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Series 1, “Now What?” Episode 2: Aileen Reid

Aileen Reid ’95 graduated with an AB in policy studies. Her policy of keeping an eye on long-term goals and being willing to take in stride the unexpected plans life has for has worked well. She’s currently finishing a Ph.D., but there have been many stops along the way.

Transcript:

SERIES ONE, EPISODE TWO, Aileen Reed

TRACK
I’m Scott Huler and this is The Devils’ Share — a podcast of Duke Magazine

Series One: Now What?

[music]
ACTUALITY
Sometimes you just have to jump ship and start afresh. What i would say to you is this is not the first time this will happen to you and if you keep taking stock and be self reflective you’ll get through those periods of your life.

TRACK
We’ve been talking with Duke alumni about how they faced that first great reality shock of work. About that moment when, a few years out of school, they begin to realize that they may have prepared for a different career, need a different job, be a different person than all the schooling in the world prepared them for. Then what?

ACTUALITY
I guess what i would say is if you find yourself in that place first of all you’re going to have lots of those moments in life. This is not the first time so don’t panic. I’m 45 and what i thought i would be doing I think it’s taken me 20 years to really figure that out so it’s ok

TRACK
Comforting words from …

ACTUALITY
My name is Aileen Reed I graduated class of 95 Trinity college my major was public policy studies

TRACK
Reed says the key is taking small steps toward a long goal — and not being worried by unexpected turns.

ACTUALITY
Use them as opportunities. Do think about what the end game is. I really like the thought for me when i turned 40 i asked myself what do i want my life to be how do i want my life to be defined for the next 30 40 years and that has really helped me make some major decisions

TRACK
She’s not kidding about major decisions

ACTUALITY
I’m a doctoral student finishing up my phd, So that’s exciting. I do evaluation work i’m an educ. researcher. I’m a mom of three kids. And my husband and i are fulltime pastors. So i’m doing all of that but this is after 20 years of stopping 20 y.a. And taking another path bec life had other plans for me

TRACK
Her life has been a series of those different plans and small steps.

ACTUALITY
When i was first out of school i was supposed to go straight to grad school. I was going to to into public health and i realized that wasn’t really what i wanted to do.
And i worked for a year and then i went to grad school but i did a diff program i did public admin but hat was more me my skill set, my passion.

It’s Still public policy ish. And then i ended up in evaluation work which is ME, which is what i really wanted to do. And now I’m doing educational research and I was born to be a researcher so i finally landed where i need to be.

TRACK
She does look back at things she might have done better.

ACTUALITY
network, talk to people you know, and i think what happened was i stayed to myself… i stayed to myself.

Reach out, talk to anybody and everybody you know who can give you a sense of direction or even if they can give you oppties to help you fig out in a low risk way if this is what you really want

TRACK
And again — even if your process starts with a wrong turn, by small steps you’ll find your way.

ACTUALITY
But i left school realizing i don’t want to go into politics, i don’t want to do those things, that’s not me, so i need to take some time to find me, but i never gave up

And i feel like right now i’m in my sweet spot. This is where i need to be, this is me, and i’m enjoying life

TRACK
As for the usual advice,…

ACTUALITY
Work hard, be disciplined, don’t doubt yourself, be reasonable and rational, but at the same time if you find yourself in a place where you feel this is really not the place i want to be follow your heart.

TRACK
Very good advice. Next on The Devils’ Share,

ACTUALITY
You know I never expected to be successful. Just because I had no clue what I was doing when I was 22 years old. I really didn’t know what my future was going to look like.

TRACK
Thanks for listening to The Devils’ Share, from Duke Magazine.