Career Roadmap
Eric's work combines: Technology, Engineering, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Canyon Springs High School
Bachelor's Degree
Graphic Design
The Art Institute of California-Orange County
Bachelor's Degree
Computer Science
Moreno Valley College
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Graphic Designers:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Graphic Design
Bachelor's Degree: Computer Science
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I went to the Art Institute in Orange County to study graphic design.
2.
Living in Orange County was expensive, so I couldn't finish all four years of school.
3.
Luckily, I was hired directly into a graphic design job; I worked in the field for over 10 years.
4.
I stopped feeling challenged by graphic design, so I decided I needed to diversify my skill set.
5.
I went back to school to study computer science and computer engineering.
6.
I was hired by Val Verde Unified School District as an IT technician.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Parents:
Your dreams are unrealistic.
How I responded:
My mom was always kind of negative about my career goals-when I was a kid, she shot down my plans to be a NASCAR driver, to be a paleontologist, basically anything that I was passionate about. She was always worried too much about me being "practical" without ever encouraging me to follow my passions. After a while, I realized I had to break away from that negativity, so when I was 18, I moved out. Luckily, I had a really supportive group of friends who encouraged me to go to the Art Institute.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
Even though I didn't initially finish school, I was the first in my family to go to college. Now, after over 10 years in the workforce, I'm pursuing my degree again.