At the forefront of their work in and out of the workplace, August is dedicated to meeting people where they are at. With community, accessibility, and inclusion in mind, August creates spaces where people feel like they belong and can be themselves, a core tenet of CampusRec. Indeed, one of their favorite parts about their job is being a safe resource people can transparently share their experiences with. It is no surprise then that August connects to the value of inclusion, which is represented by CampusRec’s universal design meant to accommodate people of varying ability levels, experiences, and backgrounds.
August’s journey to PSU was not a straight line. Before entering the Masters of Counseling program at PSU, they completed their Bachelor of Social Work degree at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. Their experiences at university shaped what they wanted to get out of a graduate degree. Since community, inclusion, and diversity are important values to them, they thought Portland would be a good fit. Having a familiar role in a recreational center at their previous workplace and wanting an on campus job that was open to graduate students, they decided to apply to CampusRec. Starting as a Fitness staff, then moving to the Student Building Supervisor position after a month, they worked their way to be in a leadership position as the
Student Building Supervisor Coordinator.
At CampusRec, August has learned many skills that will push them forward on their future path. They have learned many logistical leadership skills such as organization, finding the right processes for things, communicating information to people, and finding creative solutions to problems that arise. Beyond those practical skills, they have learned how to be flexible and adaptable, when to push or yield if there is an issue, and when to know if a struggle is productive or not. Being an insightful individual, August is aware that change is more likely to happen if there are possible solutions presented at the table.
With skills in organization, management, interpersonal communication and finding passion in creating spaces that foster individual empowerment and authenticity, August hopes to get their license as a professional elementary school counselor and work in that space after graduation. “My main goal out of graduation is I’ll be licensed as a school counselor and I want to work with elementary school kids.”
CampusRec is an appropriate place for August to work and participate in considering their connection to recreational spaces as a source of comfort and leisure. In their freetime August enjoys spending time outdoors immersed in activities such as hiking, walking, and photography. An adventurous spirit, August likes to explore their surroundings by going to coffee shops. They flex their creative muscles by engaging in art and creative writing. They are also an avid reader; since attending PSU they have read around 300 books!
We will surely miss the energy August has brought in cultivating an inclusive community and welcoming atmosphere at CampusRec. Using their accumulated experiences, values, knowledge, and skills, for advice for new and future staff, August shares “Don’t be afraid to advocate for what you need in your role. Bring up suggestions for changing things. Professional staff are receptive to change and hearing perspectives from staff.”