Davishay Lawrence is Mortgage Loan Originator, but also has worked as a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Specialist in a nonprofit community corrections agency.
Daniela: Welcome to Why Sociology?
Angela: a podcast series featuring many interviews with sociology majors who have taken career pathways beyond academia in applied and clinical careers. And to show not only tell
Daniela: why and how sociology matters in today's world
Angela: we are Angela Adkins from Stark State College and
Daniela: I'm Daniela Jauk from the University of Akron,
Angela: both located in rubber city, Akron, Ohio,
Daniela: but we feature sociological movers change makers and shakers from all over the US in the globe. Welcome to the why sociology podcast episode two, we are very honored to have in our makeshift studio, Miss Davishay Lawrence. Davishay holds a master's degree in sociology from the University of Akron, also has a bachelor's degree in sociology in the bachelors in Spanish. So Davishay, the question of the day is, what are you doing? What is your current field? And give us a little bit the elevator pitch?
Davishay: Yeah, so I'm a mortgage loan originator. So basically, what I do now is I help people find a loan so they can get money. So to purchase a home and, and figure out other ways that they can use equity in their home. So if they've already purchased home, and there's equity, so you're out away if they can lower the rate or get cash out. That's what I do, currently. Um, but I've done like a lot of things and my time, not like, I'm only 27. But I have done a lot. So that's what I'm currently doing right now.
Daniela: So if you say you've done a lot, maybe you can add, what is your former career.
Davishay: So before I was a CQI specialist for Oriana house, and I worked in Cleveland. And that's what I did for almost a year. And I was also in grad school, obviously, in grad school, that I feel like that's the true test that like, prepares you for a lot of things. And I was with Oriana house if I don't know if people are familiar with that, but it's in some kind of in corrections. Not Not quite, but it's like the step, I guess the step before you would go formally to jail or prison. So helping the clients rehabilitate, and just find ways that they can do things now and be productive with their time. So that way, they can reintegrate better into society. So that's what I did before.
Daniela: What does CQI stand for?
Davishay: it stands for continuous quality improvement specialist, someone who specializes in always, like improving the field or in so continuously improving the field,
Angela: that's wonderful. Can you tell us how both in what you do now? And in your prior career? How does sociology inform what you do? Because that's clearly something that you have taken with you through your degrees? And so how do you work that in into what you do?
Davishay: Right? That's a great question. So I love sociology for the reason that it is so broad, and you can use all the skills you learn from it and take it anywhere you go. So it applies to everything in your life, like whether you realize it or not, if you like, take a moment to think about things you don't know, they're sociology behind it. So for me how I use it in my career is when I'm usually talking to my clients, people that contact me and want help. I use it when I'm trying to build a relationship with them. So build a relationship, build rapport with him, find out their why and why they want to do what they want to do. And not just simply like, you know, fill out an application for them and keep the process going. So I really, it's really important to build relationships so that they can find some trust in me and they can, when I bring benefit or value of why I think they should do something, then they take that and they weigh the costs and benefits. And ultimately when they decide to like choose me to help them, they will go back to, I talk to this person, I have this relationship with her, I really like her. And I really connected with her and that's why I want to move forward. So I think it's like social exchange theory. So when I'm bringing a benefit and value to them, and I build a relationship with them, and then they can take that and move forward with you know, getting them alone. So it's all about them weighing the cost benefits of working with me and trusting me so that's what how I think I use it just one of those.
Angela: How cognizant are you you know, assisting in equities in home lending and stuff like like, how do you navigate those for a family that might be looking for those things and knowing that you're not the only person that that touches that process? So is that something that you think about?
Davishay: Yeah, those are good questions, I think about that all the time. So I'm very cognizant of my identity and how that plays a role in my space. So for me, it's kind of both ways, it's like, I'm very cognizant of being a black woman in the mortgage field and not seeing a lot of black women period. And then hoping to be like an inspiration for black woman to get more into things that they like and not feel threatened. You know, by usually, the number one is just like white males are the number one people in the field and in my, in my office in general, so just trying to like be, and just being aware of this space. And so usually, I really tried to focus on mortgage and I just tried to focus on helping clients especially because I, I'm like in a call center, so people, people see me, or they hear my voice, but they don't see what I look like. So I don't know if that like gives me an advantage or not that they don't see me, but they can hear my voice. But also that I always try to help anybody, especially like people who are credit, like who may have challenges with their credit, I tried to help them the most especially because I know that is very prominent for people in the black community. And I just try to help them and figure out ways that I could just be a resource to them. Even if I can't get them alone that right then and there, I still want to follow up and help them along the way because it is possible. And I know that so many things like are outside of their control that made it so that they can't get a house. And I want to be the reason that they have the knowledge and information to know how to get one in the future.
