Career Roadmap
Romel's work combines: Education, Business, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Cambridge Rindge and Latin School
Bachelor's Degree
Women's Studies
Wheaton College
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Business/Commerce, General
Bachelor's Degree: Marketing/Marketing Management, General
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
Worked for a non-profit health provider that worked to increase access in vulnerable communities.
2.
Worked as an AmeriCorps member leading a reading center for students in San Jose, CA.
3.
Led a team working with students to increase their attendance, behavior, and course performance.
4.
Managed the implementation of education services and began to communicate with principals.
5.
Trained over 70 people per year to work with students who needed help getting back on track to graduate.
6.
Raised money from public and private sector to help support the mission of the AmeriCorps program.
7.
Found my dream job and team at Roadtrip Nation - helping young people explore the open road.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
Don't work in underserved communities, you'll feel helpless and become depressed." "You'll never make any money." "Why are you moving so far away?
How I responded:
I knew that at my core, I wanted to help people and I just didn't know how. It took a leap of faith but I thought that if I followed my heart that I would end up where I needed to be. Consider the people in your life who lift you up mentally and emotionally - what are they saying to you? These kinds of people in my life were always saying, "Wow, you're so helpful!" "You've got such a good heart." "You're amazing with people!" "You're very articulate." I listened to this - it helped me a lot.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I relied on scholarships and loans to get through college. My 2 years out of college, I didn't make more than $12k but I knew I was headed on the right track, gaining skills I needed to get to my ultimate goal.
My family always wanted me to go to college but I never knew how or why - and they didn't have the context to share with me. I had a hard time in my 1st year and almost left but I found professors and friends who built me up and kept me going.
I was always out to my friends but I didn't come out to my family until 3 years ago. I was so afraid of what would happen that it really affected my performance in school. Now that I've come out and have seen how supportive they are, I wish I did it before.