Celebrating our Graduates: Leah Boer
Career Program: Human Resources
Originally From Modesto, California
Current Residence: Appleton
Age: 32
Attended FVTC: Spring 2020 - Spring 2021
Why did you choose to study this field?
After working in the professional world for several years, I came to realize that I enjoyed helping other people in their career pursuit versus being only concerned for my own. I found through those experiences that I wanted to be involved in employee development and relations, but wanted a solid educational background to help me excel in doing so.
Tell us how you came to choose FVTC for your education.
I chose FVTC because of the flexibility, location, and positive recommendations from individuals who had attended/ work on campus. Currently, I am a full-time employee, and attending FVTC works with my schedule and they accepted quite a few transfer credits.
What's been the most rewarding part of your educational journey at FVTC?
The most rewarding part has been the relationships with several of my teachers. I have greatly appreciated all of the time through email, office hours, and in-person (pre- COVID) contact. Regardless of my questions, they always made me feel valued, important, and reassured me that this was the proper career path for me.
What was the most difficult part?
COVID-19 occurred during my third month at FVTC so switching to online learning for all of my coursework was the most difficult. Not necessarily the workload, but the fact that we couldn’t be in class asking questions or building relationships with our peers.
What will you do on graduation day or in the future to celebrate graduation?
On graduation day my brother will be getting married, but I plan to celebrate with my family when I am home for his wedding. When I come back to Wisconsin, I plan to go to dinner with a few friends who are graduating in May.
Tell us about your plans after graduation.
I recently accepted a position at Amazon, so my plans after graduation are to continue working there and make the jump into HR when it becomes available to me. Whether it is recruiting or as an assistant, I am just looking forward to the experience and the knowledge that comes with it.
One last parting thought or words of wisdom to share with others.
The one thing I would share with others is to be proud of yourself. All of us students overcame a lot of obstacles over the past year, and you should be so proud that you persevered and are here today. The education and knowledge you have gained are things that can never be taken from you. Enjoy each moment, you’ve earned it!