Daniela: Davishay why did you even choose sociology? Why? How did you learn about sociology as a possibility for a major? And why did you pick it in the first place.
Davishay: So I know some people who were lucky enough to have sociology in high school, and I wasn't one of them. I think that's so cool that they have sociology in high school, I found out after I graduated high school, when I took a college class, like it was between my summer between when I started college, so my parents were like, you gotta take some classes, you know, so that way when I get there, I can use it to transfer. So I took a sociology class, and I, I love that class. It was my favorite class, it was so fascinating and interesting. And I remember I emailed my professor and I said, Thank you for teaching this class I, I absolutely loved it. And I was excited from then on. But I didn't like major in sociology until after I'd started. So I kind of like, did what like I think a lot of people do is they like go to school for something that they think will make them money and successful. So I like went to undergrad to be like a surgeon. I now I'm like I'm not a surgeon. And then I was like, This isn't working. So I was like, I love that sociology class. I'm gonna major in sociology. And so I changed my major. And that's how I got into it. So yeah,
Angela: That's fantastic. Like what a great example of how important a broad based education is, and just being exposed to a wide variety of things. And also, for any sociology faculty who are listening, the vast importance of an introductory course, like because that's the place where you learn about it. I absolutely love that really, really well. So, on that note, can you tell us what is one thing that you wish you would have known as a sociology major that you would now pass along to current students, maybe something that you didn't know then, but that you would pass along to them? Now?
Davishay: That's a really good question. One thing I would want people to know is that it's like it's very, very broad. It is very broad. I don't think I realized that as much as when I like first started, especially when I gone to grad school. I was like, there's so many avenues. Like you can't even count the ways that you can use this analogy, especially like if you if you're going to do macro versus micro, if you're going to go into certain fields and then the subfields in those fields. It's so broad. So it's good to have multiple interest and really find out things that you really enjoy, like focus, I think focus on what you enjoy the most and then figure out what field of sociology applies to you because it does apply. You just have to, you just have to find it like I know someone who's doing she's doing her dissertation on on video games, so she's like, looking at the gendered aspect of streaming video games on, like social platforms and like, how people respond differently to women doing the video games, and the men was like, video games, it sociology, so literally anything, anything, so it's very broad. And just kind of keep in mind, like what your interests are along the way. That's what I would definitely say to people who are getting into it, what I wish I would have known before. Thank you. Welcome.
Daniela: Wonderful as you on the note of the sociology as a field of being very broad. Your own biography is such an example how you were using your sociology, education in completely different fields. Seemingly now. You're coming from community corrections, now you're in the mortgage sector? Can you tell us a little bit how you found those jobs? And how he switched?
Davishay: Yeah, that's a great question. I think that's also like a piece of advice that I would like to pass on is always do your research, and always, like, communicate and talk with people. So like, if you are like I was when I started, I was like, I have no idea what I'm gonna do after. And so like, no offense, I did not want to be a professor, but like, some people, be a professor, and they don't know where to go or what to do. And if they do want to be a professor, that's great. But if they're like, if they were like me, and I didn't want to, and I was like, What am I going to do? Like, what, how am I going to use my degree, like, where am I going to go? So what I did was I did a ton of research, and I found people that did things that I thought I would like, and I contacted them and I reached out to them. And I did an informational interview with them. So that's actually how I got my CGI position. I literally, I messaged things, Michael Crawford, I messaged him, I was like, I really like what you do, can I come in and do an interview, like just information, I just want to know how you got where you are what you do. And so I met him, I shadowed him for the day. It was great. And I talked to him and I loved I loved the Oriana House. And I remember like the pictures, they did the pictures of people that work there. And I remember you had your picture up there. I loved it. And so that's what I did. And then he like, emailed me I think a couple weeks later and said, Yeah, we have a position open up, would you like to interview and I was like, sure I would, I hadn't gone in there thinking that's what would happen. But that's definitely something I recommend. So do your research and like talk to people that do what you want to do, and see if they have time to do an interview with you. And then maybe down the line, they may contact you about a physician. So that's actually how I got into what I did. And that's definitely what I recommend people do. And just because sometimes, you know, there are not specific internships available for what you want to do. So I also think that's why it's helpful to just go out there and find people and see if they can give you some insight into, you know, the career path.
