I grew up in small town on the Connecticut shoreline, and decided to begin my college career at Keene State College in the fall of 2008.

I graduated KSC in the spring of 2012, receiving a major in psychology and an associates in chemical dependency.  My overall GPA from KSC was a 3.4, I believe.  I struggled my first year with adjusting, but quickly got the hang of creating an equilibrium between work, classes, social groups, and clubs.

During my time at KSC, I was not heavily involved in clubs—I simply stuck with the ski and snowboard club.  However I was an active road biker/mountain biker, runner, intramural sports team participant, basketball, floor hockey, and dodge ball.  Moreover, in accordance to my degree in chemical dependency I was involved with the Winchester school, in Winchester, N.H. through my internship my senior year.

I assisted in a program called, “All Stars,” which focused on teaching fourth and fifth-graders in a low-income environment about the dangers and future destruction of drugs and inappropriate relations.

I was involved in this internship a minimum of 20-30 hours a week on top of working for R.O.C.K.S., and completing my senior seminar courses.  This time was a stressful time, however, it was also a time of growth, in which I really obtained the confidence, structure, and organization which I utilize in my current career as well as my everyday life.

Some may view R.O.C.K.S. employees simply as individuals who clean up bins and drive a large truck through campus, yet there is far more being done than a “clean up.”  R.O.C.K.S. taught me the hard work ethic I need in my current career.

Not only did the job require physical endurance to continuously move the bins of recyclables and compost, but it also entailed a strong mental drive to continue to push through those messy rainy days or frigid snow storms.

The most important aspect  R.O.C.K.S. taught me was pride.  Each shift was a new challenge, involving a new odor to be discovered in a bin, or an animal such as a possum waiting for you to dump the compost.  Whatever the day brought, we excelled through it all.

Most days were tough days on the job.   Then, from time to time, whether it be a professor or a child who we were teaching the importance of the environment through explanation and demonstration of planting a tree on Earth Day, hearing the words “thank you for all you do,” or simply “great job,” provided myself with a particular pride and happiness through knowing that hard work truly can be satisfactory.

This concept of hard work has been engraved into me thanks to my experience with R.O.C.K.S. and KSC, to the point that, here at my current job I need to be told to slow down or take a break.

Following KSC, I received my first job outside of college.   I was hired through Easter Seals in Manchester, N.H. as a Residential Instructor.  This job entailed I be a direct care worker (floor counselor) in an intensive residential facility.

I began working on a neurological unit, where most the clients are lower functioning, non-verbal, autistic individuals.  The job was a four day schedule, with one of those days a 15-hour shift.  I feel without R.O.C.K.S. I would not have acquired the drive and mental edge to complete that shift.  However, I was able to make it through those long days, in fact I would not take a break or sit sometimes during that shift.

All this hard work and dedication was developed through time and experiences and continues to grow now.  In November 2013, I moved up to being a Case Manager, which continues to be my job status currently.  Case Management is a very busy and difficult career due to the multiple aspects and responsibilities it entails.

However, thanks to jobs like this and R.O.C.K.S. it continues to be a catalyst that keeps this engine going with all the pride, satisfaction, and sense of accomplishment it provides.  In December 2013, I reached a milestone, I earned the “Easter Seals President’s Meritorious Award for Outstanding Service.”

KSC alumnus Seth Spector