. If you're at a roadblock, just keep going, because everybody is facing things. It may be the same thing that you're going through, may be totally different, but knowing that other people around you are probably also in those shoes, it's a battle you gotta fight together. Find your support system, find who is willing to go above and beyond to make sure that you are, in fact, continuing life going forward, moving forward. Having a supportive group is huge. I'm in a group on Facebook, a woman supporting women group, and we just kind of see what everybody's interests are and how we can get more involved within our communities. So join groups, get out there, get involved. Find your tribe and get involved.

The biggest challenge, I think across all, is just the job market, having the support for students has been difficult, and letting them know that by the time you graduate, there will be something, but not at certainty of it. Within the industry, I don't foresee much because I just started in this role with the honors students. I think maybe the stress and the struggle for my students, and trying to find ways for them to navigate rather than them floundering, so looking into different tools that may be beneficial for them to keep them on track to keep that GPA in the range that it needs to be in. They're undergrads, they have at least 5 classes, so they're juggling a lot. Advocating for them is something that I take pride in, so giving them opportunities to relax, enjoy their days, take the stress off of all the homework, or the exams, or the papers that they have to write, and letting them have a space to feel as though their stress is understood.

Loyalty and understanding are two big values for me. I've always remained loyal, and I want people to see that I've given a lot. Obviously not working in a toxic environment is huge, and we've all been there. I'm sure everybody has faced some sort of difficulty in their workplace, but here at Westfield, it's been just like a breath of fresh air. You walk in, everybody's welcoming. Everybody's just been so accepting of a new person in this position, getting acclimated. They're understanding that it takes time. So having that ability to make mistakes and it not be like a make or break is really important to have that structure of support. That's exactly what I get here. Having that supportive, understanding, and loyal environment is something that I hold true, even at home. My mom just recently got diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's, so that's been a big part of the past year and a half, trying to understand her new normal, because it's definitely not the same as what it was when I was growing up. Having that support and understanding and loyalty at home is just as important as it is at work.