The Court Reporter
Angela Carithers credits her husband for success. She said despite his own demanding career as a Marine, he plays a huge role in making sure she can keep her own career on track. “He’s encouraged me from the moment that I decided to go back to school to find a job that was more compatible with the military’s customary, ‘We’re going to uproot your entire family and way of life every three years’ way of doing things,” she said. Because of her husband’s support, Carithers successfully completed a program to become a court reporter. She knew it would giver her flexibility to lead this military lifestyle and raise a family during workups and deployments. “I think the drive comes from doing something you love and are good at,” she said. But despite passion, it is still easy to stray from the road to success and one has to remind him or herself that staying on track will be worth it in the end, no matter how stressful times may be. For Carithers, there is a monthly reminder to keep her on track and it comes in the form of a bill. “I worked so hard to get through school that every time I make a payment on my student loan, that is my defining moment that I will keep this going and I WILL be great at it!”
When it comes to spouses lacking motivation, Carithers suggests revisiting your current career choice and considering the activities you like and your strengths. “I think for a spouse struggling to find motivation, maybe the choice of career is the problem,” she said. “Find something you want to do and if it’s something that you can easily find work in that field every time you move, that should be key! My father made the comment to me once, that the legal field and health fields are careers that no matter where the military moves us…those jobs will always be there. I think that’s great advice,” she said. Carithers’ job in the legal world has proven to be a great fit for her. Her passion to stay organized and work hard and her curious nature make each job interesting. Also, as a freelance reporter in high demand, Carithers can pick and choose the days she works at times. If she knows her husband will be gone for several months and she’ll need a break, she can block out weeks on her calendar and use that time to find her center of gravity and return to a schedule. Her advice to find a career that fits your own needs as well as the military lifestyle is sound.
