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Meet Alivia Shook, a 2015 Alumnus from LeRoy, Michigan. Alivia currently resides in Big Rapids, Michigan. She currently works as a Department Manager at Menards.
Can you give us a brief description of what you do?
I've worked my way up in the company, literally from stocking the shelves to being a department manager! I, alongside an assistant, oversee a small team in the electrical/lighting department. I make sure the shelves are stocked properly, address inventory concerns, help in the creation of customers' dream lighting plans, and maintain a positive atmosphere for customers and team members alike, among other things.
What advice would you give current students?
IT IS OK TO NOT HAVE A PLAN POST-GRADUATION! Enjoy these moments, the moments you are in right now. The experience you are getting here, from the classroom to the lab, will remain in you and guide you in tough and good times.
While I think it is ok to not have a plan, always try to put a foot forward, even if it hurts. Growth, especially the kind that comes from pushing yourself, will reward you in ways you cannot imagine in the moment. When I didn't get a full-time position at NMU, I kind of spiraled into a depression that had begun upon graduation. I rode the wave, I let it fuel me to be the best I could be, at whatever job I got. When I was offered literally the lowest job on the Menards totem pole, it seemed strange to me since I had a degree. My path to success was not fueled by *just* having a college degree. It was fueled by the skills I received while getting my degree. Part of me thought I could shut my eyes and show my diploma, and it would be my ticket to anywhere. I learned quickly to not hide behind my degree, but rather to strive to show I am worthy of it.
Trust the process, students. Create your own path, own your mistakes, remember your successes, and ALWAYS strive to be better. Keep your mind open, always. There is not a learning "end game". You will never be done learning, as cliche as that sounds.
Get out there, even today and tomorrow, and be the best you can be. The best NMU ambassador, the best HM program ambassador, and the best YOU ambassador. You have always been and will always be your best, YOU ambassador.