Reflections on a career, experiences in it
- Melinda Hill, OSU Extension Wayne County
- March 29, 2025
- 422
Michael Josephson has a great website that promotes the theme of “Living Life with Purpose.” I have one of his quotes above my desk that has offered guidance through the years of my service with OSU Extension: “Choose to live a life that matters.”
He emphasizes the message that how we choose to live our life will one day be a reflection as we move on. If you aren’t familiar with his work, please take time to do so. He has some great information on building character with children and an Institute of Ethics.
Many of you may have heard I am planning to retire after almost 37 years with the Wayne County Extension Office. The position title and the emphasis on programming have changed a lot over the years. Just imagine there were no computers or even copiers in the office when I started in 1987.
I’ve seen many co-workers who became friends join the team to help with the mission and vision of the extension. I can say I’ve loved this job from the beginning. Thank you, Bob Troutman, for believing in me enough to give me a chance and for the countless others who supported me and invited me to share in educational events through the years.
The current mission of OSU Family and Consumer Sciences is to facilitate opportunities for people to explore how science-based knowledge can improve physical, social and financial health. Our vision is for Ohioans to have the information, tools and resources to actively engage in creating conditions in which they thrive as individuals, families and communities.
Working for this institution has afforded me opportunities beyond measure and thus allowed me to bring information back to share in so many ways. The regular professional in-services, the boundary-stretching national presentations and a chance to network all over this great nation will be things I will forever be grateful for.
As I look forward to the next milestone in life, I hope to have the opportunity to travel, spend more time in the woods with my horse and have the privilege of assisting my parents. Many other questions arise I may not have answers to at this moment, but I do plan on using my column space for the rest of the month to share what I’ve learned about retirement planning and what I have to look forward to.
Melinda Hill is an OSU Extension family and consumer sciences educator and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or hill.14@osu.edu.