Joanna Kern Cooley is fascinated by the human brain. For years she put that fascination on the back burner as she raised her family, and it wasn’t until Cooley turned 30 that she decided to apply to college to become a doctor. Now, as she works toward completing her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience at Saginaw Valley State University in Saginaw, Mich., she is well on her way to achieving that goal.

People often ask Foreign Service Officer Tashina Cooper, “Why did you choose to move so far from home and pursue a career that does not benefit Native people?”

“That this career does not benefit Native people is inaccurate,” says Cooper, who is assigned to U.S. Consulate Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. That puts Cooper a long way from the Navajo Nation where she was raised.

“A wild ride.” That’s how Paul Flores, tribal administrator for the Pit River Tribe in Burney, Calif., describes his life. “Be open to any opportunity, because you don’t know where it’s going to lead,” he says. A member of the Gila River Indian Community, Flores grew up in Arizona, dropped out of high school, joined the Army, and became an infantryman. During the second Iraq war, in the battle-ravaged town of Ramadi, a hidden bomb exploded and wounded him. “I expected to be jumping out of airplanes and fast roping off helicopters for 20 years,” he says. “Didn’t happen that way.”

For Dr. Christina Swindall, Gabrieleño, becoming a veterinarian was a childhood dream. She grew up in the Los Angeles area the ancestral homeland of her tribe — spending much of her time assisting her mother, who had been blind from the age of 14. In their home the health of family pets was not a priority — the animals weren’t spayed or neutered and didn’t see the vet when they were sick. Dr. Swindall knew that she wanted better outcomes for animals and focused her energy on becoming a vet.

Fearless. That’s how one manager describes Nikki DuPuy in her role at General Motors (GM). From DuPuy’s point of view, she’s the proud product of a Navajo matriarchy that stressed the importance of higher learning, hard work, and self-sufficiency. “I knew early on that I would make my own way in life,” she says about growing up in Tuba City, Ariz., on the Navajo Reservation. “It’s never been about taking a traditional journey, but about finding the right path for me.”

Professional development covers a wide variety of learning opportunities, from seminars to academic degrees— and is not one size fits all. What makes professional development so compelling, is that there is something for everyone and every role. It doesn’t have to be done at once, and it allows employees and employers to keep abreast of current trends. Whether you are the manager or the staffer, here are a few reasons professional development is so important.
 
Keeps Your Skills Current

Every day you interact with many different people, from family and friends to professors and employers. At some point, you will encounter a difficult person. Such people can make you feel frustrated, angry, and unhappy. But dealing with difficult people doesn’t have to be so difficult. Here are a few tips to make those unpleasant interactions a little easier. 

In today’s job market, there are thousands of open positions. So if you’re looking for a new role, there’s plenty to choose from. Polish your resume and get ready to apply. In addition to an updated resume, many positions also require a cover letter. While cover letters can seem like a lot of extra work, they can be a useful tool to help sell yourself and your skills. Here are a few ways to write an effective cover letter.
 
Know Why You’re Writing a Cover Letter

So much of your time and energy leading up to the early years of your career is spent learning and perfecting the skills needed for the job. Often — especially in STEM fields — those skills can be specific and require much hands-on training. But in order to achieve long-term success in any career, you must also develop soft skills. In fact, these transferable skills — skills that you apply to any job — are what hiring managers are seeking in their employees. Regardless of where you are on your career path, be sure to continue developing these vital skills.
 

College students are often consumed by classes, extracurriculars, relationships, and other daily commitments. The hectic schedule can be stressful and leave little time for students to take care of themselves. But the importance of self-care can’t be denied. Taking time for yourself can yield a healthier and more enjoyable college experience. Here are a few reasons why self-care is so important.