In this Episode, Carla Santamaria shares her career journey as a first-gen professional. And how it led her to wanting to help other first-gen professionals navigate their career.
Carla is a Miami-raised, Honduran-born immigrant and first-generation professional. She is the founder of The First Gen Coach, a career coaching practice created to address the lack of professional development opportunities tailored to meet the unique needs of first-gen professionals. Carla is a fierce advocate for aligning mindset and purposeful action. She uses this strategy to help her clients reach their dreams.
I could relate so much to her journey and I can't wait till you hear it too. You'll be inspired to keep going even if you're facing career challenges that seem insurmountable right now.
EPISODE LINKS
Thank you for listening, please Subscribe and leave a Review on Apple Podcasts, and Follow me via IG @ManifestYourCareer
Visit my site for more information: https://manifestyourcareer.com/
Get Tips to Manifest 10x Faster Subscribe to my Newsletter Today!
In this Episode, Carla Santamaria shares her career journey as a first-gen professional. And how it led her to wanting to help other first-gen professionals navigate their career.
Carla is a Miami-raised, Honduran-born immigrant and first-generation professional. She is the founder of The First Gen Coach, a career coaching practice created to address the lack of professional development opportunities tailored to meet the unique needs of first-gen professionals. Carla is a fierce advocate for aligning mindset and purposeful action. She uses this strategy to help her clients reach their dreams.
I could relate so much to her journey and I can't wait till you hear it too. You'll be inspired to keep going even if you're facing career challenges that seem insurmountable right now.
EPISODE LINKS
Thank you for listening, please Subscribe and leave a Review on Apple Podcasts, and Follow me via IG @ManifestYourCareer
Visit my site for more information: https://manifestyourcareer.com/
Get Tips to Manifest 10x Faster Subscribe to my Newsletter Today!
Are you feeling stuck, lost or confused about what to do next in your career? Then the manifest your career podcast is just right for you. I'm your host Dr. Norma Reyes, a career mindset coach. I help successful Latinas who are battling self doubt, self sabotage and imposter syndrome. I teach my clients how to combine their intuition, skills and knowledge so that they can manifest their dream career. It's time you start listening to your inner wisdom and guidance. tune in each week to the manifest your career podcast, and learn how to align your mindset to your career goals. Keep listening and together will manifest your dream career Hey guys, welcome back. This is episode number 40. And with me I have guest Carla Santamaria and she's going to share all about her career journey that started with an unintended Gap Year. I can't wait for you guys to hear her journey. But before I do that, let me go ahead and introduce Carla. Guidelines. Santa Maria is a Miami raised Honduran born immigrant and first gen professional. She is the founder of the first gen coach a career coaching practice to address the lack of professional development opportunities tailored to meet the unique needs of first gen professionals. Carla is a fierce advocate for aligning mindset and purposeful action. She uses this strategy to help her clients reach their dream. Thank you so much for being with us, Karla. My first question to you is can you tell us about your family background? Where did you grow up? And who did you live with?
Unknown:Hi, Norma. Thank you for having me. Yes, absolutely. So I was actually born in Honduras. And I lived in Honduras, the first eight years of my life moved to Miami, Florida, right before my ninth birthday. I grew up with my parents and my three sisters. So I am the second of four girls.
Norma Reyes:For girls. I'm sure your dad was was very busy.
Unknown:Oh, yes. And it's funny because our last name is Santa Maria. So even though I didn't grow up Catholic, I knew the prayer, you know, sent me a mother the certificate that Mohair is, because people would say that to my dad, Santamaria. You know in three toddlers mo Harris, you know, so it was, he's always been outnumbered by women.
Norma Reyes:It's funny actually didn't know that was a prayer. But that even makes it just even more like, wasn't a coincidence for your dad to have all girls. So when you were young, and people asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up, what do you recall telling them?
