If there is one thing Christina Bothun knows, it’s how to be a parent. The mother of five grew up in southeastern Minnesota near the town of Preston – a community made of people she calls family rather than neighbors. She says being a mother is her most important job and earlier this year decided she wanted more for her children.
“My kids were my real motivation for going back to school,” said Bothun. “I want them to know no matter how old you are – you can achieve your goals. "She is currently enrolled in the Medical Administration Associate’s Degree program at the Rasmussen College Mankato campus. Bothun wants a career that requires interaction with people, something she recently discovered she’s quite good at.
Bothun is the new Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) parent educator at the Fillmore Central School District.
“The position sort of found me, and I’m so glad it did,” said Bothun. Twice a week, Bothun educates parents with children aged five or younger on everything from potty training to nutrition. She also puts together activities to help parents interact with their children.
“I give them resources to help them with their parenting skills; information that will hopefully lead to a better relationship with their children,” said Bothun. A mother herself, Bothun says the parent educator job came naturally for her, but there are things she’s learning in the classroom that have helped in this new role.
“I often put together informational sheets for my parents, and thanks to my classes at Rasmussen College I’m comfortable finding credible sources, referencing them using APA Style and presenting information in a way that is easy to understand.”
Bothun admits her parent educator role is mostly fun, but what she’s most excited about is how she’s educating herself at the same time.
“In this role, I’ve learned what it takes to be a professional and how to interact with a diverse group of people, something I will face in the medical administration field,” said Bothun. “It’s been a challenge – yes, but I love challenges.”
Bothun says she’s looking forward to developing her new skills even more and using them in her new career.
Do you have a success story? We are looking for more students like Bothun to feature on our College Life Blog. If you are interested in sharing your Rasmussen College experience or know someone we should talk to, e-mail us [email protected]
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