A Q&A with college adviser Bethany Holmes
The Pirates Hook (PH): Why’d you choose Riverside?
Bethany Holmes (BH): “I work with Duke University and they actually match you with a school based on where you went to high school, the schools that they offer, and what they think would be your best fit, so my supervisors kind of chose for me.
So far I’ve really liked Riverside. I like that there’s a lot of students I can help, there’s a range of what you guys need from me, whether it’s step by step or if a student just has a couple of questions.
PH: Did you work at a previous school? What was it like?
BH: “I’ve worked a lot in different childcare services. My previous experience comes from both childcare and helping other students when I was at Davidson College. I would occasionally tutor my older kids who did an afterschool program there. I graduated from Davidson in May and did a lot of work with incoming freshmen helping them get acclimated and do orientations.”
PH: Why is doing what you do important to you?
BH: “It’s important to me because I didn’t have anyone helping me after high school with what I wanted to do. I’m a first generation college student, meaning neither of my parents got a four year degree. I had counselors at my school but they weren’t really equipped either. They either went to college twenty years ago or didn’t go to college at all. So it’s important to me that students know their potential and just that they feel confident in what they want to do after high school.
PH: What do you hope to accomplish this year?
BH: “I just hope to help as many students as I can. My goal is to be a support system for everyone, to let students know I’m here to help them with college applications, resumes, anything that they’ll need to prepare for what they need after high school. I hope to just be a community member that students feel like they can trust and feel like they can lean on for support.”
PH: How should students connect with you?
BH: “Students can connect with me in multiple ways. They can schedule an appointment with me using my QR code that’s on my office door. I also have an email: brh64@duke.edu. I have an instagram: @riverside_nextstepdvising.”
Usually, students come into my office, which I’m perfectly fine with as long as it’s not during an appointment or something. I’m always here and my door is always open for you guys.”
PH: If you weren’t a college advisor what would you do?
BH: “One of my dream professions is adolescent mental health counseling. I want to pursue that after doing a little bit of college advising for a while. I’m also thinking about occupational therapy and pediatrics.”
