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.

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.

I grew up on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in a family that has always had a connection to our community. It’s a large part of why I want to become a doctor and get my master’s in public health: I want to serve my community and be a part of it in an even greater aspect. Now, I’m a first-year senior at Northern Arizona University (NAU), on a five-year track with NAU’s Interdisciplinary Global Program (I’m in my fourth year studying at Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan), majoring in biomedical sciences and comparative cultural sciences.

While supervising a staff is not necessarily easy, managers typically find their groove after some time. In times of uncertainty, however, managing people can become much more challenging. As the manager, you’re expected to successfully guide your team through any uncertainty. Here are a few tips to help do just that. 

As a child, your goals and expectations may closely align with your parents’. As you get older, you may find that your personal goals begin to differ from your family’s expectations. When that happens, it can create tension in your relationship with your family, and your parents in particular. Here are a few tips to help balance family expectations with your personal goals.

It’s no secret: grades matter and striving for personal academic excellence is the job of every student. But it’s important for individuals to develop outside the classroom too. Parents often begin this process, registering their young children for activities such as tiny-tot dance classes, town sports teams, and Lego clubs.