Nothing in my Masters Degree program, however, ultimately prepared me for the realities in the world of growth and development. Together we work on the best way to achieve their goals, while at the same time preserving valuable open space and protecting community identity in the face of tremendous growth. On the other side of the coin, I also work with the poor, established landowners, and wealthier homeowners in subdivisions, who don't understand why the growth has to happen in their backyard. This job becomes emotional at times, and it is hard to be impartial and do what is best in the interest of the community. When the community pulls at both sides, I have to tighten my sociology hat, understand what makes them feel the way they do ,and try to offer solutions to get to the heart of their concerns.
Planning is really a mix of sociology, psychology and geography.
While I enjoy public-sector planning, I would like to find a way to integrate community planning into the schools more effectively. I have thought about teaching as a way to do this. Through this job, I have learned that an informed citizenry is the most effective at shaping their own community and destiny. Through early elementary education, children learn the value of community participation. I want to find a way to integrate their valuable opinions formally into the planning process.