Owning My Path: The Journey to HR

I’ve been contemplating starting a segment on the diverse journeys within professions and business, and I’d love to hear from you—what led you to choose your career or field? Please share your stories in the comments! Also, feel free to reach out if you’re interested in exploring any of the organizations mentioned here for opportunities aligned with your interests. Your insights could inspire and provide valuable lessons for those in doubt.

Do you remember when you decided to pursue your career?

For me, it all began in the summer of 2013 during an internship with a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering Black artists and communities. This organization worked tirelessly to enrich the cultural landscape through equitable access, brave spaces, and collective discourse. While there, my mentor asked about my plans after graduation. Admittedly, I didn’t have a clear answer. He suggested I take a career assessment, which led me to research different fields. Ultimately, I chose Human Resources—not because I fully understood the complexities of HR but because I recognized a desire to learn essential skills like interviewing and navigating the employment landscape. I figured HR would be the perfect arena to develop these competencies.

My internship immersed me in nurturing diverse Black artistic expressions and building meaningful relationships with artists. This experience taught me how to support long-term growth through relationship-building and professional development. It deepened my understanding of community placemaking and in how the crucial role of the arts in fostering solidarity, understanding, and collective empowerment can be underscored.

As my journey continued, I secured a second internship at a large municipal utility organization responsible for providing essential services to over half a million customers. This utility's leadership program, with its community-based approach emphasizing sustainability and environmental stewardship, introduced me to the intricacies of environmental regulations, customer service management, and utility operations.

Reflecting on this opportunity, I realize its significance in shaping my career trajectory. An email from my significant other's mother about a Leadership Co-Op Program prompted me to gather my resources—recommendation letters, support from our career services department, and maintaining the required GPA. After submitting my application, I was selected for the prequalified interview process at the utility organization. Out of numerous candidates from various colleges, I was one of two chosen from my school. Although I didn’t secure the official program internship, the HR department recognized my potential and extended an offer for their leadership internship that was created for me. This allowed me to still participate in the actual leadership program while gaining hands-on experience in HR tasks, data confidentiality management, and recruitment processes.

While I still held my Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license, I was focused on my commitments as a student-athlete in volleyball and wasn’t actively applying for HR positions. However, I recognized that joining the recruitment and talent management department would provide the quickest path to practical HR experience while contributing to a mission dedicated to improving lives and building community. Interestingly, the other candidate from my school landed the official program internship, making our experiences even more meaningful—a win for both of us and our alma mater (shout out to E-dubb, the oldest Historically Black College/University in Florida)!

After graduating, I faced challenges in finding a full-time opportunity in HR. It wasn’t until 2016 that I landed my first official HR position with an education-focused nonprofit dedicated to early childhood education. This organization utilized research and best practices to help children develop physically, mentally, and emotionally. The gap between my second internship and my first HR role is a journey I could easily turn into an e-book, as I learned so much along the way. For instance, during an interview for an HR Assistant position, I confidently told the panel that a Rolodex (yes, I encountered one for the first time) was used to verify I-9s! Little did I know that handling I-9 documents didn’t mean being responsible for the verification process itself; it just meant filing the paperwork. It’s okay to laugh at that one!

My first official HR role began as a temporary position focused solely on verifying employment records—an eight-hour-a-day, five-days-a-week endeavor. I secured this assignment through a national staffing agency renowned for its expertise in workforce management solutions, connecting job seekers with both short-term and long-term assignments, as well as permanent hire opportunities.

In this role, I supported HR processes related to recruiting and employee onboarding, ensuring the organization had the right talent to fulfill its mission of preparing children to enter school ready to learn. I learned to balance child-focused services with effective HR practices, cultivating a nurturing, productive, and diverse work environment.

While the initial work may have seemed tedious, it was my first real exposure to HR, and I was genuinely excited! The knowledge that my assignment could end at any moment motivated me to adopt a specific mindset (I’d be happy to share what it was if we ever chat over coffee, but let’s stay focused for now). Early on, I expressed interest in a permanent role to my supervisor. She didn’t say no, and that was all the encouragement I needed. By demonstrating my eagerness to learn and grow within HR, I made my intentions clear through my actions and communication. By the third month, they extended a permanent position to me, officially kickstarting my HR career.

Growing up, employment wasn’t an option during grade school, allowing me to focus on sports and extracurricular activities. Yes, you read that right! Right out of high school, I suffered my first major injury—a torn and ripped Achilles tendon. As I entered my second year, I had to wait to earn my CNA license during my first year of college. I secured my very first job as a CNA in an assisted living facility, where I worked with the elderly. I landed that position on my own, without any formal job training, and my employer accommodated my school schedule, allowing me to work each summer until I began my internships.

Today, I also hold an MBA in HR Management, and my focus is on collaborating with HR professionals and business leaders to improve workplace practices, enhance talent acquisition, and drive organizational success. I’m always excited to learn from others, share insights, exchange strategies, and build stronger networks across HR and business communities. I also continue to take on companionship assignments with the elderly, reflecting my ongoing commitment to a community that graciously embraces me.

I’m thrilled to introduce a new segment focused on the diverse journeys within professions and businesses, and I’d love to hear from you! What inspired you to choose your career or field? Please share your stories in the comments! If you’re interested in exploring opportunities with any of the organizations mentioned, feel free to reach out. Your insights could inspire and offer valuable lessons for those in doubt. Welcome to my new newsletter, Career Journeys Unveiled!

For any HR professionals reading this—if I ever tell you I’m a job seeker first, now you know it’s because of my initial reason for pursuing HR! Talk about insight into my journey—I just wanted to understand interviews and employment processes, and that desire has remained with me ever since!

I share my story to emphasize the importance of owning your journey. Whether you experience the good, the bad, the ugly, or everything in between, it’s still yours, and no one can take that from you. Every experience shape who you are and prepares you for what comes next.