From College to Career: Finding a Pathway

A Profile of Logan Laszczyk

Logan Laszczyk, BYU-I alumnus, said he did not know what he
wanted to do following graduation.
Laszczyk started his second internship at the Regional
Coordinating Council in Idaho Falls, Idaho just a few months
before graduating in December 2004.
While there, Laszczyk was one of five interns who received the
opportunity to be interviewed for a job at Nielsen Media Research.
I chocked in that interview, Laszczyk said. Steve McAllen, the
interviewer, asked Laszczyk what he was passionate about and where he saw himself in five
years.
I couldnt give him a good answer, Laszczyk said. He had researched the company, but
Laszczyk said he didnt know what career path he wanted to pursue.
McAllen told him he wasnt going to hire him, Laszczyk said, and then McAllen told him to
think about two things: his passion and career pathway.
That interview was life changing for him, Laszczyk said. It gave me meaning to what my career
path would be, he said.
Laszczyk completed his internship in April 2005, the same time his wife graduated from college.
Laszczyk didnt know how to translate his college degree to a career, but welcomed this chance
to ponder how to connect what he learned to real work.
At that point, Laszczyk and his wife decided to move to Nevada to be near her family. His first
goal once arriving was to find employment, he said.
He got a job just to pay the bills, but he was still searching for his passion.
That passion, he said, was found through three experiences.
In March 2006, he became an early morning seminary teacher, where he taught high school
students for four years. I was fascinated by teens and their interests, he said. They had goals,
but didnt know how to pursue them because of their maturity level, Laszczyk said.
The second experience was received through his participation in a charity basketball tournament.
Laszczyk was offered a job at the Boys & Girls Club, where he worked with children with
disabilities from 2006 to 2008.
Laszczyks third experience, volunteering at a suicide hotline from 2007 to 2009, helped him
realize even more how much he enjoyed helping people.
Serving people in all three of these capacities is what led Laszczyk to pursue a masters degree in
counseling educational psychology at the University of Nevada-Reno.

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I could see a career pathway, Laszczyk said. He thought of the possibilities: a counselor, a
head counselor and teaching psychology classes in mental health.
After graduating in 2011, Laszczyk interviewed for positions in Colorado and Utah. He received
a job in Sandy, Utah, as a high school counselor.
Two years later, the high school split, and the middle school was growing. These changes gave
Laszczyk the opportunity to take a new position. He applied for and accepted a job in the same
district at a middle school.
At around the same time, in 2013, Laszczyk considered going back to school. I felt the need that
I should continue my education but also think about my career long-term, he said.
Laszczyk decided to get an educational specialist degree. He chose the University of Colorado in
order to be close to his wifes family, who had moved there from Nevada.
After receiving his degree in 2015, Laszczyk and his family moved to Colorado Springs,
Colorado where he became a post-secondary workforce readiness counselor.
Laszczyk currently oversees the middle school and high schools in the Colorado Springs School
District 11. Some of his roles include helping students seek out colleges or join the military,
assisting students with academic planning, recruiting businesses for career fairs, helping students
find internship opportunities and developing programs for guidance and counseling lessons.
His career preceded his preparations in college. While attending Brigham Young University
Idaho. Laszczyk fell into studying public relations, he said. He knew he wanted to help people,
he said, so he started studying sports physical therapy. After he decided the duties involved in
that field werent a fit for him, he pursued PR.
During his studies, Laszczyk was involved in three university societies: The American
Advertising Federation (AAF), the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), and
the Scroll. With each experience, Laszczyk said he was able to experience what a career might
be like as a student.
While on the AAF team during his last two years of college, Laszczyk was involved in research
and ad planning. This association allows students to participate in a competition, where they
present their advertising plan to a business.
This gave Laszczyk the opportunity to learn how pitch ideas, be a leader and work in groups.
When you do competitions, you work as a team, Laszczyk said. He gained additional
leadership skills while serving in the BYU-I chapter of PRSSA, he said, an association he was a
part of during the same time.
Laszczyk doesnt plan to stop learning. His educational specialist degree is equal to the first two
years of a doctorate program, and he plans to go back one day to finish it.

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He also doesnt plan to stop advancing in his career, as one of his goals is to become an assistant
principle. I believe so much in providing a good foundation, he said about elementary school
environments. Id love to be a part of committed teachers, counselors and administrators.
In addition to
Being involved in communication, being involved in faith, being out
advancing his
and about in the community and serving in the position Im serving in
schooling and
allows me to give back to the community in a variety of different ways.
career, Laszczyk
Logan Laszczyk, postsecondary workforce readiness counselor
wants to continue
his passion: helping others.
Being involved in communication, being involved in faith, being out and about in the
community and serving in the position Im serving in allows me to give back to the community
in a variety of different ways, Laszczyk said. Its challenging and rewarding, and it is a good
path for me.
Connect with Logan Laszczyk:
Logan.laszczyk@d11.org or loganjlaszczyk@gmail.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/logan-laszczyk-37714729
(719)520-2571
@d11ICAP

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