Unknown:I wanted to be a lot of things. And I love this question. Because when I think back about the different things I wanted to be, I always wanted to help people. And I don't know at this at some point in high school, I think maybe after my youngest sister started speech therapy, I realized I wanted to be a speech pathologist because I wanted to help kids, you know, learn one of life's most foundational skills, communication. And they did eventually start my first couple of years of undergrad with that career path in mind. But I think about when people first started asking me that, at least in the United States, I would say that I wanted to be a veterinarian. And I remember somebody, the principal's daughter, I think, at my school came in to speak to us about their time in the Peace Corps. And I didn't really, you know, understand much. I knew that she helped people in Africa, you know, like I was, yeah, so that was my understanding. And I remember telling people that I wanted to go on the Peace Corps, and then take the Education Award, which, you know, I know that now. That's what it's called. But back then I just thought, you just got a whole bunch of money at the end of your service. And I wanted to go back to Honduras, and do something amazing and help people. And so those were the two things I remember, you know, being very young veterinarians slash Peace Corps volunteer slash savior of Honduras, even though you know, I was not aware of all the the Savior complexes and things like that and all the problems with international aid. But I the theme, you know, the recurring theme is that is that I wanted to help people.
Norma Reyes:That's just Some some big dreams, I don't even think I even knew what the Peace Corps was until I was in college. Now, whom do you recall being some of your earliest career role models that you imagined yourself being like when you grew up? So
Unknown:other than Mr. Fernandes, his daughter, you know, the Returned Peace Corps volunteer, I thought about my sister's speech therapist, you know, and I don't even think I met the lady. You know, it's just somebody my parents talked about, you know, so she's helping, you know, your sister, and my little sister would speak very highly of her. And I think that she was the first career model I had, which is interesting, because, you know, I never met them. And actually growing up, and realizing that I guess I didn't really have a lot of career models. You know, maybe this is why a random guest speaker resonated with me, or maybe this is why somebody hadn't even met, but who I could see actively help. My youngest sister, resonated with me. And it wasn't until way down the line in college that my possibilities of careers opened up. And up until that point, I think that I thought my career options, were a doctor, lawyer, teacher slash speech therapist. And so I chose speech therapist. So like I said, I really have a lot of career models growing up.
Norma Reyes:Right, right. And a lot of first gen, and depending on the community grew up in, we really don't, right, like you said, right, what they push is stem, which is, you know, be a doctor be this, but then at the same time, what you hear is, but it's really hard to do that, but it's really hard to do. Yes. So you know, it creates this shift of anything that that's not that might be easy, but it's not as prestigious is not as important, which skilled labor is so important, we would not be I mean, we need doctors, but we also need skilled labor to be able to be running in this country. So now, before we go into attention, because I know that
Unknown:oh, yeah, especially the two of us,
Norma Reyes:when you like a side podcast of random stuff we talked about. So please tell us about your educational background. Did you intend college immediately after high school? Or did you start later?
Unknown:I started later. And this is probably one of the first times that I've been asked this question in this way. I don't usually talk about this, but I feel very moved to share. My immigration status was in limbo for a long time. And when I graduated high school, I was not yet a legal permanent resident. I had a workers permit, I think. And I had gotten a full ride scholarship to the Honors Program at my local college Miami Dade College. But come to find out that the full ride was only for in state tuition. And because of my immigration status, I would have had to pay out of state tuition. And I was heartbroken. I didn't have any money. You know, like I I did what I was told I got good grades, I got scholarships. And then they told me that wasn't enough. And so it wasn't, you know, like I went that summer graduate high school with multiple scholarships. Then it wasn't until I was at orientation, that this Oh, no, I went to orientation after orientation when I was meeting with the program director that he told me Oh, yes, sorry. You still owe us like 1000s of dollars. It was like how. And then they explained that to me, I was very lucky that I knew that I was on the cusp of becoming a legal permanent resident. So I made the decision at 17 years old, to delay enrollment in college, and to defer one of my scholarships, and to turn down the other scholarship because there was no option for the firm. And I would have had to turn it down and apply again the following year, which I did. And so I did that, because I knew that they would have locked me in at the out of state tuition rate, and my education would have cost me 1000s of dollars when I had the scholarship awards to cover a full ride for in state. And I haven't really shared this in a long time. You know, this was like, maybe 12 years ago. And I remember I withdrew, and then I cried on my bed all afternoon. Because all my friends were going to college and I wasn't sorry, I'm getting.
