Jenna Rowan
Process Coordinator
Capital One
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
Knew from a young age that I was transgender, though I did not know the term for how I felt.
Sank into deep depression during adolescence, started drinking and using drugs.
Went to college on an honors scholarship. Depression and substance abuse worsened.
Dropped out of school because I was failing out. Slept on people's couches with no permanent home.
Met my spouse and started rebuilding my life. Joined military to receive education.
Came out as transgender and found the courage to live as my true self. Marriage is better than ever.
Joined a bank well known for its positive treatment of trans workers. Started as a phone agent.
Used the internet to teach myself the skills and knowledge that helped me get my current job.
Education
High School
Buckhannon-Upshur High School
Buckhannon-Upshur High School
Career
Process Coordinator
I use reports, data, and custom built tools to help improve the way my department operates.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Business
Numbers
Problem Solving
Day to Day
I generate daily reports that help our management team run our department successfully. I use basic programming skills to automate repetitive processes and perform tasks far quicker than could be done manually. I create tools that help our employees work more efficiently and make their jobs easier. Every day I see the impact that one person can have on the work of 80+ other people.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for middle school students
You don't have to have any idea what you want to be when you grow up, and even if you do, you might change your mind later. I would advise middle school students to identify a field of learning that you enjoy and are good at, and learn as much in that field as you can. Don't be afraid to teach yourself outside of a traditional learning environment; the internet is the great equalizer, in that the knowledge of the world is accessible at your fingertips.
Recommended Education
My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"I am a freak. I am not normal. No one will ever love me if I share who I really am. I'll never be successful in life. I may as well kill myself. I am worthless. I deserve to suffer. I deserve pain. I deserve to be unhappy and depressed."
Challenges I Overcame
Financial
Drugs / Addiction
LGBT
