“As a first-year student, I didn’t have a clear understanding of what I wanted to do. I wanted to make an impact on the world around me, but I wasn’t entirely positive how I would best be able to do so. I began to consider majoring in education, but I really needed guidance in making the decision. So, I ventured into the department office, in search of somebody that would be able to help me figure it out. Within minutes, I was sitting with the department head, talking about my life, how I ended up at Salem, and the career paths that I was considering. She was interested in more than doing her job; she was interested in me as a person. She advised me to take the introductory course, and assured me that the entire Education Department would be behind me throughout my journey at Salem. Sure enough, I fell in love with the field after that first course, and I haven’t looked back since.”