Catherine Ford

Background

About Catherine Ford

I am about as creative as a business major can get. I love the free movements of dance, the many meanings of the arts, the expressionality of design, you name it, yet I love the structure of business. I think business can get too cut and dry without creative minds to innovate. As a business major looking at my resume, I used to feel embarrassed of my choice to minor in dance until I realized that that is where I am set apart from others. I have been able to open up my mind and see things in a new light instead of only going by the books.One of the most defining moments in my life was in a choreography class my freshman year. We were told to do some sort of abstract improvisation and I felt incredibly silly. I was stiff and insecure doing my movements, and I could not take my mind off of how odd the request was. All of a sudden my name was called out. My professor said, “Stop being nervous about looking stupid. Just do it.” She made me do it by myself with the whole class watching and I was mortified. However, now nearing the end of my college career, many dance classes later, I can fully embody any far fetched request. Why? Because I learned the most important lesson: Who cares if you look silly? When you are not afraid to put your ideas out there, no matter how far fetched, that is when something amazing and innovative comes to life.I am currently working as a Resident Advisor at my college, assisting my residents with housing needs, confidential counseling, and really anything they need. My main goal has always been to be their biggest ally in whatever they need, not patrol my hallways. This job has helped me develop tremendous personal skills far past the baseline customer service skills from my past jobs. I’ve learned to really listen to people, not just hear them. This job takes emotional strength, organizational talent, the ability to remain calm in any emergency, and more than anything it takes empathy.