CAREER GUIDANCE

For

High School Students

Superb Advice for Students, Parents & Teachers

By

Nina F. Victores

All profit from the sale of this book shall be donated to the American Red Cross.

http://www.CareerGuidanceBook.com

Copyright © 2008

by Nina F. Victores

FIRST EDITION

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, or by any means, electronic or

mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval

system, without permission in writing from the contributor/author/publisher/copyright owner.

ISBN 978-0-615-19280-2

Printed in United States of America

By Instantpublisher.com

To Mom, Dad, Laura and Andrew…

… for their invaluable assistance in the preparation of this publication.

Forward

Mary J. Gagne, Ph.D.

Director, Texas Academy of Leadership in the Humanities

Beaumont, Texas

Every experience in our life contributes to the person we become. I lived in Panama for my first five years of life, and then I lived in Germany and then several years later in France. Languages were part of my being. I have taken courses in Spanish, French, German and Latin. One of my favorite courses in graduate school was a course in International Linguistics. I wanted to major in languages and become a diplomat or interpreter for the United Nations. It was by accident that I was invited to teach French at an early age. I immediately fell in love with teaching. Every day of my life I am learning…from the wisdom of Socrates, to the creative genius of Shakespeare, to the compassion of Lincoln, to the enthusiasm of my students! I also learned that we do not only teach the subject but more importantly, we teach the content of our character.

I can remember distinctly my high school years. I wanted to feel needed, I craved intellectual stimulation, I wanted to serve the greater good, and I wanted a profession that allowed me to think and act with creativity. Teaching fulfilled my requirements. It is one of my fondest hopes for the future that the students I teach find a vocation that is rich in fulfillment.

This book gives a fascinating glimpse into the thoughts, wisdom, and lives of those individuals who are recognized in their chosen profession. In these pages a number of eminent people have been invited to appraise the significant reasons they chose their profession. Everyone wants to count, to be a part of something, to feel inclusive. I feel that this volume reflects the mainstreams of contemporary vocations, which indeed will help those who are searching for a meaningful career.

Contents

PREFACE 2

NINA F. VICTORES 2

RICHARD A. ANTHES, PH.D. 6

PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY CORPORATION FOR ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH 6

JEFFREY L. BEWKES 10

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, TIME WARNER 10

LYNN CLARK CALLISTER, RN, PH.D., FAAN 12

PROFESSOR, BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF NURSING 12

NIGEL M. DE S. CAMERON, PH.D. 14

PRESIDENT, INSTITUTE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY AND THE HUMAN FUTURE; ASSOCIATE DEAN AND RESEARCH PROFESSOR OF BIOETHICS, CHICAGO-KENT COLLEGE OF LAW 14

S. TRUETT CATHY 16

FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN, CHICK-FIL-A, INC. 16

SUSAN COMBS 18

TEXAS COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS 18

DENTON A. COOLEY, M.D. 20

PRESIDENT AND SURGEON-IN-CHIEF, THE TEXAS HEART INSTITUTE; CHIEF OF CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY, ST. LUKE'S EPISCOPAL HOSPITAL; CONSULTANT IN CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY, TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL; CLINICAL PROFESSOR OF SURGERY, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL SCHOOL AT HOUSTON 20

JOHN K. ERICKSON 22

PUBLISHER, MAVERICK BOOKS; AUTHOR, HANK THE COWDOG SERIES; OWNER, M CROSS RANCH 22

TIMOTHY W. FERGUSON, J.D. 24

ATTORNEY, FERGUSON FIRM, BEAUMONT, TEXAS 24

SUZAN GLOBUS, FAISD 26

PRESIDENT, AMERICAN SOCIETY OF INTERIOR DESIGNERS 26

JON M. HUNTSMAN 28

FOUNDER, CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF HUNTSMAN CHEMICAL CORPORATION 28

SALLY HUSS 44

ARTIST, DESIGNER, WRITER 44

SENATOR KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON 46

UNITED STATES SENATOR, TEXAS 46

P. PATRICK LEAHY, PH.D. 48

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE AMERICAN GEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE 48

