Betsy Wills, BA’89, MEd’02
Finding one鈥檚 passion is the key to a fulfilling life, says Betsy Wills, and helping young people tap into their passions has become one of hers. Inviting Peabody professional students into her home to share their life鈥檚 experiences is just one way she is doing this.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been rewarding for me to spend time with students and share Peabody鈥檚 impact on my career and my life,鈥� Wills said.
At a recent dinner she hosted for 10 Peabody master鈥檚 students, Wills explained how she refocused her career at 33 by choosing Peabody鈥檚 master鈥檚 program in human resource development instead of going to business school.
鈥淚 underwent some intense assessments of my abilities and learned that idea generation and motivating others were a huge part of my natural skill set,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eabody was the best place for me, and the program prepared me for my current business venture.鈥�
The evening was part of a series of GOLD (Graduates Of The Last Decade) Dinners, a program created by Associate Dean for Professional Education Sharon Shields as a way to connect professional students to outstanding Peabody alumni living in Nashville.
鈥淭he dinners provide an opportunity for our students to learn how a Peabody degree can make a difference and what type of career opportunities it can provide,鈥� Shields said. 鈥淚n addition, our alumni have found this a valuable way to build friendships and聽mentor our students.鈥�
Cassaundra Vergel, a second year master鈥檚 student focusing on leadership and organizational performance, came away from the evening energized by the experience and with an internship at Wills鈥� new business venture, YouScience, which is set to launch later this year.
鈥淵ouScience works with a student鈥檚 natural abilities and 21st century skills, and those are both topics I have been studying鈥攕o it was the perfect fit,鈥� Vergel said. 鈥淭he dinner was a great opportunity to get to know people beyond the classroom, and I was so fortunate to be able to fulfill my practicum requirement with this internship.”
Wills is looking forward to hosting another GOLD Dinner.
鈥淭he energy and enthusiasm of the group reminded me of why Peabody is so outstanding,鈥� Wills said. 鈥淎ll of these students are so dedicated鈥攁s an alumna, working with such talent is a privilege.鈥�
If you live in the Nashville area, received your master鈥檚 degree from Peabody in the last 10 years, and would like to host a GOLD Dinner party, contact Emma Smyth at emma.smyth@vanderbilt.edu or 936-5510.