Alumnus: Michael Shoemaker

This week, we would like to spotlight another of our wonderful and accomplished alumni–Michael Shoemaker. Michael is from Magna, UT and graduated from BYU in 1994. While at BYU, he met his wife, to whom he has been married for 28 years. He enjoys reading, poetry writing, tennis, pickleball, and golf. A fun fact about Michael is that he has traveled to 24 states with his job! Wow!

Michael shared with us that his Personality class is one that greatly impacted him, as it “It helped [him] to understand how durable characteristics in a person's personality might define at times a person more than ethnicity, gender or socioeconomic status.” He continued, “ Through the years in my counseling job positions, this has helped me to search for ways of change where I might not have looked if I did not appreciate the powerful influence that personality has on a meaningful and purposeful existence.”

His advice to psychology students is simple: “You are likely doing better than you feel like you are doing.” He goes on to share, “It is not unusual for a Psychology major at any university at times to feel small, unimportant and insignificant. However, it is your might, mind and heart that can be the difference that makes all the difference in the lives of people that you counsel with, your family members and your friends.”

Thank you for your powerful words, Michael!