After eight years of service to the United States as an Infantry Soldier in the Army and a decade of non-profit experience, I was fatigued and ready for a change...it was time for a new career. The obvious choice was to continue on with a master’s in psychology; however, my undergraduate degree in psychology just did not give me the room to grow as a public servant, so it would have to be an unrelated field. I spoke with several of my various mentors and formulated a plan, a plan that included a Master of Public Administration (MPA)!
The reasons why vary greatly depending on the day of the week, but one constant remains: I want to serve my fellow citizens in the best way possible. That may not explain how I arrived at a Public Management concentration in the MPA program or how I ended up at Appalachian State University, so let me elaborate a little. The program and concentration make the most sense to me as an older, non-traditional student. For one reason, there are around 70 different career fields that you can go into with a MPA. Secondly, the degree and just inherent in the field is the ability to work cross-sector, which allows for greater career opportunities. Lastly, I picked the MPA program because it is a direct requirement for the career path that I want to undertake with the State Department.
The path to Appalachian State University came about through research and a determination to go to one of America’s most beautiful campuses. I would love to lie to all of you and tell you that it was the amazing statistics and rates, but it really was for me the fact that the campus and area, in general, are gorgeous; it is a smaller program, a top 25 program, and the faculty focus on a holistic approach, not just the academic. I think that is an important thing for graduate-level students to consider: how do your professors relate to you, and do they treat you holistically as a person? The goal is to truly grow into a professional role in both conduct and speech, and this is especially important as we grow into these roles, treating our citizens holistically and doing our best to meet their needs. I think the faculty of Appalachian State want that for their students and that was a huge draw for me personally.
So let me close with this, my friends, colleagues, and future professionals: learn all that you can; it will serve you well; fail a time or two, it will give you perseverance; let the lessons from life lead your path; and never settle for being ordinary...everyone in the world is extraordinary in their own way!
Derek Kolb
Derek Kolb