At 兔子先生系列麻豆, career readiness is more than a talking point. It is built into the classroom experience, often by faculty who bring years of hands-on professional work directly to their students.听
That is especially true for听Brandee听El-Attar, a visiting assistant professor at GBC and longtime professional in the human services field. In a recent episode of the听Practice to Profession podcast,听El-Attar听spoke with host Dustin Ramsdell about her work with families, her path to teaching and why helping students understand themselves is just as important as helping them master course material.
El-Attar听has spent more than 25 years working with individuals with developmental disabilities,听families听and human service organizations. Today, she describes part of her professional work as 鈥渇amily success coaching,鈥� a role that brings together education,听training听and individualized support for families.听
For听El-Attar, family success does not follow one single formula. Every family has different strengths,听needs听and values. Her work focuses on helping families听identify听what success looks like for them, then听build听routines,听connection听and support systems that fit their lives.听
A major part of that work, she explained, is helping parents and caregivers feel empowered instead of听overwhelmed. Whether a child is navigating ADHD, developmental听needs听or everyday growing pains,听El-Attar鈥檚 approach emphasizes intentionality, self-leadership and what she calls the 鈥渄ignity of risk鈥� 鈥� allowing young people to take reasonable risks, make mistakes and grow through the process. 听That philosophy carries directly into her teaching.
El-Attar began at GBC as an adjunct professor teaching Introduction to Psychology before moving into a full-time faculty role overseeing the human services department. She said she had long been drawn to teaching, partly because of the professors who shaped her own academic and professional path. After years of driving past GBC and noticing the inspirational quotes on campus signage, she decided to explore the possibility of teaching there.听It turned out to be a natural fit.听
In the classroom,听El-Attar听leans heavily on practical听application. When students learn about psychological concepts, ethics,听sociology听or human services, she wants them to see how those ideas show up in real life 鈥� in workplaces, families,听communities听and their own personal development. 听That real-world connection matters, especially for students preparing to enter the workforce.听
El-Attar听said students are not just learning content; they are also developing the skills they need to function well as professionals听and as听people. That includes critical thinking, communication, self-advocacy, emotional regulation, executive听functioning听and collaboration. In her view, those skills cannot be assumed. They need to be intentionally built into the learning experience.
We鈥檙e teaching students first and subject matter second
听El-Attar听said during the conversation, emphasizing that content knowledge matters, but students also need the internal capacity to thrive beyond the classroom.听
Her courses often include discussion, reflection and opportunities for students to connect academic concepts to their lived experiences. She encourages students to move beyond simply summarizing what they read or watch. Instead, she asks them to think about how the material affects them, what connections they are making and how the concepts apply to the world around them.听
Service learning is another key part of her teaching approach.听El-Attar听encourages students to volunteer and engage with the community, especially in human services courses. Those experiences, she said, help students develop skills they may not听immediately听recognize 鈥� follow-through, empathy, communication,听teamwork听and a stronger sense of purpose. 听For students focused on getting hired, that combination can be powerful. Employers may look for technical knowledge, but they also need people who can think critically, work with others, adapt and communicate clearly.听El-Attar鈥檚 courses are designed to help students build both.
El-Attar听wants students to understand that their personal growth is connected to the impact they will have听in听the world. She encourages them to stay open, embrace unexpected turns and remain willing to grow 鈥� even when the path does not look exactly like they planned.听
For a college built around helping students move from practice to profession, that message fits. Career readiness is not just about earning a degree or checking off requirements. It is about becoming the kind of person who can step into the world with confidence, purpose and the ability to keep learning.听
听
When asked about the best career advice she has received,听El-Attar听pointed to two ideas: sell yourself and ask for what you want. She also encourages students to put themselves in rooms where they may not feel fully ready yet. Growth often happens in those uncomfortable spaces.听
Her advice to students is direct: practice self-advocacy. Do not assume people can read your mind. Learn how to communicate what you need, what you want and where you hope to go.听
And the message she hopes every student takes from her classroom?听
You matter.听
兔子先生系列麻豆 is a Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
Text Telephone/Teletypewriter (TTY) Relay Service: 711 or 800-232-5460 for English or 877-335-7595 for Spanish
