Years of Service in the Parks and Recreation Industry:
9 years
Tell us the View from YOUR Park Bench? What are you looking at as a recreation professional right now?
Concerning my professional journey, I took an out-and-back trail and on my return trip I discovered a newly installed bench with a great view. I spent my first decade out of college working as a Recreational Therapist, but I realized that I had met my career goal, the end of the trail, in less than 5 years. I was the Director of Therapeutic Recreation Services in an organization that, like most other TR organizations, did not seem to value continuing education.
Nevertheless, I attended the state Institute each year because I felt passionate about learning, growing, and possibly helping others do the same. It was, and still is, my belief that “therapeutic recreation” is as much “parks and recreation” as athletics or special events. Throughout the years, TRAPS was the only place where I could proudly wear both labels. Eventually, I made the decision to leave behind the clinical setting with which I had become so familiar, in pursuit of a municipal opportunity.
I had seen all the trail had to offer and it was time to search for my new adventure. Deciding to head back to the trailhead didn’t make the trip any less impactful. It didn’t take away from the beauty of the journey. For the sake of growth and the potential to make a bigger impact on the world, I decided to be brave and make a change. I was intentional and careful with my job search, as I was leaving behind a career that I loved. I knew that the payoff of another great trail was waiting for me, but that it would take patience and hard work to get there. It seemed the willingness to try was the spark my professional journey needed. The trip back to the trailhead was smooth sailing, and I noticed things I had overlooked the first time. Two years after my initial consideration of change, here I sit on my bench, readying for the next journey. The trees are blowing in the breeze, the sun is recharging me, and the Esperanza (hope in Spanish) is in full bloom. I’ve just stepped into a promotion to the newly created Volunteer & Training Coordinator position for Allen Parks and Recreation. I am still in shock that the position even exists, much less that I received the honor of filling it. I can’t wait to further develop our volunteer program, help our incredible staff achieve their individual versions of growth, and contribute positivity to the early experiences of interns for years to come.
Who was your mentor and what was the most important thing you learned from him/her?
I am proud to call myself a bird mite under Stacie Anaya’s wing. As a young female professional, I have been blown away by her unapologetically passionate approach to leadership. My early experiences with Stacie were during her term as TRAPS President. Her ability to seamlessly balance cutting edge innovation with approachability, was unlike that of anyone else I had met. Stacie seems to care as strongly about the people getting things done as she does about the tasks needing to be done. But it was her willingness to be loud with the caring that inspired me. I found myself randomly reaching out to her, attending her educational sessions because of the name in the presenter line, and I started to notice the passion in more professionals around me. For me, being around Stacie is like being around a laser pointed at potential. Stacie and I have never worked together at an organization. We haven’t served on a committee or board together. Though we are both Texas State Bobcats, we did not go to school together. We are not 2 people who would typically end up being mentor/mentee, yet, I am drawn to her brand of professionalism.
When I focus on my own professional growth in recent years, Stacie tops the list of people to whom I owe my gratitude. Being a mentor doesn’t always mean a huge investment of time or resources. Sometimes mentors are made just by living out your ‘why’ loudly enough that others can’t help but hear how good it sounds.
When you are trying to lift up someone else (a staff member, peer, friend) what advice do you give them?
As a previous mental health professional, I’m not big on giving advice, but I will say that when I am feeling down it’s often because I am feeling held down, out of control, or stuck. When the world around me is chaotic or less than-favorable, I try to focus on what is in my control. I identify and act on the small changes I can make in order to feel more organized, more productive, or more impactful.
What is inspiring you right now?
The staffing challenges that have resulted from the COVID-19 era have also led to an opportunity for cross training and networking not previously available. During this time, I have gained and shared new skills. I have also built and strengthened relationships with teammates from other facilities and divisions.
How do you deal with disgruntled customers?
Almost all customer service issues come from miscommunication or misunderstanding. When I focus my comments and questions on a desire to understand the customer’s goal and how my organization fits into that plan, I usually get better results. There may be times that it seems a customer is just determined to be unhappy, but even those experiences can be turned around with a little patience and compassion.
How can we (the collective WE) be better advocates for what we do and the benefits of parks, rec, and leisure services?
While there are many areas that deserve attention regarding advocacy, they all require some sort of monitoring or evaluation. People consider facts when they’re talking about dollars – not feelings. We can give them the idea that parks are great, or we can prove it to them with numbers. We must all up our metric game, and we need to get better at sharing information between organizations. As I tell my 5-year old, “Sharing is caring.”
Would you like to submit the view from your park bench? Take a few months to fill out this questionnaire: https://traps.org/2020/09/01/view-from-my-park-bench/
Your TRAPS family looks forward to hearing from you!