Читать книгу This Is Not the Life I Ordered - Deborah Collins Stephens - Страница 23

“A lot of people assumed that, since I worked in radio and television for more than twenty-five years, I would be set financially. Oh, how I wish that were true. Yes, I made a good living, but life interfered. I need to work to make sure that I can take care of myself in retirement. I loathe thinking that I might have to rely upon my children.

“I am a firm believer that you must tell the universe what you need. In 2008, I needed a job. The job goddess heard my plea, as a great job landed in my lap. The President of the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Dr. Elisa Stephens, called me with an opportunity to start a brand new department—a School of Communications and Media Technologies.

“In two months (and with a lot of help), we built a studio, hired faculty, and designed a four-year degree program as well as a master's program. It's truly amazing how students can make you feel young and inspire you to re-invent yourself. As the founding director of the department, I'm having a blast! Of course, I've had to learn a new language that includes words like ‘curriculum,’ ‘syllabus,’ and ‘rubrics.’ I've made mistakes—bad hires, accepting student excuses too easily, cramming way too much information into one semester. But here's the good news: You can transfer your skills from one career to another. I'm a trained reporter; I'm always asking questions. And now, I'm asking questions of my students. What happened to that assignment? Why not take a risk? What is it that you really want to accomplish?”