Her Story
About Tracey
I started my career working at a grocery store as a bookkeeper in the Health and Beauty aisle after coming out of college. From there, I went to a local textiles place where I worked my way up to manager and stayed for maybe 15 years. During that time, I received my electrical engineering certificate for small engines from Georgia Northwestern Technical College, which was a big achievement. I got tired of being stressed out in the textile world because it was all production management where you got paid by production. When I went through a divorce, I wanted to be there for my kids, so I transitioned into education because it allowed me the same schedule that they had. I was off when they were off, and I could go to their sports events. I wanted to be the major support for my children. That's what really influenced me into education. I've been in education for about 10 years, usually as a coordinator or on the administrative side. In my current role for the past 4 years, I work as a student coordinator over the doctoral program. I organize student files, do the basic secretarial stuff like answering the phone and taking notes, give out information about the doctoral program, and I manage 7 work-study students that work under me. Working with different folks that were trying to better themselves and get more education made me realize this is the place I need to be.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tracey
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say the key thing is hard work and dedication, but for me, it would definitely be consistency and being true to myself. I think with consistency and honesty, you earn loyalty. I've learned that you have to state your convictions and stick to them. That advice came from my grandfather who raised me. You gotta be able to stand for something, or you end up standing for nothing. I do believe you have to state your convictions - this is what I want to do, this is what we're going to do, this is how we're going to do it, and stay with it. You gotta just stay with it.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've ever received came from my grandfather who raised me: State your convictions and stick to them. There's that old cliche saying - you gotta be able to stand for something, or you end up standing for nothing. I believe you have to state your convictions, say this is what I want to do, this is what we're going to do, this is how we're going to do it, and stay with it. You gotta just stay with it.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's okay to be a little bit selfish and do what makes you happy. Selfishness is self-preservation.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
AI is a big challenge, and just social media in general. Social media has a big impact on the younger kids. They think that whatever they see online is real, or they're gonna be the next Nicki Minaj. It's not that simple. I think AI helps the field if you know how to use AI in your field, but I don't think AI will ever replace a solid teacher. AI might offer information, but I don't think it can sit down with a child and reason with the child and help them learn more. I think AI will be a weakness as far as communicating with people. It gives you the tools to communicate properly, like it'll help you write a good paragraph, a good resume, or whatever, but the person themselves have to be able to present that resume. I am the resume. AI cannot come down long enough to teach somebody the human part of it.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty and consistency are most important to me. I think with those two, you earn loyalty.
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