Career Roadmap
Leslie's work combines: Music, Radio, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Business Careers High School
Bachelor's Degree
Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia
University of Northern Iowa
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
Majored in Business because I went to Business Careers High School and I wasn't sure what to study.
2.
Realized Business was boring to me & it required math. I hate math but enjoyed talking & meeting people.
3.
Switched to Electronic Media major thanks to professor's encouragement to try her Mass Comm class.
4.
Mass. Comm. opened my eyes to lots of media careers that seemed to fit me & my creative ways.
5.
I narrowed it down to either TV or Radio. I chose radio because it impacted my life. "Delilahhh.."
6.
After roaming/working at Starbucks 5yrs I got my first full-time radio gig in 2010 at WLCQ in MA.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
Radio doesn't pay well unless you're really good. Christian Radio pays less. Why not be a teacher? It's a more secure job. Jobs in Media are super competitive and it's not likely you'll find one.
How I responded:
Honestly, my faith helped me tremendously. I prayed and asked God constantly about what He made me to do. I would have reality check prayer times & be like, "Ok, God, if You made me to do this, You'll open the door.." He kept opening doors, I kept walking through by faith. Just know that since we're human, we can be off sometimes but be ok with that. Give yourself grace because God gives you grace so even if you take a detour, you'll get back on track.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
Don't consider yourself "too good" for a certain job/task. Being open and willing to learn from others is so helpful. When I got my college degree I thought a job would land on my lap but I was wrong. I decided to volunteer & doors opened after.
I thought since none of my siblings finished college that it must be the same plan for me. I assumed I'd get married and have kids like them, which is an honorable thing but God had a different plan for me. I applied for a scholarship & boom.