By Elizabeth Vogel, Staff Writer -- vogel11@up.edu
Don't know what you're doing after you graduate? Don't worry.
Like 2010 UP alumna Alyssa Reget, you could take an alternative route that fits your style.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English from University of Portland, Reget was inspired to enter a field of service to the community.
"UP's commitment to service kept this option in the back of my mind," Regent said.
Regent works for the Department of Justice's Office of Consumer Protection and Victim Services in Helena,Mont. through a program called AmeriCorps VISTA.
"It's like the Peace Corps except you stay in the U.S.," Regent said.
According the AmeriCorps' website, "VISTA members commit to serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, strengthen community groups and much more."
The program provides people with real jobs, but they work more like volunteers than full-time employees.Reget does get paid, but she also experiences what it is like to live below the poverty line.
"I get paid about $4.50 an hour," she said. "It's not easy."
She works with lawyers to help victims of fraudulent business as well as other social issues.
"I work an eight to five day," said Regent. "Working is very different from college."
Her duties include recording complaints, investigating cases of consumer abuse and public outreach and education.
"We take complaints from consumers about bad business, telemarketers, scams, junk mail," Regent said. "We also help victims of domestic violence."
But the hands-on work is what Regent enjoys the most.
"Investigating is one of my favorite parts," she said.
Regent would like to eventually attend law school, but she thinks AmeriCorps VISTA is a good stepping-stone because she gets real life experience and can decide what kind of law to focus on.
"My plan was to go to law school," Regent said. "This job has given me the chance to experience different law that sparks my interest, like domestic law."
Reget credits her experiences at UP as helping prepare her current job.
"I learned important skills like researching and critical thinking," Regent said. "For example, I'm researching a case about a hearing aid advertisement and I'm able to look at the ad and I'm thinking, wait a second, what's wrong with this picture?"
Reget leaves the following words of wisdom for current UP students, "Be prepared for anything. You never know where you'll end up next."
