Career Roadmap
Brookley's work combines: Entrepreneurship, Writing, and Communicating / Sharing Stories
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
New Hope High School
Bachelor's Degree
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
University of Mississippi
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Marketing Managers:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Broadcast Journalism
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
Moved from the South (where I was raised and went to school) to Minneapolis for a job.
2.
After 3 years at that job, a huge round of layoffs forced me to re-evaluate my career path.
3.
After interviewing around and talking to a few potential clients, I decided to start my own company.
4.
Having a sense of peace about my new career path fueled me to compete in Miss Minnesota US and win.
5.
I was able to talk about my platform on a national stage and became a CHADD Champion.
6.
Now I feel aligned - focusing on my business, giving back to the community and loving life.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
Since age 7, I have faced the "ADHD stigma." When I moved across country to pursue a career, when I entered Miss MN with a Southern accent, when I began my company.. people underestimated the positive powers behind having ADHD and how they drive you.
How I responded:
Those who misunderstood me because I have ADHD have only fueled my fire, and looking back, I wouldn't want it any other way. You don't have to be someone else's definition of normal. The truth is you don't have to follow the same road as anyone else - your path will be made beautiful through your unique experiences which will include highs and lows. Keep positive people around and let the negative ones find their exit door. And, as my mom says, "always smile, because smiles open doors!"
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I was raised by a single mother who juggled 3 jobs after my father passed, and she wasn't able to save for college the way she'd hoped. However, her encouragement to focus on education allowed me to receive some scholarship money to help out.
I have ADHD, which often comes with a negative label. Now, as a national spokesperson for Children & Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) and through my platform Unlocking Confidence Through the Arts, I'm able to help others.
My parents did not go to college - I was actually the first person in my immediate family to go to college. At times I felt like a fish out of water, but I proudly graduated with my bachelor's degree and full honors.