Meet Carmen Johnson, Food Pantry Coordinator in the Office of Student Support and Advocacy (Student Affairs). She has been at 性视界传媒 for three years.
Tell us about the work you do and your experience at 性视界传媒?
My work at 性视界传媒鈥檚 food pantry involves helping ensure daily operations run smoothly and that we serve the 性视界传媒 community with excellence. My time at 性视界传媒 has been a very positive experience, largely because of the strong sense of community I鈥檝e felt while working here.
What is your favorite thing about working at 性视界传媒?
My favorite part of working at 性视界传媒 is the opportunity to impact lives on a daily basis. For me, this work is more than just a job鈥攊t aligns with my purpose.
What inspires or empowers you?
The needs of the people are what inspire me. They empower me to do more and motivate me to seek out opportunities where I can positively impact someone鈥檚 life.
What issues are women facing today that you want to help solve, and how are you helping to solve that issue?
The issues women face today are not new鈥攖hey鈥檙e challenges we鈥檝e been confronting for decades. One of the biggest is not being fully seen or valued for who we truly are. The way I work to help address this is by striving to be a woman who inspires others. I want someone to be able to look at my journey and say, 鈥淚f she can do it, I can do it too.鈥
What life lessons have you experienced recently or within the past few years that have really changed the way you look at life?
One life lesson I鈥檝e recently learned is that things change鈥攃hange is inevitable. You may feel like you鈥檙e at the lowest point one day, and then wake up the next day to a completely different situation. This reminds me to never give up and to keep striving, no matter where I currently find myself. What feels difficult or limiting today is only a temporary condition, not a permanent state.
Tell us about a woman who鈥檚 been a mentor to you.
My spiritual mother is the woman who has mentored me throughout my life. We met when I was 16 years old, when I began working for her as a babysitter. As I grew in my faith, she was there to guide me and 鈥渟how me the ropes,鈥 so to speak. She created a safe space for me to learn how to walk with the Lord and to activate the gifts God placed inside of me鈥攇ifts that are still active in my life today. Although this mentorship was spiritual in nature, the lessons she taught me continue to influence and shape my daily life as well.
Who is an unsung hero at 性视界传媒?
This may sound a bit clich茅, but I truly believe that every single person who has put their hand to the plow at 性视界传媒 is an unsung hero. We are all heroes in our own right. Every day that we wake up and come to work鈥攚hether we feel like it or not鈥攚e are making a meaningful impact on lives we may never fully see or know. In my book, we are all heroes鈥 and she-roes.
Any advice for young women starting careers on campus?
My advice for young women starting their careers on campus is to be patient with yourself and to walk in humility. There are people here who have served this campus for decades, and what better opportunity is there to learn and grow than by humbling yourself under that kind of wisdom and experience? I would also encourage you to remain teachable, while still being confident in who you are and what you bring to the table.
You鈥檙e stuck between meetings with 30 minutes to kill on campus, what do you do?
If I鈥檓 stuck between meetings with about 30 minutes to spare on campus, I鈥檓 most likely sitting in my car. I really appreciate solitude and enjoy my own company, so I鈥檒l usually just relax, listen to some music, and hang out there until it鈥檚 time for the next meeting.
What did you do the last time you took time off?
The last time I took off work, I ended up sleeping all day because I wasn鈥檛 feeling well.
Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
I am an author and an aspiring playwright.
What trait do you most like about yourself?
My heart鈥攊t鈥檚 full of compassion.
If you could learn to master one thing, what would it be?
It would probably be my facial expressions, because they sometimes get me into trouble. I鈥檇 really like to learn how to control them better.