Angela: Yeah, I think that is the most excellent advice I've ever heard for so good for students.
Davishay: And it may be scary, but you know, you gotta you gotta like, just put yourself out there and see what happens.
Angela: So for someone who is looking to enter your specific field, now you passed along some generalized advice, which is really good, is there anything you can pass along in terms of, you know, certain details that they should know, like? What kind of education do they have going into it for what you do now in your field? What kind of salary range can they expect? And where they can start with the process? So for anyone who is listening and thinks, Oh, I really want to do that exact thing? Where might they start? Or what do they need to know?
Davishay: Um, that's a good question. So I think that it really will depend on like, what their interests are. But I would, I usually just started with a Google search, I will just Google things. Literally, Google is my favorite thing to do. So I literally just started by googling things. So if they know, um, maybe if they know like, what, what they want to do, and they can just start by googling that and seeing what salary that is and what they can expect from that. Or if they reach out to people. And people are nice enough to like, maybe not tell them exactly how much they make, but give them a range of what they should expect to be making, or things of that nature or was along with education. So it's, it's really nice when you're like in college, you can always like reach out to your advisor usually, and they can always give you some insight into that but besides like, I guess education like the four years if you need some certificates outside, that's always good to look up. Now if that's what you mean. Or if you excuse me if you have something interesting that you would like to get some outside Tip again, I always recommend doing that, or I know it's at school, sometimes you let you take classes outside your major for free. So trying to take some classes outside your major that may help you down the line, that's also something I would recommend too. But it's free, take advantage of it. You pay for it. So yeah, that's what I would definitely say. Um, as far as, like, when I did CQI, since I'd come in with my master's degree, that was always helpful. So if they, if they know that they want to find a field where they may like want to grow into then definitely getting more higher education is definitely a recommendation for me. And, and obviously, sociology helped because it was so broad, and I could always just apply what I learned in the program outside of the program to how that would be beneficial in my work life. So definitely that and I'm trying to think what else um, for me, I was fortunate enough where I didn't like I had a lot of support and help for my family. I know, that's also I know, it's like not something you think I'm fine. But that's also something I recommend having a support system from your family, your friends, while you're on this process while you're going through this journey of like figuring out what you want to do that's also important to
Daniela: Davishay, is there anything we should have asked you anything you want to add?
Davishay: I think you really covered off with saying, I think that possibly everyone is different. So when they go into sociology, they'll find out like, later on what was the most important thing that they learned from sociology, and what was the most valuable thing they learned. But I think for me, the thing that I use a lot in my everyday life for when I'm like, just out and about, it's like, I'm so thankful I learned about socialization, and how that affects everybody differently. So like, when I'm talking to someone, I'm like, you know, I just think about how this is the date of socialization. So it's their everyday life and why they think the way they do and why they do the strange things they do. And maybe that's why they are the way they are. And I think that's usually what I use every day on a day to day from worrying about socialization till
Daniela: it's beautiful. I you thank you for this wonderful interview where you referenced several sociological theories, action and how you apply them today. I think that is really impressive. Thank you so much that we shave for taking the time.
Davishay: Thank you so much for having me.
Angela: Thank you so much. We really appreciate it and it's such good advice for students and best of luck moving forward. I hope it goes really really well and I'm super excited that there is someone in the world that is bringing sociology out into it. It's really that's the best thing I've heard today. Thank you very much for joining us.
Davishay: Thanks so much
Daniela: Thank you for tuning into why sociology they tuned for more mini interviews with applied and clinical sociologist and see you next time!