Ever since she was young, April Vaassen had a passion for helping people. After numerous volunteering and tutoring experiences within the education field growing up, Vaassen slowly developed this passion into a profession. Along the way, she received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and her master’s degree in school counseling from Loras College, equipping herself with the knowledge to develop future leaders and successful professionals.
She now helps others reach their fullest potential in the career coaching and self-improvement fields, enjoying the work she does every day.
“I love connecting with people and helping them live bigger and better lives,” said Vaassen. “I believe with the right tools and mindset we can live any life we want, and helping people achieve that is a big passion of mine.”
To further this goal, Vaassen recently attained her John Maxwell certification, enabling her to better assist her clients in reaching their personal and professional goals. Outside of coaching, Vaassen also works to improve the lives of others as an instructor. She currently teaches at Northeast Iowa Community College, focusing on the topics of leadership, customer service, and professional development.
Additionally, Vaassen will explore these topics as the new instructor of the UW-Platteville Continuing Education Institute’s Summer and Fall Business Series. Each series consists of a collection of workshops dedicated to self-improvement, with Vaassen serving as students’ main guide toward newfound success.
“A couple years ago I reached out to the Continuing Education Institute regarding an advertisement I saw for instructors,” explained Vaassen on how she joined the CEI team. “Ultimately, the timing didn’t work out then, but I’ve been in contact with them ever since, and now it has. Also, as an alumna, I thought it would be nice to reach out and see where things went.”
Vaassen looks forward to instructing her new classes, but that’s not to say she’s forgotten about her own personal and professional development. She has goals of her own and is already taking steps to complete them.
“I’ve always wanted to be my own boss,” said Vaassen. “That’s a big goal for me, and I’ve started down that path by recently leaving my nine-to-five to focus more on coaching. I hope to teach more and grow my coaching business, and so far I’ve been keeping busy with that.”
Vaassen’s professional goals also tie into her personal life, where she hopes her new schedule will allow her more time to spend with her kids.
In addition to being a mom, career coach and instructor, Vaassen also coaches health and fitness on the side, focusing on improving not just the mind but also the body. Vaassen’s example is a reminder that with the right attitude and work ethic, no goal is impossible to achieve—a sentiment she hopes her students will see for themselves this summer.
To learn more about CEI’s Summer and Fall Business Series, click here. Prospective learners are also encouraged to contact continuing@uwplatt.edu with any questions.