When contemplating her career aspirations, Christan Paylor recognizes that prior preparation and endurance are both necessary in pursuing any academic or professional endeavor. She places one foot, in front of the other, plotting the path toward her future. In each of her pursuits, her father’s words, echo -- “champions are made in the off season.” These are the words that have carried Christan through her childhood and are ones that she faithfully lives by.

In 2012, Christan graduated from Franklinton High school in Franklinton, NC, and shortly after graduation, she enrolled at North Carolina Central University. After much thought and consideration, she embarked upon a career path, one in which she would support and advocate for others. Christan is currently a junior at NCCU, majoring in Family and Consumer Science, with a concentration in Child Development and Family Relations. Christan recognizes that her field of study may yield numerous professional opportunities, however, her career focus is on marriage and family therapy.

Upon completing her Bachelor’s degree, Christan plans to further her education by enrolling into a Masters program, where she will be studying to obtain her licensure, as a Family Therapist.

During her experiences volunteering with teen parents, Christan began to understand the unique complexities and challenges that impact family dynamics. Although they were young, the students effectively coped with stressful situations, and Christan delved into the experiences that each of the young parents presented. Acquiring a great understanding of the issues that impact families has been key in preparing Christan for her future work with couples and parents.

These experiences, among others, encourage Christan to hone her craft, during her off-season. As she continues to live out her calling, her various experiences are preparing her to become a champion!