New Year, New You?
I don't know about all of you, but during this time I tend to reflect on the last year. This year I had the realization that 2024 is my 10 year anniversary of being a paralegal. In 2014, I was a bright-eyed recent graduate excited to start start on an adventure of a new career. I've had ups and downs, but every chance that presented itself to me, I took it.
I can attribute my success to being involved with the Illinois Paralegal Association and attending IPA's education conferences, networking events, and CLE sessions. Each opportunity has helped me get "one step closer" to being the successful paralegal I have become today. I never would have imagined that 10 years later in I would be working in insurance risk management for a national hospital system and have the honor of serving as the President of the IPA for (almost) the past 4 years.
We often hear the phrase, "New Year, New Me", but to be honest, I don't think that is a good way of becoming successful. I didn't get to where I am by reinventing myself over and over again, but rather I built on my experience, taking a lot of small steps to get to where I am today. Am I done? Absolutely not! I will continue to take those small steps and continue to grow.
The IPA is a great resource to help you find opportunities to help you take those small steps in 2024. We will be hosting a monthly session called "Tips From the Trenches" where members are going to take their best kept "little secrets" that can help you be more productive in your day to day jobs. Planning is underway for the Spring Education Conference and we are gearing up to host some great in-person social events as well. Make sure you have downloaded the Tradewing App (IPA Connect) so you can stay up-to-date with all things IPA and don't miss out on any of the great opportunities we have to offer.
Here's to all of us taking some small steps in 2024! Each one of those small steps will help build you into the person, and the professional, you aspire to become!
Sincerely,
Melissa Jurik, ILAP
IPA President