All I want to do is soar…
I have been asked to do a piece on me personally, my motivation
and how I know I am in the right “lane” when it comes to my career and life.
(Which in my opinion I am definitely still figuring this part out… but this is
a journey and I am along for the ride).
It all started with me conquering a fear of mine and taking one
risk, I always wanted to get a masters degree and be a “professional”
something-5 years ago that was a neuropsychology. Since then I have gone into
the business world and developed a passion and itch for learning everything
people related. I graduated from Augustana College during the 2008-2009
academic year (EVERYONE knows what that year was like). Needless to say I could
only find a retail job working part-time in cosmetics; which I felt was a
complete waste of my talents. I wanted so badly to be doing something else and
getting a masters but was terrified of the rejection and the ability to not
graduate successfully. Looking back, I wonder if I was truly afraid to see myself
become successful… Seeing myself flying.
Somewhere
along the way enough people had told me that I could not do it. Enough people
had put a bug in my ear saying that this seems impossible. Now, my difficulties
in achieving these goals may come across as low, but please let me set the
stage for you. I am 23 years old living at home with my parents. I have a
minimum wage part-time job and an infant. I feel like I should be doing much
more with my life and there is a yearning in my heart to do so. What I need to
better understand myself and get a sense of direction. I needed that couple of
very rough years to help me know me.
Me, my husband, and daughter. 4th. |
I finally applied for a number of programs, and guess what… I
was accepted. Fear of taking flight and rejection from graduate school was
successful conquered. That moment was the beginning of my new me and my new
motivation. I was no longer living for myself, at this time, I now had an
amazing little girl (who I wanted to look up to me and have a successful
mother) and a fantastic fiancé (who was that 1 person I needed to tell me that
I could). I set 1 single goal for graduate school, I was going to get straight
“A’s” and graduate with a 4.0 GPA. After my first semester, that goal was
accomplished-and I loved the feeling of success and achieving my goals that I
set. Goals that were not achieved over night. And like many of the successful
that I would soon come to meet, I realized that I began yearning for more of
that feeling.
January of 2012 I had 3 goals I set out to accomplish in the
single year:
1. Consciously work on my
relationship with God, my daughter, and my husband.
2. Start a career.
3. Study in London.
London 2012-Thames River |
The study abroad opportunity was announced in December 2011 and
I did all I could to get into that program. I already met all the credentials
and I took the first step to see if I could fly and guess what… I got in.
Within a number of weeks, I had also applied for an internship with a Fortune 50
company that I had always seen myself working for. I again was faced with the
opportunity to attempt to fly again and guess what… I got the internship.
Summer of 2012 was a summer I will never forget. I am now working at this huge
international organization learning about the possibilities of new career
opportunities and I am study business at Regent College in central London just
weeks before the Olympics.
Now here was my biggest test as of yet. I was only an intern and
was presented an opportunity to test my flying skills as a full-time employee
with this organization. This was one
risk that I feared most… I made a commitment to myself at the beginning of the
year that I would be working for Fortune 50 Company by the end of 2012 in the
HR field. I had managed to accomplish 2 of my 3 goals. However, this one would
take the support of my faith and family to get there. I applied for a position with 2 openings and
1000 applicants. I and literally put all my eggs in one basket and worked my
hardest to show my capabilities and when the time came for me to fly, I showed
them I could… I got the position.
Mean while I finished my MBA, sadly not with a 4.0 but with a
3.86. Yes, I got a “B” – darn simulation and capstone; but it was well worth
the ride because in my eyes that was not a failure.
I soon began to realize that although I had been knocked off my
high horse of “college entitlement” by the 2008/2009 economic depression, I was
only guaranteeing my failure by not attempting to try. I was so determined to
achieve because I survived hardships and I am here now to tell you about them. It
seems as though, there were times when I was trying so hard to fly but I was
really running in the mud. By the time I had finished reaching those huge
milestones, I had already created other goals and missions to achieve and I am
working towards those now. I have the work ethic, the focus, the ability to
achieve, and to see my goals realized. Someone people may not see that in me,
but I can prove it to you. J
In short, I am motive by the fear of the unknown, the journey I
am embarking on, and pushing myself to see what capabilities I truly
possess. This process of better knowing me is not yet over and I learn
new things about me daily, but these 4 years since my graduation have been
trying in the best of ways. Yes, there are days when I wonder if I can continue
flying and going higher-but those doubts are soon overcome by my internal
confidence knowing that I have been grounded before, dusted myself off, and
started all over again. Life changes in single moments, unpredictable moments
in time, my goal is to now be able to handle those opportunities in the best
light. Trust me… I am not done yet.
With Love and the Best Hopes,
The Professional Gal
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