As an outsider, breaking into an industry can often seem like an impossible challenge and so we reached out to some very generous folks who agreed to share their stories of how they broke into their respective industries.

Christine Mark-Griffin

“I have shared more about myself with you in the last 5 minutes than I have shared with my therapist in the past 5 years,” a foster youth blurted out while also holding back tears in his eyes. About 10 years ago, I was an intern for Child Protective Services (CPS) and had put together a therapeutic activity for a monthly foster youth meet up. Read more>>

Donna Kemp

My first job was working at a Drug and Alcohol Office, after completing an internship with a substance abuse facility. I did not want anything related to Substance Abuse after that internship, but everything that came my way was exactly that. I finally decided to take one of the offers and it was one of the most fulfilling experiences, where I not only grew professionally but personally as well! Read more>>

Saberra Massey Hill

In 2015 is I first originally moved to St. Louis Missouri from Minneapolis Minnesota. I was 25 years old no kids, let me tell you I was living the life. Originally my sister invite me down St. Louis to come and live and she offered to pay for my Phlebotomy course and a local phlebotomy school, it was 6 weeks and a week internship and boom your phlebotomist! Shortly after I took my NHA exam for CPT and passed. Read more>>

Samuel LeBlanc

My first job that started my career in senior living was working at a retirement community a server. I was going to school for Food and Beverage at the time and in many of my classes senior living communities were the topic at hand, this is where my interest began. I will admit going to a Hospitality school tends to make one more perceptible to the finer things in life, and I immediately applied to a facility that served real restaurant style food. Read more>>

Shanti

My first job was giving classes in a nutritional club where I was not paid. It was voluntary. There I began my first teachings that gave me the guidelines to improve and move forward. Read more>>

Katie Maloney

I actually started in fitness. I was writing my book while working as a personal trainer at the time. One of the things that I knew that many trauma survivors struggled with was staying embodied. I developed a mindful movement class that could help survivors exercise in a way that taught them to stay present and connect with their bodies instead of dissociating at the first sign of physical or mental stress. Read more>>