Mary Pat Baldauf

Mary Pat Baldauf, an alumna of the University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communications, has been the recycling coordinator for Lexington County for less than a year, and so far she loves her job. She graduated from USC with a public relations degree in 1989 and is currently using her degree for a good cause.

Nearly every part of Baldauf’s job uses public relations functions. She spends a significant amount of time as a recycling educator, giving frequent presentations, writing news releases and helping to manage the Web site. She often works with businesses and schools to educate them and to help them implement their own recycling programs. She also writes grants and reports for the Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Baldauf’s passion for the environment has always led her to participate in recycling programs as a volunteer, but she has only made this part of her professional life in the last 15 years. For Baldauf, recycling is a way of life. Because of her interest in recycling, she believes this job to be a good fit, and she has fun doing it, too.

According to Baldauf, it is really important to get involved in what you love and also to explore outside interests, because you never know where they may lead. “Do something you enjoy and have a passion for,” Baldauf said. “I know it sounds cheesy, but it is so true.”

“Forty hours is a long time to work if you do not like what you are doing,” said Baldauf. Fortunately for her, she gets to do what she loves. It hasn’t always been this way for Baldauf. She has had other jobs that were not as interesting or fulfilling as working for Lexington County Solid Waste Management.

To students entering the job market, Baldauf stresses the importance of the willingness to do things you are less interested in doing, but to also look out for the things you love. “Have high expectations,” Baldauf said. “But you may have to do something else for a while to get your foot in the door of something you like better.”

If you have an alumni story you would like to share, please contact Elaine Taylor at etaylor@sc.edu.

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