Lisa Parkinson, Hayley Pierce and Karen Peterson spoke to women at BYU about making education and career decisions during a panel event on Nov. 7.
The event was a combined event dubbed "Unlock Your Story" and hosted by the BYU Women’s Services and Resources offices and the BYU University Advisement Center.
Daniela Marquez, events specialist for the Women's Services and Resources office, said the idea for the event came last year as they realized how many questions women had concerning their unique education paths.
“I really like putting on events like this, where they can come and talk to mentors and create connections, and that’s what we’re all about here at Women's Services and Resources,” Marquez said.
Each one of the three panelists had unique perspectives on education, family, career and the struggle of maintaining the "balancing act."
Lisa Parkinson had a career path with several unexpected twists and turns. She gave inspiring advice on dealing with failure.
“I’ve had all kinds of failures. I always think, fail fast, learn from it, move forward,” Parkinson said.
She explained that the ultimate source of finding hope after failure is turning to God.
“I’ve learned over time to pray and ask Heavenly Father, how do you feel about me? And 100% of the time he’s going to say, I love you and you’re wonderful,” she said.
Hayley Pierce was a first generation college student and offered valuable insight on being a mother while obtaining a higher education.
“I wish I could say it stops, but it doesn’t. There’s always things to balance in different seasons of life,” she said. “It’s all about communicating your needs to your partner, to your children, to your employer, to your professors, to yourself, to your roommates.”
Karen Peterson, the chief marketing officer of Chatbooks, gave advice on balancing family, career and working as a professional in a male dominated career. She explained it was difficult to fit in her workplace environment, but she eventually realized the power of women in the workforce.
“We need that diversity and it helps people think differently,” Peterson said. “Being who you are is your unique value.”
The panelists also spoke out against perfectionism and gave advice to slow down and enjoy the beauty of each season in life.
“Perfectionism is an absolute trap, and it actually won't get you any further,” Peterson said.
“Just take a breath and realize what is good in your life right now,” Pierce said. “Undergrad is a unique blip of time that you will never get again.”
Kaitlin Bailey, a freshman at BYU, felt that the messages at the panel event were meant for her.
“I feel like I’ve been looking for something like this around campus for a while,” Bailey said.
She added she learned that “what really matters is you and God and the journey that you’re on together.”
Marquez is unsure how these events will look in the future but said she hopes to continue providing opportunities that empower women at BYU.