The RCS District continues to highlight former students through our “Alumni Series” that launched in November. Today, we share a Q&A with Class of 2005 graduate Judi Gabler. In this installment, Ms. Gabler shares her thoughts on her time at RCS and the opportunities that shaped her experiences while attending school in the district.
Know of an alumnus of the RCS District that’s doing something special? We are seeking feedback from our community to find out. Have an idea or story to share with us? We always want to see what our former students are accomplishing in their communities. To share candidates, please contact the RCS Communications Department at communications@rcscsd.org.
We hope you enjoy today’s conversation with Ms. Gabler.
How did RCS prepare you for college? What classes or specific teachers led you to be successful?
I don't think anything can really prepare you for college! But, RCS did a great job of helping me get a jumpstart on that. I actually clearly remember my favorite math teacher, Mrs. Cushman, exclaiming to the class when we groaned about the homework, "You think this is a lot of work? Wait until college!" (She was right). I was a very social student, and I worked after school to make money so I could buy my first car, or take a class trip. I didn't focus hard enough on academics, but I was encouraged by a few amazing teachers to sign up for AP classes, and I'm really glad I did. Those teachers and my smart classmates were the drive to make me a better student, and focus on my grades so I could have a higher GPA for college applications and my work resume. I ended up graduating from RCS with 12 college credits to apply towards my Bachelor's degree at SUNY Fredonia, which was a leg up as I walked onto campus that first year.
I had decided to attend college for music therapy after talking with my talented music teacher Mr. Baxter and the theater directors, Mrs. Sugrue and Ms. Prozik. Although I wasn't 100% sure it's what I wanted to do, they did help me to actually make the decision to actually attend college, and that in itself opened the floodgates for me. I was also involved in volunteer work and extracurricular activities in high school, including the Class Officers. Mrs. Foley and Mr. Dwyer were in charge of our class board and they helped feed that early drive to become a leader and showed me that organization and communication can lead to success. Oh, and since I ended up graduating with a Communications degree, of course I can't forget about RCS English classes! Mrs. Sack, Mrs. Foley and Mr. Pannone were/are fantastic teachers and I felt prepared for college writing classes from my education with them. I have found that knowing how to write well, even a basic email, is so helpful in any career you choose.
At RCS, I honestly feel that every class I took helped prepare me and my classmates for the real world, but nothing can really prepare you for all of the experiences that lie ahead after high school graduation. My late teens and early 20's were some of my favorite years in life...you really are still growing up, and learning how to take on the world, and having fun while doing it! It's hard to see all the opportunities that lie ahead when all you know is your high school life, but just hold on...it's quite the adventure out there!
Did you utilize any of your experiences at RCS while in college? If so, how? Definitely! My background in music and theater helped me a lot my first year in music school, and I met some of my best friends there. I also found my way to a political extra-curricular group in college because I found Mr. Sutton's government classes and Mr. Pickett's AP American History classes very interesting. Those two are some of the most animated teachers I've ever had! I still remember Mr. Sutton running to the left and running to the right to show the difference between the two-party system! Although I did not pursue a career in politics or history, it was very helpful since they are a huge part of how the world works.
Also, traveling to Rome and Mexico for class trips really opened my eyes to the rich history and culture of different countries, and made me realize there was much more out there to explore. In college, I ended up visiting a few other countries, and states within the U.S., and many more after college graduation and getting my first communications job. I guess I have to thank RCS for my enduring wanderlust.
How did you successfully shift from communications to real estate?
Communications seems to help with any career you're in, but I have found it to be especially useful in real estate. My business is very much about selling houses well, but also about knowing how to promote yourself as the best one for the job, and to customize the experience for every single client you represent. Real estate isn't just about houses, it's a very people-oriented job and knowing how to communicate well and keep a transaction moving forward with as little stress as possible is key. Having strong writing skills and media knowledge helped me tremendously with the advertising aspect of the job, too.
What are your future goals moving forward? Proudest accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment is when I opened my own real estate Brokerage, Gabler Realty, three years ago. Through a lot of hard work and dedication, my team and I were able to grow the company's sales by 55% that first year, and I became a mother during all of that, too! It all happened at once, but I wouldn't change it for the world. My son was my drive for success when I was getting the company started, and he continues to be my driving force for the company's future. For now, I hope to nurture and build on the amazing culture we already have in our Delmar office. Someday in the future, we will look to expanding to other locations to create a few more "home bases" for more agents who want to join the Gabler Realty crew.
What advice do you give to current RCS students to be successful?
First of all, you are doing great! But don't mess around. If you want to get into a good college or program, or just have a solid GPA on your resume when looking for jobs (trust me, you'll want this for years after graduation), then focus on getting/keeping your grades up, and start doing more volunteer work or after-school activities to round out your resume. Mr. Chase, my guidance counselor at RCS, was definitely right about that! It has helped a ton.
Also, if you do not 100% know what you want to be "when you grow up," just take liberal arts classes your freshman year in college, and do some research on careers that you might enjoy. See if you can volunteer or shadow someone who has a job you think you might like to have someday. I rushed into a decision to go to school for Music Therapy, and ended up changing my major four times before I found the right one for me. Thankfully I graduated on time (thanks to those AP credits from RCS), but I do wish I had taken my time to figure it out first. Taking time to really know what you would love waking up to do every single day is so important. Some of my friends knew exactly what that was... even in 9th and 10th grade, but not all of us did and that is okay. If I had taken my time, I could have gotten to this point more efficiently, and maybe a little easier too. But, everything happens for a reason, and I am thankful for the path that brought me to this point in my life, starting with the amazing teachers and education I received at RCS. I am forever grateful!