Why did you choose to work at Youth Villages?
Youth Villages was a magnet to me. It seemed to have a package that represented what I wanted in a career – it was almost like someone putting a plate with all of my favorite food out there for me. It included the mission statement – an electrifying sentence – the values and the endless opportunities to advance within the organization.

What positions have you held?
I started out as a residential counselor with teenage girls, then became a utilization review specialist working in administration and recently moved back to the campus to be a residential counselor to help older teenage boys.

What do you love about being a residential counselor?
I love what I do in terms of counseling. To me, it is ministry. I also love working with my clinical team, and although this is not something I take advantage of a lot, but I do love the flexibility Youth Villages provides its staff.

What does a typical day in your current position look like?
Oh my, a typical day involves doing sessions, checking voice mails, e-mails and documenting.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in your first year at Youth Villages and how did you overcome them?
In my first year, I was working with all-female staff and female clients. It was not always easy trying to keep them encouraged and motivated. I always made sure I treated everyone with respect and that I let them know how much I loved them and appreciated them.

What is one piece of advice you would give someone who is considering working for Youth Villages?
Have a clear idea of what you really want to do and dig deep for the passion that is within you. Helping children is wonderful, but be prepared to struggle with finding the right balance between your private life and work, especially at first.

What has been the most rewarding experience so far at Youth Villages?
Youth Villages is a health-oriented employer. We can participate in Weight Watchers and get reimbursed if we attain our goals, and many offices have fitness rooms right there. There are also fitness campaigns going on, and I find that very rewarding because it has helped push me to run my very first 5k in my life, and second, I have lost more than 60 lbs. so far!