Occupation: Certified Senior Advisor, Insurance Agent and NASD Registered Representative, Yolanda L. Tam, CSA, Business & Personal Insurance Plans, Charleston, West Virginia, and Hurricane, West Virginia

ETSU degree: B.S., 1995 (Psychology and Speech Communication)

Other degrees: Currently working on Certified Financial Planner degree at American College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

Books read recently: The Hours by Michael Cunningham, Mars and Venus in the Workplace by John Gray, and the last volume for the final exam to receive the LUTCF (Life Underwriter Training Council Fellowship) designation.

Favorite activity when not at work: Gourmet cooking, yoga, excursions to new places.

Civic activities include: As President of the Charleston Insurance and Financial Advisors Association, I enforce the code of ethics and facilitate political action, continuing education, and community service by area insurance agents and financial advisors. My husband and I are also volunteers for RIF (Reading Is Fundamental). Our duties involve coordinating Reading Day and buying books for preschoolers in rural areas, so they learn to love reading at an early age.

What was one of your favorite courses at ETSU? Industrial/Organizational Psychology. The course provided interesting theories and studies of human efficiency and interaction in the workplace, and we did great projects related to the course.

What did you study that's proven to be more beneficial than you thought it would be? The decision to earn a second major in Speech Communication proved to be very beneficial. The courses I took in this major refined communication skills that are vital to the work environment.

Why should students consider attending ETSU? ETSU provides the ideal environment for great learning opportunities in and out of the classroom. The education in the classroom and my involvement in sorority, student government, and part-time jobs paved the way for the level of success and enjoyment I have in my work and my community today.

What advice would you give students just beginning their college careers? Along with obligations to your course of study, you owe it to yourself to gain a balanced education through your involvement in campus organizations and the community. "Preview ETSU” is a great way for all new students to start their college experience.

What have you learned from your work and life experience since graduating from ETSU? When your "work" is something you enjoy doing, it is no longer a "job," but a continuing drive to increase your knowledge and skills. This results in truly "earning a living."