Megan Sherman - MS '07

After graduating from the Werner Institute, my life became a balancing act between school and work. I had started working part-time at the Better Business Bureau after completing my externship and had also started my second semester of law school. To say the least, my plate was full and as my world started splitting into two different directions, I found myself standing somewhere in the middle.

I came to the Better Business Bureau while still a student at Werner. I needed externship hours to graduate and they needed someone to help with complaint cases. It was the perfect situation! My first day as an intern started out just as I had imagined it would. I was introduced to my very own desk, my very own computer, and with a few strokes on the keyboard, my very own title! I went from “intern” to “Arbitration Case Specialist” in a matter of minutes and I was excited! I was now working for a company who needed and wanted my expertise and for once in my life; I was at least somewhat prepared to handle that responsibility.

My career at the Better Business Bureau took me from August 2007 until April 2009, when I realized that I had outgrown my position. Upon starting at the BBB, I was told that my position as Arbitration Case Specialist did not exist until I walked through the doors. With this new position came the responsibility of re-creating the entire BBB complaint process for my department and for 1 ½ years, it was my baby. I had many goals for the process, my position, and my career at the BBB but I always found myself looking out the window as if I was looking for something else. There was something pulling me away from completely dedicating myself to the BBB so in April 2009, I said goodbye to my desk and to my computer but not to the memories of the experience!

Then in July 2009, I was asked to interview for the Family Mediation Coordinator position at Concord Center. After receiving that phone call, I knew that I had finally found my “something”. Ever since Basic Mediation training at Werner, I knew that I wanted to work with families. Regardless of how or where I was doing the work, I knew that it needed to involve families and I knew that this position at Concord Center would allow me that opportunity. I went into my interview with high hopes of receiving the position and of getting my feet a little “wetter” with this new experience.

Today, I am the Family Mediation Coordinator at Concord Center. I get the opportunity to assist families through a difficult time in their lives by helping those families create and work with a parenting plan. I also have the opportunity to explore other programs at Concord Center and truly broaden my mediation horizon. My life is still a balancing act, between life and work, but as every day passes the scale continues to tip in my favor.