Name: Erin
Hometown: Aurora
Major: Speech Communication (Emphasis: Organizational Communication)
Major: Public Relations
Favorite class: Oral Interpretation
Background:
I was born in Colorado and have enjoyed living here my whole life. I am proud to be native to such a unique and beautiful state, and take a lot of pride in my background as a “mountain baby”. I was born at Swedish Hospital here in Denver in the snowy month of January 1982. The very next day my proud parents drove me back to my mountain home of Breckenridge. Once home, I was greeted by family and friends and was named “Ullr Baby”, because I was born during Ullr Fest—one of Breckenridge’s most popular events. The purpose of Ullr Fest is to pay homage to Ullr (pronounced Ooh-ler), the Norse god of winter, and to encourage Ullr to bless the valley with lots of snow.
I graduated from Eaglecrest High School in 2000 and attended the University of Northern Colorado from 2000-03. While at UNC, I became a member of Alpha Omicron Pi national sorority. In 2003, I decided to take a break from school and began working as an activities assistant at a Ft. Collins nursing home, and also worked with disabled adults. I continued to work as a personal care assistant for two years, and then received my certification as a nursing assistant. Soon after my certification, I worked at a Northglenn nursing home in the Alzheimer’s unit. At that time, I enjoyed the challenge of the unit and learned a lot about myself. After working there for about a year, I decided to finish my studies at Metropolitan State College of Denver. I am now a junior, and have been a student at Metro State for a year… and have loved every minute of it!
Today, I reside in the eclectic Capitol Hill neighborhood with my boyfriend and our dog. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, outdoor activities, performing arts events and animals.
Favorite quote:
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and perfectly preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways totally worn out and loudly screaming “Whoo hoo! What a ride!"
– Peter Sage
Why I’m excited about being part of “The Apprentice Challenge @ Metro State”:
I am excited about this program because I know it will enhance my overall college experience here at Metro. I will be working with people who are creative, ambitious and love the challenge of group projects. I am also looking forward to creating relationships with the other candidates and our sponsors. I truly can’t wait to begin networking and interacting with professionals who enjoy their field of work and who have a desire to give back to their community through educational programs such as The Apprentice Challenge @ Metro State. One thing that I think will be interesting to see throughout the program is how varying personalities work together toward a common goal. As an organizational communication major, I am fascinated with the process of planning, organizing and presenting ideas as a group. Ultimately, I am excited about the program because I believe it will enhance my group communication skills and give me a clear understanding of what is required to accomplish real-world professional tasks.
Why I should win “The Apprentice Challenge @ Metro State”:
I believe I should win because, unlike other periods in my life, I am now enjoying an amazing period of personal, professional and academic growth. After taking some time out to work, I have become excited about the learning process again. I am happy to be in school, and happy to be transitioning into the professional world with the support of mentors and my teachers.
I believe my personal characteristics will positively contribute to the program. I know I am a good listener and I am dedicated and creative. I have always been a very passionate person. When I am inspired by something, I welcome the creative process and become dedicated to the end result. I have learned that making mistakes is not always bad—that is how we grow!
I have the ability to articulate ideas and paint a clear picture with words in causal conversation and when working in groups. I do not hesitate to ask questions and am very perceptive. I consider myself to be well-rounded, sincere and optimistic. I believe all of these are qualities of a leader, which is exactly what I am ready to be!
