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

JAIME FILER

I was 15 years old, and I had snuck myself into the local Jewish Community Center by lying to the front desk staff about my age *you had to be 16 at the time to get a membership*. There was one personal trainer who worked in the fitness center named Nelson, who took me through my standard, free 30-minute assessment / orientation. I fell in love with the machines, the weights, and the process of weight lifting. Read more>>

Dee-Andre Ferguson

How did I get my first job in my field? wow, good question. My first job wasn’t really a job to be completely honest with you. My first “job” was an internship that I took advantage of. However, to answer your question how did I get there? well it was I believe the summer after my sophomore at Morehouse and I had just switched my major from biology to psychology. I was stuck, felt lost and hopeless while being at home during the summer and seeing all my brothers at Morehouse posting about having an internship and I looked at myself and asked what am I doing wrong? I was working at Kohl’s at the time and I slipped into depression for a few days and was locked in my room. Read more>>

Dr. April Coleman

I knew that I wanted to be a child psychologist by the time I entered my Senior year of college at Georgia State University. In order to fulfill elective requirements during my last semester before graduation, I took a career course in which one of our assignments was to attend an upcoming career fair on campus. At that time, I thought it was going to be a waste of time, but I knew that I didn’t have a job lined up in my field post graduation and was going to remain at the counseling center in my student assistant position until I figured out my next move. Read more>>

Andrea Di Paolo

When speaking to the jewelry and wellness space, I originally got into the jewelry through working for Winners (TJMAXX). I did not like the retail floor at all. Once they opened up the jewelry counter, I felt an immense pull. I got a part-time position there and read every single book on the counter to be able to rapidly gain the knowledge I needed to be able to speak to that field. Within six months I was recognized by a manager at Mappins/Peoples, That began my journey in jewelry. I spent 5 years becoming certified in fine jewelry and gemstones. Read more>>

Nicole Wyatt

I’ll never forget my former Emergency Medicine nursing supervisors advice to me as a freshly graduated nurse: “Your patients are a direct reflection of you.” Those words always stuck with me. They resonated in my ears every time I entered and exited a patients room. If your patient appeared messy, it translated to you’re messy. Ever since that day I always made a conscious effort to go through my patients room and put in the extra effort. Read more>>