Working at The City of Garland

When I began working at the Hollabaugh recreation center in my sophomore year, I truly believed it was just a temporary part-time job I would hold until I completed college. I never imagined it would influence my career choice and professional experience.

Working at a recreation center involves more than simply sitting at a desk, booking reservations, or answering calls. In the position I held, Associate Ones' were the permanent part-time staff who essentially acted as shift leads during nights and weekends. During the summer, things were a bit slower since there weren't any major holiday events to manage. I primarily assisted with the summer camp and decorating the recreation center.

Every month, I decorated the entire recreation center to reflect the season, be it back-to-school, Christmas, or Valentine's Day. Over time, I started helping with the creation of marketing flyers for events and newsletters for classes. I used Canva and Adobe to implement what I had learned in my design classes. Additionally, I became more engaged with the community and did my utmost to provide them with information about Garland.

When the major holidays arrived, so did the events. My role was to assist as much as possible, which involved participating in two event committees each season. I used this opportunity to develop more skills in events and marketing, even requesting training and going out to secure vendors for the events. For Halloween, I was part of the team that set up our haunted house and trunk or treat at different recreation centers. During Christmas, events took place at Garland's Downtown Square, where I was assigned to a station like the snow slide. For the Easter event, I helped find vendors and create raffle prizes. I also assisted with the opening of the newly renovated Downtown Square.

During my time there, I met so many incredible people, and it transformed my initial perception of it as "just a temporary job" into excitement for a potential future career. I certainly aimed to make it a full-time position, becoming more involved and passionate about it. When I learned about a full-time role that could advance my career, I seized the opportunity. The position was as a Recreation Specialist, responsible for leading event committees and organizing classes at the recreation centers. I prepared by seeking training in budgeting, hiring instructors, and other specialist responsibilities. Although I didn't receive the offer, I have no regrets about the experience. It enhanced the skills I learned in school and was the best job at the time.

Here are examples of the work I completed and photos from the events I participated in: