I have always LOVED to-do lists.  When I was in Kindergarten, I asked Santa Claus for office supplies.  Setting goals, making a plan to achieve those goals, and then checking items off a to-do list is the way that I have approached projects for years.

As a senior in college, I had a very specific goal for what I wanted to do career wise.  After creating the perfect to-do list, I began checking tasks off of the list to secure my dream job.  Craft a compelling resume: check!  Meet with Career Services: check!  Setup interviews: check!  And after a few months, the plan was complete.

Fast forward to a few years later and the “dream job” was not all that I had hoped for after all.  But how could this be possible?  All of my to-dos had been completed.  It was a difficult realization that even when things go “according to plan,” sometimes you are not happy.  Plans have to remain flexible.

So I made a change, that by most measures was not terribly drastic, but for me it was literally uncharted.  I resigned from my job without definitive direction on what I was going to do next.  I was open-minded and considered several different possibilities.  Through this process, I learned that sometimes it is best to not have a set, rigid plan.  I explored opportunities and embraced the unmapped.  As a result, I have a job that was not even on my radar five years ago, but has exceeded all of my expectations.  I look forward to coming to work every day and being a part of such a dynamic community.  I know I am in the perfect place at Trinity.  To-do lists and plans can be wonderful, but it is just as important to remain open to the unexpected and unplanned opportunities.

Learner, Thinker, Writer: Lane Yates is the Advancement Associate at Trinity School.