On Monday, May 12, 2025, Lindsey Sherman, sister of social studies teacher, Matthew Nighswonger, visited Shadow Ridge to help Mr. Nighswonger’s senior Economics class with their resumes. 

With Sherman’s experience working in Human Resources (HR), she knows her way around resumes and understands what employers look for when sorting through an endless stack of applications.

“Creating a resume and going to a job interview is always hard, no matter how many times you have done it. Even for me, it is always hard and takes a lot of time for me to prepare and put forth my best effort. I like to pass that along and share with other people that it will always be hard, but it is worth the time and energy that you put into it,” Sherman said.

But she didn’t always plan to end up where she is today.

“I didn’t plan on going into Human Resources as a high school or college student. When I was in college, I got a job working for a benefits administrator, which put me on the path to Human Resources,” Sherman stated. “I sort of fell into it, but I liked it from the beginning and began pursuing more senior-level positions while I was still in college. It was challenging and suited my personality well and inspired me to continue on that career path.” 

Human Resources always has something new to offer every day which is one of the reasons Sherman likes working there.

“Each day is a little different, which is part of why I like working in HR. I start my day by making sure I have a priority list of things I want to accomplish for the day and check my planner to ensure I am on target to complete my weekly goals,” Sherman explained. 

Another reason for why she loves her job is because of her boss who is really supportive. 

“I am lucky to work for a great company that allows me to balance work and personal life. I try to stay focused during working hours so that I can get as much of my work done as possible, which allows me to be free and not worry or think about work while I’m with my family,” Sherman said. “My boss at my current company is my role model right now, actually. He is a strong, compassionate leader who handles tough situations with grace. I wish I had his mellow temperament!” 

But the most favorite part about her job is benefiting her company.

“I love adding value to my organization to help us meet our probability goals. If I am doing my job well, I can help the company I work for achieve the financial results they desire. Being an integral part of the success of the company is by far my favorite part of my job. It gives me a lot of personal satisfaction to know that my contributions have helped to shape the company,” Sherman added. 

However, there are some things that are difficult in her line of work. 

“Dealing with different types of people who have different styles, backgrounds, and attitudes has always been a challenge that I had to face working in HR,” Sherman explained. “But it has helped me grow to be more understanding, welcoming, and inclusive to all types of people.” 

When things get difficult or stressful, Sherman focuses on the road ahead. 

“I think I am very good at looking at the long-term outlook and understanding that nothing is forever–this too shall pass, and as long as I stay focused, I will be okay,” Sherman stated. 

To Sherman, success is seen as feeling accomplished with what she has done. 

“I see success as feeling fulfilled and satisfied with the work I do and the people in my life. If I can feel like I have contributed in a meaningful way in my job, and spend time with the people I love the most, I have achieved success,” Sherman mentioned. 

When Sherman came to Shadow to speak with Mr. Nighswonger’s class, her main focus was to help students on their resumes and make sure they don’t feel so worried about it all. And she did just that. 

But lastly, she emphasizes that taking morning classes in college isn’t the best bet. 

“This isn’t career advice, but in your first year of college, do not take a morning class! Once you move away from your parents house and don’t have someone waking you up every morning, it’s really hard to motivate yourself to go to classes early in the morning!” Sherman added.