Running Head: MY DEFINITION OF SUCCESS

My Definition of Success
Mindy Venners
CAHE 701
Northern Illinois University

MY DEFINITION OF SUCCESS

Higher education has had a profound impact on the person that I am today. I have been
blessed in my life for many reasons, not the blessings that are typically thought of, but more the
appreciation that I have for the circumstances and support that surrounded me throughout my
life. One main belief that resonates strongly with me is that people are greatly affected by the
things that they have experienced. The way people are raised, and the lessons they learn along
the way are important factors in the sculpting of their character.
I have learned much of my determination and drive from my mother. My mom raised
my brother and me by herself due to divorce, and the hard work she endured taught me the
importance of strength and pride. I am the only person in my family who finished a bachelors
degree which was rewarding for me because it gave me a great sense of accomplishment. My
mother was strict with us but also allowed us to make our own decisions. She guided us to stay
dedicated to a strong moral code, but did not pressure us to live up to unreasonable expectations.
I felt extremely proud to have completed my degree, and it allowed me to show my mom how
much she taught me about the desire for success.
My work and life experiences thus far have taught me that there is always more
knowledge to gain and more experience to attain. This philosophy contributes greatly to my
decision to work toward a masters degree. My position working on campus gave me the extra
push I needed to finally decide to start the process. My co-workers were very supportive and
motivating for me and their mentoring guidance really opened my eyes to opportunities that I
might have otherwise passed by. The relationship that I formed with the student population
while working in that setting really sparked my interest in working in Student Affairs. An
ultimate goal of mine would be to obtain an Assistant Director or Director position in a

MY DEFINITION OF SUCCESS

department within Student Affairs at a public institution. I would like to eventually live in a
warmer location so working for a university on the gulf side of Florida is something that I have
placed on my list of possibilities for the future. I am passionate about the work that practitioners
do on a daily basis for the students and operations at institutions of higher education. I have
learned that there are specific traits that these individuals must possess that are crucial to their
roles in serving students in a college environment.
I am fortunate to have had such encouraging and valuable influences in my life that have
led me to the determined state that I am in today. Work-life balance can be challenging at times,
but I have realized that by having a genuine appreciation for your academic and professional
endeavors, goals can be attainable. Through the Adult and Higher education curriculum, a
variety of competencies are taught to prepare students to make the choices needed in their
careers. I can positively say that the classes I have taken so far have added key components and
insight to my professional development. I believe that through further experiential and selfdirected learning, I will continue to accelerate on the path of personal success.