Alumni & Friends
Tracy Chavez
, August 18, 2008
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Tracy V. Chavez credits where she is today to her sister, Judy Chavez Castrejon. Two years after losing their mother, 21-year old Judy legally adopted Tracy, who was only nine at the time.
“I owe everything to my sister,” Tracy says. “When she adopted me it was her goal to put me through Christian schools – and she did.”
After Tracy graduated from Orangewood Adventist Academy in Orange County, California, she and Judy moved to Washington state. Born and raised in Southern California, Tracy didn’t adjust well to Washington, experiencing what she calls “culture shock,” and after a year at a community college, Tracy decided to look at other options for school.
She has known since she young that she wanted to do something international: “I have always wanted to travel the world while working or in some way be involved internationally. My passion is to learn about other cultures and visit different countries.” And that is where her search for a new college began. Tracy was looking for programs that would lead her into the international career she wanted. Academics was not all she was looking for, however; she also wanted diversity, something she missed about Southern California. She found those things at PUC. She began her college career at PUC majoring in theater and anthropology and ended up graduating in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in international communication with an emphasis in French and a Bachelor of Arts degree in French.
Only two years after graduating, Tracy is well on her way to her international career. She is currently the administrative secretary to the lieutenant governor of Washington, Brad Owen. While working as a substitute teacher at Olympia Christian School, a parent of one of her students, who works as an executive protection officer for the Lt. Governor and Governor, spoke directly with Lt. Gov. Owen about Tracy and her career goals. Two days after the first interview she was working as the receptionist in his office. This year, Tracy was promoted to administrative secretary.
As the administrative secretary Tracy deals with everything that has to do with the lieutenant governor, such as appointment scheduling and event details. She also helps with the protocol and legislative details. “I get a bit of everything here,” she says. “Just two months ago we got out of a long legislative session in which I was able to learn a lot about working in the political world by working with legislators and their offices. I also interacted with international dignitaries who like to make their visits during session because they are able to meet with the governor and lieutenant governor on trade business issues with Washington state.”
Another part of her job is to do the country research and help with scheduling for the lieutenant governor’s international trade missions, on which she hopes to accompany him on in the near future.
Due to the international nature of the work in the lieutenant governor’s office, it is a good step for Tracy as she moves closer to her goal of working for UNICEF or as an ambassador. “I am taking small steps,” she says of her journey. And the next step in her plan is to work for World Vision. Though Tracy seems to have her career path mapped out, she still allows for the unknown as she progresses in her career. “Sometimes God has different plans.
“I owe everything to my sister,” Tracy says. “When she adopted me it was her goal to put me through Christian schools – and she did.”
After Tracy graduated from Orangewood Adventist Academy in Orange County, California, she and Judy moved to Washington state. Born and raised in Southern California, Tracy didn’t adjust well to Washington, experiencing what she calls “culture shock,” and after a year at a community college, Tracy decided to look at other options for school.
She has known since she young that she wanted to do something international: “I have always wanted to travel the world while working or in some way be involved internationally. My passion is to learn about other cultures and visit different countries.” And that is where her search for a new college began. Tracy was looking for programs that would lead her into the international career she wanted. Academics was not all she was looking for, however; she also wanted diversity, something she missed about Southern California. She found those things at PUC. She began her college career at PUC majoring in theater and anthropology and ended up graduating in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in international communication with an emphasis in French and a Bachelor of Arts degree in French.
Only two years after graduating, Tracy is well on her way to her international career. She is currently the administrative secretary to the lieutenant governor of Washington, Brad Owen. While working as a substitute teacher at Olympia Christian School, a parent of one of her students, who works as an executive protection officer for the Lt. Governor and Governor, spoke directly with Lt. Gov. Owen about Tracy and her career goals. Two days after the first interview she was working as the receptionist in his office. This year, Tracy was promoted to administrative secretary.
As the administrative secretary Tracy deals with everything that has to do with the lieutenant governor, such as appointment scheduling and event details. She also helps with the protocol and legislative details. “I get a bit of everything here,” she says. “Just two months ago we got out of a long legislative session in which I was able to learn a lot about working in the political world by working with legislators and their offices. I also interacted with international dignitaries who like to make their visits during session because they are able to meet with the governor and lieutenant governor on trade business issues with Washington state.”
Another part of her job is to do the country research and help with scheduling for the lieutenant governor’s international trade missions, on which she hopes to accompany him on in the near future.
Due to the international nature of the work in the lieutenant governor’s office, it is a good step for Tracy as she moves closer to her goal of working for UNICEF or as an ambassador. “I am taking small steps,” she says of her journey. And the next step in her plan is to work for World Vision. Though Tracy seems to have her career path mapped out, she still allows for the unknown as she progresses in her career. “Sometimes God has different plans.