‘Inspiring the next generation of behavioral health professionals’: Rogers team members discuss career paths with OHS students
Oconomowoc High School students interested in psychology now have clearer understandings of what their future careers can look like thanks to Rogers team members sharing their journeys.
In October, a Rogers crew met with sophomores visiting as part of the school’s career exploration initiative. Local businesses and colleges took part, including Rogers and Children’s Wisconsin, giving information aligned with students’ career interests.
“This experience was designed to give students hands-on learning opportunities that help them further define and commit to their college and career readiness goals,” says Janet Gatlin, Community Relations manager. “Thank you again to everyone who helped make this experience meaningful and inspiring for the next generation of behavioral health professionals.”
Career day was a “full circle moment” for registered dietician Kathryn Eddingsaas.
“I grew up in the Dousman/Oconomowoc area my entire life and was honored to give back to students growing up in the same community I did,” Kathryn says. “My primary goal was to share my passion for dietetics and the mental health industry so that the students can stay inspired by learning and growing as they enter adulthood.”
For therapist II Lucas De Smet, the path to his career took a different shape – a nonlinear one.
“I had flip-flopped from probably five different majors. I was doing physical therapy. I took a year off. I went for music production and business management, and then I went for teaching before ultimately sticking with sociology,” Lucas says. “It’s important for me to convey that to the kids because there is so much pressure on them. I wanted to remind them to have some compassion for themselves. You don’t have to have everything figured out at such a young age. You have your whole life to explore. Try to keep an open mind, give it a shot, and you might be surprised.”
Lucas says it was through those experiences that led him to a career that doesn’t even really feel like work.
“Being at therapist feels so right for me, and I enjoy it so much that it feels like part of me,” Lucas says. “The qualities of my personality and my values align very well with the profession. Making a meaningful difference in people’s lives has always been very important to me. To sit with somebody in one of their worst moments of their life and allow space for that when they may not have that otherwise, and to help people really struggling find reasons why they should want to stay alive – it is an honor to be able to do that.”
Therapist Nicole Koch agrees; she let students know it is OK to change their mind, and they be be surprised by what sticks.
“I’m definitely an example of that,” Nicole says, sharing that she got both her master’s in social work and a law degree to become an attorney. “However, I returned back to being therapist, where my passion was stronger. I thoroughly enjoy being able to positively impact patients during some of their most challenging times.”
