We asked some fantastic entrepreneurs and creatives to tell us about their first job in their field. Check out their stories below.

Dylan Sides

My first paid gig in the fitness industry was the 10p-6a overnight cardio cleaner at Planet Fitness in North Charleston. My mindset at the time was getting my foot in the door at any means possible! A few years previously, I hustled the Herbalife Nutrition and Fitness, but that wasn’t a steady or Fitness Training based source of income. Letting management and every one know very often that I wished to step into the Fitness Trainer Position at the gym. However, they already had a great trainer locked in. Read more>>

Victoria Jones

While I was in high school, I took cosmetology classes at a local technology center for elective credits. One day we had a field trip to a community college in our area. When we went, there was an educator from a professional product company teaching a class. I was so intrigued by what she was doing, that when everyone else was eating lunch I was still at the stage watching her work. Read more>>

Taylor Vest.

I didn’t always know that I wanted to be a therapist, specifically. I was the target of many bullying experiences starting in elementary school. Going through these experiences led me to become interested in the human brain and behavior. I was curious as to what made people do the things that they did and say the things that they said. For a long time, I wanted to go into the FBI and become apart of their Behavioral Analysis unit. Read more>>

Sara Barber

I always say that I fell into this work rather than planning my career. I was working as a Children’s Book Buyer for an independent bookstore when a friend’s mom called and left a message asking if I’d be interested in interviewing for a program that worked with domestic violence offenders. My first knee jerk response was “No, I don’t want to work with people like that.” Read more>>

Crystal Contreras

“How would you feel about co-teaching a theater class of about 12 students ranging from 8 to 11?” My eyes opened wide and my 16 year old heart swelled with pride. “What? Why? How? Yes? Yes. Yes?” My eyes darted back and forth from my best friend to the UIL Coordinator. Read more>>

Nick Vernola

Many students in Physical Therapy programs are offered a job at their final clinical rotation. Big name hospitals, like NYU, offer clinical internships in the Pelvic Health niche; my current specialty. I applied to the niche internships but was denied by all because only female applicants were being accepted at the time. I was only a student but knew I wanted to service people suffering from conditions pertaining to pelvic health. Read more>>

Vinaya Saunders

I began at Dept of Energy as a yoga instructor. The day I went there, all the training that is mentions us to take a sequence went in to trash. My classical training in India came handy. They were all middle aged, seniors who had limitations. My sequence was designed for people aged in their 20’s. That day was very insightful as what you learn and what you get as experience was completely different. In matter of days I was able to help a lot of people feel better with their back issues, posture.  Read more>>