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.

Ariael Brooks-porter

My grandmother taught me as a child to always have a Plan B and sometimes C-Z. In college, I always knew it was my dream to work with kids or students, but I never knew which capacity that would be. I had two plans: apply for Drexel’s dual degree program to get my Juris Doctorate in Law and PhD in psychology or to apply for Teach for America to support students in the classroom. I had dreams to be a lawyer, to open my own practice and to even teach kids who looked like me to achieve anything their hearts desired. In my final year of college, ahead of application deadlines, I lost one of my girlfriends to a car accident and it really took a toll on me. Impacting my ability to show up, be present and to ultimately meet the deadline for the Dual Degree program at Drexel. Read more>>

Ria Soni

Five years ago, a friend and I were talking about our experience traveling back to Gujarat, India, where both of our families were from. Somehow, our conversation landed on the topic of periods – Juhi grew up in India and shared how she didn’t feel comfortable changing her sanitary products in the school bathrooms, and I brought up the overbearing stigma surrounding women’s health in our culture. Since we were both interested in pursuing careers in healthcare at the time, we began discussing how we could use our resources to try to address some of these issues in this community that we felt so connected to. Read more>>

Annmarie Fauske

Long, long ago… I attended Illinois State University for undergrad – the first school in the country to offer Public Relations as a major and became president of the largest chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). I had 2 internships in the Chicago area, but knew I wanted to work for a public relations agency in Washington, DC. So, in my last semester, I got a list of every agency, big or small and sent a letter to every single one – there were about 100! I called almost all, as well. I heard back from about 20 and had interviews with 5. I received 2 offers. I graduated on a Friday, bought my first car and drove out, moved into an apartment and started on Monday! It was very exciting to work on a variety of projects for corporate, association, political and non-profit clients. It prepared me for thinking on my feet in both in crisis mode as well as long range strategy. Read more>>

Kamran Eshtehardi

Getting into the mental health field was actually an unexpected turn of events for me. When I first began college, my focus was on computer science and the video game industry, as video games had always been a passion of mine. Meanwhile, I needed a job, and a family connection led to me working in a substance use rehabilitation facility. The job involved spending time with clients, managing their schedules, and providing transportation. I found that I was well suited to working with people. I later got a job at a video game development studio, but was surprised to discover that the work culture wasn’t a great match for me. So I decided to shift gears at school and start working towards a degree in psychology. It was a great match for me intellectually as well, so I decided to go all in by applying to a PhD program. I am so grateful that serendipity led me to my career in psychology. Read more>>

Kelly Smedley

I received my bachelors degree in nursing back in 1999. I knew I wanted to focus on the field of mental health and, despite everyone’s recommendations that I should work a year on a medical surgical unit to build my skills, I ignored them and got a job at a child and adolescent psychiatric hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. I have never regretted my decision to jump right into the psych nursing world. At the time I was excited to get hands on experience. The hospital focused on children and teens with significant mental health issues including psychosis, Bipolar disorder, suicidal ideation, etc. I was either charge or med nurse and then promoted to evening supervisor. Many kids had challenging behaviors and required a lot of interventions. It was a great first job for me with amazing coworkers who became like family. I learned so much and feel like it was a wonderful way to gain experience in the field. Read more>>

Adrienne Strickland

My career began in a small but impactful way–an internship that, unbeknownst to me at the time, would lay the foundation for everything I do today. At 22 in my final year of college it dawned on me….I need experience, I also needed a plan for future career growth. I set my sights on getting an internship and applying to graduate school. My mom had worked in the non profit world and I knew I could seek opportunities in a career that would fulfill my need to help others through a similar career path. This internship led to a full time position in advocacy, which opened the doors to nearly a decade of working with child sexual abuse and adult sexual assault. I was gifted the opportunity to continue my education while working full-time in that position. During that time, I had the privilege of walking alongside some of the most resilient individuals as they navigated the aftermath of trauma. Read more>>

Mona Seresht

Landing my first job out of PA school felt like an uphill battle, especially in the competitive field of Aesthetic Medicine. I knew the odds were stacked against me—fresh graduates often struggle to find positions due to the industry’s demand for experience. Breaking into fields like Plastic Surgery, Medical Dermatology, or Cosmetic Dermatology are undeniably challenging and competitive. The demand for expertise in aesthetics has surged, attracting a wealth of talent, which intensifies competition among professionals. Additionally, many practices seek out candidates with specialized training and experience, often leaving new graduates at a disadvantage. The industry’s emphasis on results and patient satisfaction adds another layer of pressure, requiring providers to not only master complex techniques, but also to build strong relationships with patients. Keeping up with rapidly evolving trends and technologies is crucial, making continuous education and networking essential. This landscape requires not only skill and knowledge, but also resilience and determination to carve out a place in such a dynamic field. Read more>>

Lexi Jackson

Late in 2022, after years of training myself and friends (informally) and going back and forth on whether I should get a personal training certification, I finally took the leap and ordered a well-respected course online. While I was studying, I was working out at a local gym that I loved. It had everything I wanted: ample squat racks, free weights, cable machines, isolation machines, a cardio floor, even a pool and saunas across the parking lot. Secretly I was hoping I’d be able to train here one day after I got some experience. Read more>>

Kekoa Godfrey

When I got my first client I knew at that moment that I wanted to help people become the best version of themselves. I wasn’t going to let money be my drive. I grew up in a poverty stricken environment and my goal was to help as many people as I can become healthier individuals without them having to stress over the price for my services. Read more>>

Mitchell O’brien

I had struggled with substance use disorder for over 15 years. This had left my life in a depression and anxiety-filled ruin physically, emotionally, and spiritually pushing me into suicidal ideation territory. After years of despair and multiple close calls with death, from my deteriorated health and the loss of value in my own life, I found a life of wellness in recovery. This epiphany, and complete 180° turnaround, was the beginning of an entirely new life path. I went from losing everything to gaining these losses back with added blessings on top of them. But, there were bumps in the road along the way. Read more>>