DAVID W. LEEBRON 55

PRESIDENT, RICE UNIVERSITY, HOUSTON, TEXAS 55

ART LINKLETTER 60

PERFORMER AND BUSINESSMAN 60

SAM MALOOF 64

FURNITURE DESIGNER-CRAFTSMAN 64

WILLIAM F. MARCUSON, III, ERDC-GSL-MS-EMERITUS 66

CIVIL ENGINEER 66

HONORABLE NEAL P. MCCURN 68

SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK 68

EDWARD D. MILLER, M.D. 69

DEAN OF THE MEDICAL FACULTY, JOHNS HOPKINS SCHOOL OF MEDICINE; CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SYSTEM 69

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA 71

UNITED STATES SENATOR, ILLINOIS 71

PAUL R. PILLAR, PH.D. 72

VISITING PROFESSOR, SECURITY STUDIES PROGRAM AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY; CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY ANALYST 72

CONGRESSMAN TED POE 75

UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE SECOND DISTRICT OF TEXAS 75

JOHN E. POTTER 77

POSTMASTER GENERAL AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 77

GENERAL COLIN L. POWELL 84

UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE (2001-2005); NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR (1987-1989); CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF (1989-1993) 84

MARY LOU RETTON 88

MOTHER, MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, OLYMPIC GYMNAST 88

GERALDO RIVERA 91

FOX NEWS TELEVISION JOURNALIST 91

DR. EMILIO ADOLFO RIVERO 92

ATTORNEY, JOURNALIST, PRESIDENT OF NEW CUBA COALITION 92

CHRISTIAN ROBERTOZZI, DPM, FACFAS, FACFAOM 94

ADVANCED FOOT AND ANKLE CARE 94

GEORGE RODRIGUE 98

FINE ARTIST 98

LORIENE ROY, PH.D. 100

ALA-ALLIED PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT; PROFESSOR, SCHOOL OF INFORMATION, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN; PROFESSOR, CENTER FOR WOMEN’S AND GENDER STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN 100

MOSHE SAFDIE 102

ARCHITECT, MOSHE SAFDIE AND ASSOCIATES INC. 102

CHRISTINE D. TOWNSEND, PH.D. 106

PROFESSOR AND HEAD AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION, & COMMUNICATIONS, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY 106

PATRICIO VICTORES 109

LABORATORY MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST 109

J. CRAIG WHEELER 111

PRESIDENT, AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY; SAMUEL T. AND FERN YANAGISAWA REGENTS PROFESSOR OF ASTRONOMY 111

BARBARA W. WRIGHT, RN, PH.D., FAAN 114

NURSE 114

ANTHONY YANEZ 121

BROADCAST TELEVISION/ METEOROLOGIST, HOUSTON KPRC 121

GENERAL CHUCK YEAGER, USAF 123

PILOT; FOUNDER, GENERAL CHUCK YEAGER FOUNDATION 123

ORDERING 126

ORDER FORM 128

2

Pre face

Nina F. Victores

Contemplating A Future Career Is Futile…

…unless you consult with individuals who have been there and done that. As it is difficult to personally meet successful individuals from a variety of fields, I have compiled responses from approximately forty renowned individuals who were kind enough to advise us (high school students!) about their career choices.

Over two hundred letters were mailed. The recipients were asked to discuss their career with the following questions in mind:

1. Describe your profession.

3

2. What are its positive and negative aspects?

3. What made you decide to pursue this career?

4. How did you achieve your goal?

5. What would you change or maintain about your profession?

You, as I was, will be impressed by the candor of the contributors, as well as by the fact that so many of them are successful in multiple professions. Striving for excellence in all that one does seems to be a common denominator among them, as well as the fact that every profession has its positive and negative aspects. It can be summed up by the words motivation, inspiration and perspiration! This volume will hopefully inspire us to dream and to realize that dreams can turn into realities when accompanied by hard work, perseverance and luck.

A very few individuals gave me permission to use an excerpt from their website or their book, rather than mail a direct response. I included these individuals as well, as learning about as many professions as possible prior to leaping into the working world can only benefit us.

To all of these contributors, I am grateful… as a high school student about to graduate, as an author, as the daughter of an immigrant, and as an individual wishing to assist the American Red Cross.

GOOD LUCK and GOD BLESS.

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CAREER GUIDANCE

For

High School Students

Superb Advice for Students, Parents & Teachers

5