What inspired you to do this kind of work?
I’ve always been somewhat involved in education, and I knew I wanted to be a part of this grand movement. I sought out Instructional Technology not because I was the most tech-savvy person, but because I was drawn towards the breadth of skills I could put to practice on a daily basis: Googling answers, creativity, media production, teaching, the freedom to bring ideas to life, problem-solving, customer service, etc.
What is your position here and how long have you worked at O’Dowd?
I started in 2015 as an Instructional Technologist.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received?
When you fail, pick yourself back up and keep moving forward. Explained in the great words of Thomas Edison, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work.”
What is your favorite thing about your job?
My favorite part about this job is that it not only allows me to develop professionally, but it also prepares me with a wide variety of personal life skills. I have learned so much from my colleagues – how to make kimchi, smudge sticks, kombucha, and holiday wreaths from the Living Lab. I’ve learned how to carve rubber-stamped Mother’s Day cards, write a will, buy a car, create ornaments from recycled books, plan for retirement, take advantage of commuter and FSA tax benefits, work with insurance companies, and recover from injuries. That’s not to mention the trips to baseball games, the USS Hornet museum, Close-Up, local hikes, and Kairos Retreats. The learning never seems to stop while working at O’Dowd!
What about your field or position do you think would surprise people the most?
On a daily (if not hour-to-hour) basis, we hear about how broken systems and products are, so on the rare occasion that I hear that something is working, my heart feels full.
What is the most interesting or surprising thing about you?
After taking a high school exit exam for fun, the registrar called home one afternoon and said I didn’t have to return to school anymore. So in the middle of my sophomore year, I dropped out of school. Since I missed out on many of the major high school experiences, I now get to relive the joys of high school on repeat.
If you could rescue only one thing from your burning office, what would it be?
Most everything is in the cloud, so it’s not like there’s anything that can’t be replaced. I might try to at least save my phone.
Bonus Questions
What is your favorite kind of music/what are your favorite bands? Gungor, Logic, Deas Vail, and For King & Country
What is your favorite sports team or who is your favorite individual athlete?
Ashima Shiraishi