Danielle Marx | Director of Human Resources | Stateline Family YMCA and Stateline Boys and Girls Clubs
December 2021 - Giving Back to the Community that Raised Me
Graduation Day: The Journey Begins
“Travel” with me, for a moment, back to June 7, 2008 – an incredibly hot and humid,
sunny day on Jacobson Field. Me and more than 430 peers woke up eager to don our
purple graduation caps and gowns, nervous, excited, and (most of all) ready for the big
walk across the big stage and into our future. Silly string, beach balls, confetti, and were
stashed out-of-sight as we eagerly awaited those final words – “Congratulations to Class
of 2008 – We Did It!!”
Graduation day from Beloit Memorial High School (BMHS) is one memory that stays
vivid in my mind. You might assume this is because of how eager I was for life’s next
step, but quite the contrary. I couldn’t contain the PRIDE I had in being a graduate of
BMHS, and was overflowing with gratitude for each opportunity, success, “learning
moment,” and memory the School District of Beloit gave me. So many wonderful people
in the Beloit community invested time and energy in helping me and my peers be ready
for whatever we chose next in life, and I could not wait to return the favor to my
community.
Life: The REAL Journey
I didn’t know at the time that I would spend the next ten years on a journey involving
starting college, transferring schools, taking longer than planned to earn my Bachelor’s in
a field I did not plan on at graduation, moving a few hours from home, marrying my high
school sweetheart (BMHS Class of 2007), having our first child, moving back to Beloit,
buying a house, having our second child, and working a few different jobs to find my
place in the professional world.
My identity lies within all of these aspects of my life – a Beloit native and BMHS
graduate, a mother (of a now SBD student – GO TODD TIMBERWOLVES!), a wife, a
hard-working professional in the non-profit industry, and a servant leader. It was
difficult for me not having found what I felt was the “best” way for me to give back to the
community that raised me.
Finding my Calling
Once I settled into a career in the Beloit community, I quickly found a way to give back.
Almost exactly ten years after graduating, I found myself back in the halls of BMHS
volunteering as an interviewer for the practice interview program.
To say I fell in love with the impact this program makes is an understatement. As a
Human Resources professional, I felt I found the perfect way to give back to the
community that raised me – not just “interviewing” students to give real-life experience
but co-coordinating the entire program (alongside Rick Barder) and teaching students
about resume-building, interviewing, and everything in-between. I was so impressed by
the work done to build and sustain the program, and ultimately the positive impact it
had in the community, that I NEEDED to be part of it.
Get with the Program
The Practice Interview Program, supported by the Greater Beloit Economic Development
Corporation (GBEDC), has been positively impacting the lives of students for more than
15 years. This year, for the first time, sophomore students are participating in the
program to learn about resume building BEFORE they look for their first job, not after.
As we look forward, we are excited about how this program will find its place in the
Academy model at BMHS.
Life skills are so important for children to learn as early as possible, and this program
plays a small part in ensuring students in our community are better prepared for life
ahead. We’ve all heard “it takes a village” – I argue “it takes a community.” Why not
support our schools and do all we can as a community to support preparing students for
their futures?
This program is always looking for individuals from all industries to volunteer as
interviewers and classroom facilitators, so we can continue to reach every student. We
are so thankful for the nearly 200 volunteers who dedicate their time and are eager to
grow that number!
My “Why”
So why in the world have I just shared this story with all of you? I firmly believe
something in my story can resonate with just about everyone. I am a full-time employee
with a big job, a full-time (with mandatory overtime) mom/wife/daughter/sister/friend,
and I find time to give back to the community that raised me.
SO much fulfillment comes from the time I spend giving back, even when it feels like
there is not enough time in the day or week. I cannot help but take pride in the example
giving-back sets for others, most importantly my sons, and am so excited for the time
(another ten years from now) when I get to see my sons and their friends go through this
program.