Norma Reyes:Yeah, it's okay. I yeah, I can't feel it. I can't imagine having wanted to go to college. You know, I myself went directly afterwards and I can't imagine how you felt Pretty much I mean, you're there in orientation. So that's even more impactful. You're already there. You know, you've already made these dreams in your mind. And then all of a sudden, everything just gets shattered.
Unknown:Yes, absolutely. Yeah. So so it was, it was very hard. But let me tell you that maybe the reason that I don't talk about this is because I know that that year that I spent working full time served me so much. And I learned so many skills. And by the time I started, I already had professional experience. And so I always think about that I always think about how lucky I was to have had the opportunity to work full time in an office setting and learn that office etiquette before I started school. And so it was I was talking about that, but it's been a while, you know, like the way that you phrase that question. It's been a while since I thought about really how, how heartbreaking it was. And then like I said, all my friends were going to college. And I remember I was, you know, like a few months down. We were I was like, got a friend from high schools house. And his mom was like, Carla, the brain isn't in school. And I was like, Screw you, lady. You know, and so. So I did not start immediately after high school. And it was very traumatic. But like I said, I knew it was right on the cusp. And a few months later, I was thankfully able to get my immigration status resolved. And it was it became a legal permanent resident of time. And so my one scholarship that I deferred, they were like, yep, you have three years, just pick up right where you left off. I applied again to the same program. And I got in. And so like I said, worked full time for a year at an office setting. And then I started my undergrad two first years of undergrad, Miami Dade College, I transferred to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. And after a year, I was like, I'm gonna go to FIU. You know, I'm gonna go to Florida International University in Miami. So it took me six years after high school to get my quote, unquote, four year degree. And even though the the larger part of me was very proud of my journey, well, I don't know if proud, but I guess I took ownership. Like I knew it was a non traditional journey. I knew that because I didn't attend college immediately after high school, I knew that it was a non traditional student. There was also the part of me that every once in a while felt a little bit of shame. I spent five full years in college. And remember, I took a year off, right, so six years, and by then some of my friends were wrapping up their master's program. And I can look back and know that I knew that my journey was different. And most of the time, I was very confident with my journey. But every once in a while there was that little bit of like, Oh, I'm behind. But really, I wasn't I was just on my own journey.
Norma Reyes:Right? Right. They really pushed this idea that you can actually finish college in four years. It makes you embarrassed when you don't,
Unknown:right? Absolutely, it does. And a growing number of students fall since 2012, are falling outside of that traditional paradigm of full time student with zero job commitment with full family support. And I know this, because after I graduated, you know, with my undergrad and I did a year of AmeriCorps service, I started working at the University of Miami and I read, I believe it's called a seminal report on higher education, and it's talking about the importance of civic engagement in higher education. And it's cited and I remember looking at was like, aha, that's me. I was not a full time student. You know, I was I was a full time student with outside responsibilities with helping my family with picking up my younger sisters from from school with working, you know, and so I very much felt seen that this report that was helping to shape higher education, reflect there that students like me, were increasing in numbers. And, yeah, so eventually, a couple years later, I got my master's degree, also from the University of Miami. And I love that. So my education journey was a little bit again, outside of the quote unquote, traditional or outside of what people imagine. But what people imagine is not the case. Not even not always the case, but it's becoming increasingly rare. You know, like the things that you see on TV with like, the frat houses or going away to college and, you know, full time for four years, that is no longer the majority of students. There's more and more of us who take a different route.
Norma Reyes:Yeah, yeah, I'm myself finished in five years, I didn't work. I just changed my major a few times. And now I think with the requirements, how many hours you have to take, like, I mean, I even took summer courses too. So you really have to take a full course load, which is, you know, like five classes, I found that five classes was an ideal for me, like I needed to do four, and then I'd make it up in the summer. So you know, for anyone listening, it's important to know that your journey is your journey, and don't allow anyone to make you feel shameful. If you can't go full time. If you can't take 15 hours a semester, like there's nothing wrong with that I met new people who were taking 18 hours, and I myself have never been a person, even though you know, quote, unquote, I'm like, the smart girl, whatever. I'm just never studious girl, as I did not do all nighters, I didn't stay up past 10 doing work. Like if it was 10pm, I'd be like, well, I thought it was sticking my brain so I'm not going to spend time over. That just wasn't me and nothing against people who do that. I just felt like, you know, that just wasn't who I was. And I did it my way. But for a long time, like I was ashamed about that I it took me five years to graduate college because they make it feel they being you know, society, the quote unquote, society they, but really, as we normalize, that it can take you longer for whatever reason, and it doesn't matter what that reason is, you know, it could it could be a variety of reasons, and what matters is finishing and getting to Yeah, your goal. Yes, exactly. So thank you for sharing that with us. Now. Can you tell us how your career unfolded since completing your bachelor's and then going into the workforce?
