Sam Frazier, Class of 2016

Operational Support Technician

1. Can you give a brief description of what you do? I currently work as an Operational Support Technician within the U.S. Department of Justice. Embedded on a team, I help in an administrative capacity to make sure that everything entering our system is done correctly so that it can be properly assessed in our system. I also work as a Task Force Coordinator, handling the partnerships and the day-to-day administrative operations that go along with the team I assist, keeping local and state partnerships in compliance with my agency's policies and procedures. Outside of work, I just started my graduate school program pursuing my Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at The Johns Hopkins University.
2. What is your proudest accomplishment to date, personal or professional? My proudest moment to date, which is a mix of personal and professional, is achieving my post-baccalaureate certificate in Trauma-Informed Educational Practices and getting into my master's program. My personal achievement is that for a while I kept constantly hearing the word “no” or that I needed to prove to programs and people that I was knowledgeable and prepared to do graduate-level work even though I did well in undergrad. My professional achievement is that because I now have the additional learning, I can enhance my learning in Family Science (undergraduate degree), while also using my training and experiences to work my way to becoming a therapist either in my current fields of criminal justice or in any field that I choose.
3. What did you learn at Oldfields that you still use in your life today? One thing Oldifelds taught me that I still use in my life today is leadership skills, involving myself in projects and groups at work and in extra-curricular activities to make myself well-rounded. Because of Oldifelds, I am more confident in raising my hand to assist or to gain knowledge on something. They allowed us as students to gain those opportunities to grow in that way, and I am forever grateful. Another thing that I learned at Oldfields that I still use in my life today is time management. Being able to prioritize tasks or life changes and manage time to the best of my ability has helped me professionally and allowed me to continue my academic career. Study Hall and the snack break were so essential to me being able to ask teachers questions and get a head start on my assignments.
4. What do you miss most about Oldfields? What I miss about Oldfields the most are the faculty who significantly impacted my life (those present and those who have since left). If it was not for their push and support, I am not sure where I would be. I also miss the traditions. Though, as a freshman, I didn't quite understand them, by the time I became a senior, and now an alumna, they are something I hold very dear because of the memories they gave me. Lastly, I miss being on Oldfields’ beautiful campus. I used to internally complain about being kind of in the middle of nowhere, but after returning and visiting the campus, there is nothing like the little oasis that for years I used to call my home away from home.