Cheston Stidolph

For 9 years I was a volunteer full-time missionary that is a part of our fellowship. After college, I responded to the call to go into this ministry. Each year I was assigned to a co-worker and a location to cover for a year's time. I spent most of my missions covering Iowa. I had a year in the Black Hills of South Dakota and most recently in the Duluth, MN area.

In this line of work, I grew to be proficient in sign language as we worked with many Deaf individuals. I also developed a beginner's level of Spanish, working with Hispanic individuals in our area. From this calling, I feel confident in my ability to work and communicate with any age range, young to old, connect with each one on their level, and excelled in relationship skills. For example, being with a co-worker each and every day, all day long, I learned what it took day in and day out to make it an enjoyable year.

Working as a Missionary I utilized these skills;

• Shared the Gospel and imparted knowledge of faith using strong public speaking and one-on-one discussions.
• Excelled in building relationships
• Utilized organizational skills in planning for many travel arrangements each year.
• Applied the ability to learn Sign Language proficiently and Spanish at a beginner's level.

With my dad being the owner of Addition Doctors, I held this job off and on throughout high school and college. Job duties included remodeling kitchens and bathrooms, putting additions on to homes, and roofing work. I gained experience using power tools and developed the ability to follow instructions given to complete the task.

Working for Addition Doctors I utilized these skills;

• Assisted in remodeling kitchens, and bathrooms, adding additions, and reshingling homes.
• Demonstrated an ability to learn on the go.
• Gained experience using power tools in a safe manner.

Detasseling for Pioneer was a job that I held in the summers. Job duties included making sure a cornfield was 99.98% clean of its tassels. Our detasseling crew was considered one of the top crews in the state. For example; at the end of the day, the field boss informed our crew of 50 kids that we detasseled 3 times as many acres as the other crew of 100 workers and were 3 times as clean. This job required mental toughness beings we worked rain or shine, early in the morning till dark, excess heat or not. Often our crew was the only crew out in the extreme conditions. Frequently Pioneer would call on our crew to finish what other crews couldn't, relying on our efficiency. I excelled at motivating our team members, keeping my cornrow clean, and leading by example to help our crew stay consistently at the top.

Working for Pioneer I utilized these skills;

• Communication
• Leadership
• Self-motivation, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
• Mental toughness
• Attention to detail and cleanliness

This job I held in the Fall semester of 2013, waiting to hear if I got accepted into graduate school for Speech and Language Pathology. I was the associate teacher of a preschool class. My job duties included assisting the classroom teacher with preparing the classroom for various activities, helping classmates with their homework, and leading lessons assigned by the teacher. In this job, I was able to further develop my skills in how to communicate, educate, and motivate a 4-year-old. After getting accepted into graduate school, I returned to UNI for the Spring Semester.

Working for the United Community School District, I utilized these skills;

• Supervised children during in-classroom activities and on the playground.
• Interacted with children one-on-one and in small groups to enhance and support learning activities.
• Communicated with the classroom teacher to carry out the intended lesson plan.
• Excelled in relating to, communicating with, and motivating preschool students.

Working for EPI, though short-term, I felt like I gained long-term benefits from this line of work. I provided care for a house of four men with varying levels of assistance needed. I excelled in finding where each individual communicated best, understanding what motivated them to meet their goals, and developing a genuine relationship with each one.

The highlight of my time working for EPI was being able to attend the Iowa Special Olympics. I had one individual under my 24-hour care and 3 individuals with Down Syndrome under my daily care. It was a thrill to help each one compete and enjoy the games. Once I graduated from UNI in the Spring, I moved back to my home area where I worked as a preschool associate.

Working for EPI, I utilized these skills;

• Provided assistance to individuals with disabilities by helping with activities of daily living.
• Maintained a clean and safe environment to prevent accidents and promote health.
• Worked with individuals with special needs to increase social skills and independence.
• Engaged individuals in recreational and leisure activities to promote socialization and improve quality of life.
• Kept complete and accurate records, documenting care and patient progress.

While attending college at DMACC, I worked at Patterson Companies Inc. as an item picker. In this job, I utilized the skill of working with others to complete all of the orders for the day and teamwork to make sure every last box was crushed and dust pile was swept at the end of the day. This was a good job that helped fund my schooling. I moved on from this job after I got accepted into UNI to attend college.

Working for Patterson Companies Inc. I utilized these skills;

• Followed safety procedures and guidelines to maintain safe working environments.
• Used equipment properly to avoid workplace hazards or injuries.
• Utilized communication and teamwork to meet the demanding production goals.
• Participated in regular meetings with team members to discuss production and safety updates.