Alumni Spotlight

Name: Danielle Bush
Hometown: Jeannette, PA
Now living in: Murrysville, PA
Job title: Project Journey Program Coordinator
Employer: Veterans Leadership Program of Western PA
Degree earned: Bachelors of Science in Intelligence and National Security with a minor in Criminal Justice, 2014
Campus activities and awards: Student Veteran Association, Warriors Club, Cheerleader, Freshman Class Campus President, Women's Soccer

Describe Point Park in one word: Distinctive

Traditional origins 

Before Danielle began her journey at Point Park, she was living with her single mother in Jeannette, Westmoreland County. Her original goal was to be a police officer, but she knew that pursuing her education at the right school would help her achieve her goals.

“I played soccer and I saw Point Park had this new National Security and Intelligence Program and I thought that sounded so much cooler than Criminology. I also saw that Point Park had a soccer program so I reached out to the coach. He invited me down to try out and then they sent me an offer letter to play.”

As a freshman, Danielle found solid connections with her class and started to participate in a variety of clubs and organizations, including being class president and a spirit leader. But what she remembers most fondly about her early years at Point Park is the memories she made while sharing close quarters with her friends.

“What I love the most about it is we were kind of just so isolated that we all became such good friends, like the people that live in the dorm. The security guards were our best friends, they would come and hang out with you and say hi.”

A diverging path

Danielle’s traditional college journey was interrupted in her third year and her primary focus shifted from school to money. After getting a summer job in Arlington, Virginia, she found it difficult to find a job in Pittsburgh that could adequately support her.

“Every weekend I was driving back and forth to DC to work. Well, I started missing soccer practice, and I kind of just stopped caring about school and sports and everything else I was doing, because I was so stressed about money all the time.”

After being able to scrape by through her spring semester, Danielle was put on probation for soccer. Instead of completing probation and continuing with school, she decided that taking time off from Point Park would be the best choice for her.

“By the time that I had to be responsible for the decisions I was making, there wasn't any fixing them. But in a crazy way, if all this didn't happen, then I wouldn't have needed additional money to finish my degree. So, I ended up taking a break from Point Park from 2011 to 2013.”

Coming home

The decision to take a break from Point Park also took Danielle out of Pittsburgh. She lived and worked in Baltimore for a time before realizing that she wanted to go back to Pittsburgh. It was there she made the decision to commit to the Army. After joining the Army in 2012 and completing basic training, Danielle decided that she now had the perfect opportunity to finish her degree at Point Park, now financially supported by the Army.

“I had to figure out all my educational benefits and get enrolled into Point Park. I started back there in spring of 2013 and then after that I was full time. I did spring summer, fall, spring, and then graduated in 2014. Looking back, it’s crazy to think one of the biggest mistakes you think you ever made in your life actually turned out to be one of the greatest.”

After coming back to school after her hiatus, Danielle found that she had a new outlook and appreciation for school and learning. 

“I love being in class. I love learning, it was no longer like something expected of me after high school and I honestly enjoyed it. It’s so important that people just kind of follow their own path and understand that everything can still work out and be great.”

From college to career 

After graduating from Point Park with a degree in National Security and Intelligence in 2014, Danielle found herself struggling to find a career in her field. After working consistently through college to support herself and joining the military, Danielle was still determined to maintain her solid work ethic until she found her career path.

“I just thought after graduation life was just going to open up and it was going to be sunshine and rainbows. The hardest part was realizing that it wasn't going to be easy.”

Point Park was there for Danielle to provide career support and self-confidence, which led her into her first job as an Operation Coordinator. Her connection to the Army furthered her career by allowing her to work with non-profits that gave back to the military community.

“I started working at Veteran’s Leadership Program. I loved working with people that understand the stresses of both being in the military and trying to have a civilian career. I love like the social work side of things as far as helping others through certain situations and figuring out resources for them.”

Danielle currently works the non-profit Veteran’s Leadership Project and the Project Journey Program. Her work allows her to connect her military background and fulfill her career goals. Danielle knows that this is possible for everyone who goes to Point Park.

“My biggest advice is you will work for the rest of your life. You will work until you retire. So take the time to actually figure out what will make you happy. A paycheck is a paycheck, no matter if you're making $20 an hour serving food or making $20 an hour on a salary for a job that you don't even want to be at. So for yourself in your career, make it a point to put like your happiness and your stability first.”

More About: alumni, Department of Criminal Justice and Intelligence Studies, student veteran resources, Point Park Alumni Presents