Advanced Career Development Strategies - The Plan

Section 1.

Kathryn Elizabeth Crouch Krastin - June 18, 2005


Section 2.

Presently, I am at a point in time in my life wherein I feel that my career is in limbo as I move to transition my career path to better position myself for a job occupation that I can do for a long time, possibly easily through retirement ages - mediation - and still bring in a hefty income. While I have obtained a Paralegal Certificate in 1991 (which began my career in the paralegal field throughout the past decade) and my Associates in Criminal Justice Degree from Kaplan in April 2005, the Bachelor's of Paralegal Studies will complete my college studies, unless I then decide to pursue a law degree.

Personal values have been placed towards a personal advocacies that I have been involved with over many years and have emphasized them in my volunteer work -- such as through CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Documentation Exchange (researching for immigration issues), ProBar (aiding in political asylum case research), Family Eldercare, GAL (Guardian ad Litem), Deacon (at my Church), Mission Delegate (to Guatemala in Summer 2003), Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Hotline Counseling, Victims Advocate Program (at Cedar Park Police Department), and so much more.

Pare up my personal values with my paralegal background, this should provide for a well-rounded background in the mediation arena -- especially with the fortes surrounding the advocacies of children and victims of violence.

Presently, I am working in the DVSA area through a 38hr/wk position at the Williamson County Crisis Center Shelter as a Night/Weekend Manager and as a Non-Commissioned (and Commissioned, as soon as my card arrives from the State Board) Officer for about 20/hrs/wk. These, while they do not offer great pay, offer me the continued experience with working with victims of crimes -- especially the DVSA type. These tie in well with my advocacy experiences and hold a common thread to what I am working upon through the volunteer programs I have been involved with.


Section 3.

Mission Statement: To put myself in a position that I can aid others in a manner that exemplifies an environment that is conducive to people getting along, while earning an income that will allow me to live a life without having to depend on others for my own financial existance, as well as get to a point in life that I can find a balance in my life to better enjoy with future grandchildren, as well as achieve more of my own personal goals of travelling, more missionary type of work, etc.

This Mission Statement is something that I am trying to make possible through working on my Bachelor's Degree in Paralegal Studies with a concentration in Mediation which should be obtained in the next two years.


Section 4. Personal and career goals, strategies, and deadlines for each of the following time periods:

3 to 6 Months: Some short-term goals including continuing to work on my volunteer work with the Cedar Park Police Department's Victim Services program and studying my courses associated with my Degree Plan.

6-12 Months: Some new skills you want to learn include actual mediation practices. I would like to become a member of a mediation organization to enable me taking some mediation workshops and seminars to aid in further advancing my mediation skills outside of the education provided through Kaplan.

12 Months: By this point in time, I would actually like to be working as an assistant to a mediator to gain additional perspectives in negotiation skills that will aid me in my own practice as a mediator.

2-5 Years: Between 2-5 years from now, I plan to be graduating from Kaplan with my Bachelor's in Paralegal Studies with a concentration in Mediation Degree. During the initial phase, I am probably looking at working in a mediation firm to get my feet wet in how the mediation practice is ran; however, within 1-2 years, I hope to be able to be opening my own mediation practice office.


Section 5.

My "Network Team" will include many friends and family, of course. It will also include Nesi Lilliard (Victim Services Coordinator of the CPPD, who also happens to be on their Negoiations Team), co-members of the Cedar Park Police Citizen's Academy Alumni group, peer student in the Criminal Justice and Paralegal Studies programs at Kaplan, past and current employers, those names I have updated to my references list throughout the years, and many others I will be meeting along my path to obtaining my mediation degree during the next couple of years.