40 Under 40: Holly Kingery

Holly Kingery is a juvenile detention supervisor with the Bonner County Justice Service.

Kingery had various jobs while growing up and going to school, mostly waiting tables.

She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Boise State University. She said it wasn't her goal to end up working in a detention center with a psychology degree.

"However, working with a population that deals with behavioral issues and/or mental health issues, it felt this is exactly what I was meant to be doing," she said. "I don't necessarily use my degree to do work at the detention center, but I feel that I received a solid foundation and understanding of troubled youth and I am able to use different approaches when dealing with different kids based off of the knowledge I learned in school."

During college, Kingery worked part time at a physical therapy clinic and also as a job coach for individuals with disabilities. After graduating from college, she applied at the juvenile detention center hoping to make a difference in someone's life. She's been there ever since.

"I always had a fascination with a jail setting due to being interested in human behavior and how that is affected by someone's home life and upbringings," she said.

Kingery grew up in a poor home and spent a few years in and out of foster care. Even though the situation was not always ideal, she looked up to her parents and watched how hard they worked to overcome their challenges.

"I learned from them that if I worked hard, I could accomplish the stuff I really wanted in life and that learning, growing and healing doesn't stop when I would one day become an adult; it would stop if I chose to give up," Kingery said.

Each obstacle she faced as a child help shape her into a better, well--rounded, empathetic adult, she said. Her outlet as a kid was playing sports.

"If it weren't for many of the coaches I had, I very easily could have gone down the wrong path in life," Kingery said. "A few of my coaches knew me from a very young age and always were encouraging me to see the silver lining in each situation. That is something that always stuck with me and to this day. I still try to see the silver lining."

She said she feels her childhood experience coupled with the mentorship of coaches set her up to be successful her line of work, where she is able to show the youths she works with that childhood adversity can be worked through and with hard work, good boundaries and dedication, it is possible to overcome a majority of challenges in life.

Kingery said she sees herself still working in juvenile detention because she enjoys her work.

Words of wisdom for a younger self: "Work hard for something you are genuinely passionate about. In the end, it's not about the money you earn but the happiness that comes from the work you do."