Take Risks & Change Your Life

I had an excellent job lined up 3 months before Graduation,

But declined it a week before I walked on that stage without anything to fall back on. 

I was a part of the American Marketing Association (AMA) at California State University, Northridge (CSUN).

During one of our events at the Western Regional Conference (WRC) in 2019, there was a competition to do an “Elevator Pitch” and I was up against multiple students from other Cal State schools that had practiced these 60-90 seconds to the point of memorization. 

Mind you, I was notified about the competition that day and signed up seconds before registration closed since I was “too scared” that I wasn’t good enough. 

Fast forward, I won 1st Place because I was “authentic” and “relatable” - at least that’s what the judges told me. 

Little did I know the judges were actual recruiters looking for great candidates to fly across the states to the East Coast for an interview. 

Winning first place, they offered me the interview and I took it. I flew out to the East Coast, Aced the 1st, 2nd and 3rd interview and by the time I landed back in California, I got the call that I landed the job. 

Of course I accepted! It’s every graduating student’s dream to be starting off on the right foot with a job lined up after college. 

As my graduation date came closer and closer, I started to get this unsettling feeling that maybe this job just wasn’t right for me. 

Around this time I had attended a Firm Tour event with AMA to visit the RPA campus (an Ad Agency) - and since that day, all I knew is that I wanted to work in an Ad Agency, no matter what that meant. (Clearly they had an impact on me.)

I emailed my recruiter back about the job, thanked them, but declined the offer as “there was another opportunity for me”.

I HAD NOTHING AS A BACKUP! Who in the right mind drops an opportunity without another on the horizon?! 

Well, I believe taking chances allows you to blossom as a person and your story becomes quite interesting. 

A week after graduating, I landed a job at a Podcast Ad Agency - I knew on day 3 that I was not a good fit for this company.

All the lies, disrespect and judgment in that space drove me to numbness and health hazardous stress levels - but, it was an Ad Agency nonetheless and any experience in this field was good for future endeavors. 

I was living paycheck to paycheck, trying to support my family, but life kept getting rougher and rougher each day and my family was on the verge of homelessness. 

One day I came in late from work, realizing that my car was repossessed since I couldn’t afford payments anymore and apologized to the CEO (my boss) for being tardy. 

He asked what happened, and upon telling him the situation, he laughed and said, “You need to learn how to make payments then, huh” and walked away. 

I had asked for only a single dollar raise or approval to work overtime, and each time was a no. Even after it was promised once I developed the Internship Program from the ground up. 

No matter what I did, I just kept being put down, judged and lied to. 

After a year and 4 months, I gathered up any energy I had left in me during that time and updated my resume, LinkedIn and interview prepped like crazy. 

I applied to many jobs and none thought I was a good fit since I was over-qualified for entry level but under-qualified for anything higher up. 

Then one day I sat on my bed and just cried out to God, asking, begging him to give me a chance and help me out for I could not do it alone anymore. 

Let me tell you, when you ask, it will be given! For that day my dream job fell on my lap. 

A recruiter from MuteSix reached out to me through a message on LinkedIn about an opportunity for this company I had no clue about. After research and speaking with the recruiter, I absolutely fell in love with the company, culture and people! 

Needless to say, I got the job and for the past 8 months, I’ve been living my dream job in a place where I feel respected, cared for and accepted for exactly who I am. 

My point in sharing this story is that you never know where that risk you take may lead you. Yes it may take you down the road of hardship and disappointment, but none the less it will prep you to where you are meant to be. 

Have Faith, Stay Strong, and Take Risks. We only have this one life, so live it well!