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.

Marcela Valente

I was born and raised right here in Fort Myers, Florida. I moved to Tampa, Florida and always felt firm in my thoughts that “I would never move back.” Fast forward almost 13 years, I moved back and haven’t looked back. My daughter was just six months old, I left my career in outside sales, my friends, my fitness family, and my social network, as a single mother. I felt like I had to start over. I was scared and definitely unsure of what the future held. Without a doubt, I knew my first goal was to get back into fitness. I had to find my community again. I needed that support. Read more>>

Kurtis Moore

When I first walked through the doors of CityTeam, I was lost. Not just physically, but in every sense of the word. I had been searching for direction, a purpose, a place where I truly belonged. For a long time, I felt like I was just drifting, unsure of my next step. But something about CityTeam felt different—it felt like a place where I could grow, where I could finally find my footing. Read more>>

Kyra Anderson

The process of landing my first job in my field was quite lengthy. For a long time, I struggled to figure out what I truly wanted to do in life and my purpose here on Earth. I knew I wanted to help people medically, but I always fell short. During and after graduating college, I explored many different directions. At first, I wanted to be a nurse, but that desire was short-lived. I realized I didn’t want to be in a hospital, repeating the same rounds every day. Then, I thought, “Physical therapist! Yes, that’s it.” Until I realized I didn’t want to be stuck in a medical office helping patients. Read more>>

Sandy Dorsey

From a young age, New York City felt like a part of me, even though I had never been there. It was a place that represented creativity and diversity. I was determined to make it my home and make a difference. My passion for helping others and initially I was interested in broadcast journalism and entertainment but I was called to speech-language pathology, where I could use my voice to empower others. Read more>>

Nineka Dyson

My first job in the field was a job merely for me to settle for what was available, but it was also a defining moment in my career. I graduated from my master’s program with high hopes of working in my field and working towards licensure. Well, my family moved shortly after graduation to the mid-west, and unbeknownst to me at the time, the licensing requirements for mental health counselors differs by state. Some states require specific courses for their licensure. Unfortunately, the state I moved to was one of those. Despite my accredited program, this had no bearing with the licensure board. However, the state’s licensure board was overseen by a non-clinician at the time. Read more>>

Tony Hill

My first job was at nautilus fitness in Victorville California as a manager and group exercise instructor. Read more>>