Respond to your classmate, Tamela's self introductory post.

"Hello Class,

My name is Tamela Foy. I see that I have had several classes with quite a few students who are now enrolled. Hello everyone, welcome back.Before I decided to pursue my MPA, I completed an associate's degree in social work and then a bachelor's degree in social psychology. I work at the VA in Columbus, Ohio. I have been there for four years; before that, I worked for twenty-four years for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. I was a corrections Captain, then shift commander for eighteen years. Before that, I was a corrections lieutenant for four years and a corrections officer for two years. I am now the first shift supervisor in environmental services.

I am a very proud mother of three, one daughter and two sons. I am an army widow, grandmother to four grandsons and four granddaughters. One son has four girls and the other has four boys. My daughter, who is the oldest, has no children.

I took this class because it seemed interesting and counts as one of my core classes in my degree pursuit. I also took this course because I work in a public organization, and I'm hoping it will help me obtain a better understanding of why things work as they do. Leaving state government employment and moving to federal government employment seems to be two different worlds.

The things I enjoy most in life are spending time with my children and grandchildren. After losing my oldest son unexpectedly in 2023, I realize nothing is guaranteed in life. I am now the mother and father/ grandmother to his oldest two sons. I am completing my master's degree to provide for them in the future. I am trying to show them that regardless of your age, if you want to achieve things in life you can. I am also hoping that my late educational journey encourages them to go to college once they graduate."