Kirsten Ward

WHY WEBER STATE

I am a first generation college student and I knew wherever I went to college, I needed two things: it needed to be close to home and it had to be affordable. My parents were not in a position to help me pay for college so I knew that I was going to need to rely on financial aid and scholarships and Weber State was very generous. Beyond that, I’ve always kind of knew in the back of my mind that I was going to Weber State. I applied to other colleges and I was accepted, but it just didn’t feel right. So, I started attending Weber State in the fall of 2019 and the rest is history!

WHY HR MANAGEMENT

It’s a very long story, but to sum it up shortly, I have been working at Lagoon since I was 14 in various positions and when I graduated high school, I had this urge to keep moving up in the company. They had a full time position open up in the HR department and I told them that I wanted it. They actually turned me down the first time and hired someone else, but they didn’t stick and so I ended up with the job. Very quickly, I fell in love with what I was doing. At this same time, I had just been accepted into the Radiology program at Weber State (I was not originally a business major), and I started doing clinicals for Radiology but it was during the fall of 2020 when COVID was at its peak. Something inside of me knew that I was not supposed to be in radiology and my heart was still with Lagoon. So…. I dropped out of college and started working full time at Lagoon. A year or so later, I decided to go back to school for HR because I always promised myself that I would have a Bachelors degree (and because I kind of love school) and that is how I ended up here.

GRATITUDE

I love Weber State and especially the business school because it has given me so many opportunities that I wouldn’t have had if I went somewhere else. I love that the professors know the students on a first name basis AND that they remember you and continue to say hi in passing. I also love that there are so many different people who go here. There are young adults right out of high school, parents, adults who have full time jobs, students from other countries, etc. It enriches my learning to hear about other students experiences and getting to know them.

PROFESSOR IMPACT

One professor that made a huge impact on me is Rachel Child. I met her while in the Intro to HR class and she mentioned that they were looking for some students to help with the student SHRM club. Even though I had a packed schedule already, I was intrigued, so I sent her a message saying I was interested. Ever since then, I have been involved with the SHRM student club and I am currently the club President. It has opened so many doors for me and I never would have had these opportunities if it was for Rachel. On top of that, her knowledge is so impactful and is always backed up with experiential learning that she has gained by working as an HR practitioner. She makes her classes fun and engaging and pushes us which I appreciate.

ADVICE FOR OTHER STUDENTS

My advice for incoming students is to not be afraid to speak with others in class. My first few years at Weber State were isolating because I was too afraid to start the conversation with fellow classmates. Don’t be afraid to speak up and start the conversation. You never know what kind of connections you may make and who you may befriend. Besides that, try to get involved. It will help enrich your education so much by being involved in some aspect of the college, even if that is just attending club meetings or going to the different events the college hosts. I am grateful for the time I’ve spent engaged in different areas of the college, but I just wish I would have done it sooner.

WHAT'S NEXT

Well…. I don’t know yet. I am still working full time as a manager in Lagoons Human Resources department and I love it there. I don’t see myself leaving right away unless the right opportunity presented itself. I am studying to take my SHRM-CP exam in July so that I can be certified. And who knows… maybe I’ll end up back at Weber States MBA program in the future. But for right at this moment: I am ready to spend more time with my family, practice everything I’ve learned throughout college, and just enjoy life :).