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Autumn Green

Autumn Green

Wellesley College

Wellesley, MA USA

"Don't ever let anyone tell you that your dreams are too big."

Career Roadmap

Autumn's work combines: Education, Writing, and Working with Others

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Day In The Life

Research Scientist and Project Director

I conduct research to help inform policy in higher education, particularly supporting student parents.

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • GED

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer Degree

    Chemeketa Community College

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Art Therapy/Therapist

    Marylhurst University

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Bachelor of Science in Sociology

    University of Oregon

  • Graduate Degree

    Master's of Education - Arts, Community & Education

    Lesley University

  • Doctorate

    Master's & Ph.D. in Sociology

    Boston College

Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Research Scientist and Project Director:

Bachelor's Degree: Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer Degree

Bachelor's Degree: Art Therapy/Therapist

Bachelor's Degree: Bachelor of Science in Sociology

Graduate Degree: Master's of Education - Arts, Community & Education

Doctorate: Master's & Ph.D. in Sociology

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life took a while to figure out

  • 1.

    15 Years Old - Dropped out of High School; Got Arrested; Making questionable decisions.

  • 2.

    16 Years Old - Got married, got pregnant, got a job, passed GED, started community college

  • 3.

    18 Years Old - Finished Community College and Transferred to University to Study Art Therapy

  • 4.

    19 Years Old - Second daughter was born. Decided Art Therapy was not for me and fell in love with sociology.

  • 5.

    21 Years Old - Graduated from University, moved my family across the country & started grad school.

  • 6.

    31 Years Old - Earned my PhD (with Honors of course!) Started my first post-PhD job.

  • 7.

    36 Years Old - Left a great job for a position that has become my dream job.

  • 8.

    38 Years Old - Became a Grandma. Now I am helping my daughter walk a similar path with her daughter as a young parent to the one we once walked together.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Society in general:

    You'll never make it through that much school. You're going to drop out. I don't know why you're wasting your time. What are you even going to DO with a degree in sociology? You could've done it with one kid but it's not even worth trying with two.

  • How I responded:

    I think I'm a really stubborn person, so when someone tells me that I can't do something, I will not only do it, but blow the expectations out of the water. When my caseworker told me that I was wasting the state's money because she expected that I'd drop out before graduating, it pushed me even harder. I didn't just graduate—I did it with honors! I would say don't ever let anyone tell you that your dreams are too big. When people want to hate on you for your dreams, laugh and do it anyway.

Experiences and challenges that shaped me

Click to expand

  • I can't categorize my hurdles into a single-box because frankly life has been far too messy to fit into a neat and tidy box. My daughters were born when I was 17 and 19 and grew up with me in college. Even though there was a lot of love, it was hard.