Sherry Grathler
Los Rios River Runners
Taos, NM US
"A lot of my philosophies in life are around water: you have to go with the flow, but you have to act at the right time."
Career Roadmap
Sherry's work combines: Action Sports, Environment & Nature, and Being Physically Active
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Life is a lot like rafting. Go with the flow, but take action at the right moments so you don't crash.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
Always thought that she would become a lawyer.
2.
She started going down that path, but when she talked to other attorneys, she realized that most of them didn't actually like their jobs.
3.
Seeing so many people get stuck stuck in careers they resented made her realize she had to get away from the corporate world.
4.
She'd heard good things about Taos, New Mexico, so she decided that'd be a good spot to visit and get back in touch with nature.
5.
After she went back home, she saved up all her money and six months later, she moved back to Taos.
6.
Found a group of people who were making a living working outdoors; decided to try working on the river and quickly realized she could totally handle it.
7.
Says her seasonal work schedule doesn't always "fit" in mainstream society, which leads to questions like, "When are you going to get a real job?"
8.
But she says she'll stay in this job until she feels stagnant; says the meaning of life is actively searching for meaning, engaging, and always having fun.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
You need stability in your life. When are you going to get a real job?
How I responded:
People just don't seem to understand the nature of seasonal work and its transience. They think that because you don't have a home base, you aren't settled or happy. I don't always want to live this exact way, but I do know that I never want to feel stagnate.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
Starting a seasonal job is stressful because you worry about how you are going to pay the bills in the off season. You just have to accept it and get through it.