When Morgan Spencer graduated from Mt. Blue High School she was determined to get out of rural Maine to live in a city.

The Wilton native went off to Lasell College in Newton, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston, for her freshman year. She majored in fashion merchandising.

She thought she would love it.

She hated it.

“Having grown up with the classic Mainer work ethic, when I went to school with people who most certainly did not have that work ethic or desire to learn, I got frustrated,” she said. “I couldn’t find people to relate to about things I was enthusiastic about.”

She returned to her roots to attend the University of Maine at Farmington for her sophomore year and majored in business and economics. That led to a position with the Greater Franklin Development Council, where she’s learning more about business and rural development while strengthening the council’s mission.

Name: Morgan Spencer

Town: Farmington

Age: 22

Job: Executive assistant, Greater Franklin Development Council

 What do you like about your job in an economic development entity in a rural Maine community? I wear many hats at Greater Franklin Development Council, as does Executive Director Alison Hagerstrom, which means that I have far more learning opportunities available to me than I would in a larger organization. Alison has put a lot of trust in me since I started working at GFDC in May and I’m more confident because of it. I truly get to learn how organizations like ours work from the ground up, and I look forward to every situation that allows me to learn something new. Not only do I get the opportunity to learn right out of college the basics of running an office, but I’m learning the ins and outs of small-town politics, businesses and the challenges that all nonprofits seem to face.

Why did you switch from majoring in fashion merchandising at a Massachusetts college to study business and economics at the University of Maine at Farmington? I think that it’s easy as a long-term resident to take for granted the kindness and the lifestyle that we’re presented with in places like rural Maine. It’s exceptionally unique – we have some of the strongest work ethics, we place a high value on our friends, family and neighbors, and we love our free time. I didn’t realize that that was exactly the environment I wanted to be around until I wasn’t in it anymore. That’s a lifestyle that you don’t see so much at a private college in Boston, nor do you see that kind of respect for one’s friends and family in the entire fashion industry. It’s expected that your career will be your life. That type of ideal works as motivation for some people, but it turned me off to working in that industry entirely. My priorities were expected to be in a different order than they were (still are), and it wasn’t for me. 

What went into your preparation for your presentation to town leaders in Franklin County earlier this year to discuss a proposed new website for the Greater Franklin Development Council? I’m still working on making the rounds to more select boards in the area, and it gets easier every time. This project has been an exciting one, since it has been one of the first that I’ve really been able to take on my own. Alison is a great mentor for projects like this – she was able to quickly brief me on the situation of our current listings on our website and discuss the improvements that it needed. From there, it was just mentally preparing. 

Since you opted out of a career in fashion merchandising, you still seem to have a flair for fashion. Why is fashion still a hobby for you? It’s one of my many creative outlets. As much as I enjoy economics, it doesn’t exactly tap into the creative side of my brain, so I need to find other ways to utilize it. Sure, I enjoy reading fashion blogs and knowing what’s “in style,” but I rarely use that information on myself. I think fashion gets a bad reputation for being superficial sometimes, but it’s important to note that it’s just one of many forms of self-expression. It’s fun. It can be silly. It gives me energy in the morning to wear standout pieces or clothes that are unique. It has proven to be a useful tool in confidence boosting, as well.

Why do you consider yourself a proud feminist? Feminism seems to be misunderstood these days. Some of its past movements have taken it into a direction I may not necessarily agree with, but it’s important to understand that at its core, feminism is about equal opportunities. I think it’s important for children of any gender to be taught that their gender won’t hinder the heights that they can achieve in their lives, and I think it’s equally as important that we as adults create environments that make those equal opportunities a reality. My mom has been a very strong female influence in my life and has told me so many stories of how she’s overcome traditionally gendered barriers, and I think it’s up to young adults like myself to make sure that those barriers don’t come back down and to continue to break new ones.