Last Friday, the Center for Work and Life held a panel as part of the “Reali-tea” series called “This Isn’t What I Planned: Unusual Routes and Paths to Success.” The panel consisted of Elizabeth Pryor, Boe Morgan ’AC 04 and Su Meck AC ’14.

The event was moderated by Yenisleidy Simon ’AC, Danielle McColgan ’14 and Jacquelyn Lam ’14.

“I am the director of the Center for Work and Life, but our Student Advisory Board came up with the idea for the tea as they do for all of our Reali-teas,” Jessica Bacal said. “They invited the panelists, dealt with all of the organization and came up with the questions.”

Bacal gave advice to Smith students questioning their futures.

“Use Smith as a place to practice assertiveness, risk-taking and to learn professionalism,” she said.

At the event, panelists answered questions about their “routes and paths to success” and then fielded questions from the audience. Morgan elaborated on her decision to leave a steady career and attend college, Pryor spoke about learning to ask questions and Meck detailed her journey from relearning how to read, walk and tie her shoes to attending Smith and writing a book.

“I learned to read along with my kids,” said Meck. “My son taught me how to tie my shoes. I was learning on a different time table. If you had told me a year ago that I would be writing a book, I wouldn’t have believed you.”

The women were asked about how they define success. Morgan explained that her philosophy of success is a “three-legged stool.”

“There are three components of success,” she told the audience. “There is career success, economic success and personal success.” She added, “Just because something is hard does not mean you can’t do it.”

When asked how her past career as a truck driver has helped her as an attorney, Morgan replied that she learned to “show up on time, drink water and find out [her] own direction.”

Pryor had advice for students who may not be sure what they want out of life.

“Research and ask questions,” she said. “I think that when I was younger I thought everyone already knew what they were doing and how to get there. I never asked people questions because it never dawned on me that I could. I also thought that I had to land the perfect job out of college, and I think there is something to be said for working out of college in a career you don’t even like. I think it’s easier when you’re younger to try things out and experiment, and it’s certainly easier to work long hours and see if that lifestyle works for you.”