Becoming a (Formal) Professional Consultant

August is my favourite month of the year.  The days finally feel like summer, the nights are cooler and more comfortable, and of course, it is almost my birthday.  The past few months I have spent a lot of time (and I mean a lot) trying to decide what I want to do for next steps of my career.  I have explored more graduate programs, I have completed more professional development courses, and I have even designed my own professional development curriculum.  As I continue to reflect on what I had read, written, learned, and done, I continue to wonder "how can I do more?".  Because as much as all of these experiences have helped me to become a better professional, they have had little to no impact on supporting others in their own developmental journeys.  After all, when I think about what my true purpose is, I keep coming back to my desire to help others find their purpose and paths.  It's really no wonder that I love education - I find a sense of personal and professional fulfillment in helping others explore their life and future career.

Over the past few years, I have been asked to attend various professional development opportunities on campuses, and present at various conferences, to share my knowledge in learning assessment and/or career advising.  It has always been something that I have genuinely and thoroughly enjoyed.  I really appreciate opportunities to help other folks in the field better understand their next steps, and continue to enhance themselves and their programs.  More recently, I was contacted by an Ontario institution to come as a professional consultant to host a day-long workshop, which really got my gears turning.  When I initially read the email, there was an overwhelming amount of excitement, nerves, anxiety, and thrill.  As I have been designing and thinking about what the day will look like with their needs in mind, I've decided to formally dive head first into the world of professional consulting!  I am thrilled to be announcing Sara M. Wills Consulting (SWC), offering consulting services on assessment and evaluation, curriculum development (academic and co-curricular), and career exploration.  

I'm not sure what this journey will have in store for me, but I am excited to jump in and start to take on a more formal, professional role within higher education to help others' improve their programs and explore their own careers.  

I will do my best to continue to share via social media the opportunities I have and the reflections I have gained throughout this process.  After all, the learning never stops, and one of my favourite parts of advising and consulting is that there is equally as much to learn from those you work with, as they will learn from you.  Wish me luck!