Unknown:Yes. And so I feel like I was, you know, I was always in the workforce ever since I was 17 years old, you know, and I, like I said, I've learned a lot so much. And it was happy to be able to make some of those early career mistakes as an 18 year old without an undergraduate degree versus, you know, later down the line with someone who is expected to, you know, know better or whatnot. So, I, the last year of my undergrad, so my fifth year, I was also serving full time as an AmeriCorps member. And so I worked at this education nonprofit where I had interned three summers, and I was there full time I was mentoring students. And I loved it. I love the work, I saw myself in the kids, I was I love being able to talk to them and talk to their parents and advise them like, Hey, your child is starting college, they need to be studying for the LSAT, like, you know, so really like bridging that gap. And so I love that. I finished that around the same time that I graduated from, you know, with my bachelor's. Eventually, after a couple of months of, you know, trying to find work, I decided to do another year with AmeriCorps, and it became a VISTA, and oh my god, it paid like nothing. I it was. And so for those who are not familiar, VISTA stands for Volunteers and service to America. And it's funny because they explained it as the the domestic Peace Corps. And I haven't thought about wanting to go to the Peace Corps in forever. But now here I am talking about both my exposure to the Peace Corps as a fifth grader, and then serving in the quote unquote, domestic Peace Corps. I have a lot of critiques about the VISTA program, and I think that it does, it's not. It may be working the system 60s, I don't know it's not working now. Definitely.
Norma Reyes:Yeah, I know. I know what you mean, lino. It's unfortunate that a person who goes into that program has to apply for food stamps. I remember. I don't know if I spoke with someone about it. I didn't, I wasn't interested in it. But somehow I got familiar with it and how they pretty much teach you how to apply for food stamps, because you can't survive otherwise, as you're going and doing this domestic Peace Corps service within the country.
Unknown:Yes, exactly. Like the the idea in the 60s. The mission of the Peace Corps is to eradicate poverty. And they believe that the people who work that need to experience poverty, like first of all, I am first gen like I experienced poverty my entire life. I need to actually have a legit job that pays me. I remember my parents asking me my dad asking me because he knew I wasn't making much money because Hello Hey, Daddy, I'm not paying rent that your house where I live in with a college degree. And he said, Why would you go to college to become a volunteer Yeah. And so when I think about, you know, people who serve in the Peace Corps, it tends to be low income communities of color Hello, me, who are so motivated to help others and to help their community, or extremely wealthy individuals whose parents can subsidize their experience?
Norma Reyes:Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I was like, because, you know, just because they're not giving you money, there's people who are giving you money. And I'm not I don't mean for those that are low income, because obviously, you weren't getting any, you weren't getting any subsidization by your Oh, of course.
Unknown:Yes, exactly. I mean, and again, I'm very grateful, I was able to live with my dad rent free. And he was also like, paying my car insurance and my phone bill. So I mean, I think my, my paycheck went to gas or something, I don't even know where it went. It wasn't, it wasn't very much. And so I always say about VISTA, that the program needs a lot of reform, and that the program actually perpetuates the economic inequality that it supposedly wants to solve. It doesn't it perpetuates it. Because, you know, if were you your first income after college, it sets you off on a trajectory. And so, if you come from a low income community, and you take a low paying job, it sets you off on a trajectory. And so again, it perpetuates going into comic inequality. But I can also say that I had a positive experience, I had a great experience at the office where I was working, I love them, they shaped my career. Now, you know, like, when you talked about career role models, oh, my gosh, my boss from us, she still like number one, like I want to be her when I grow up. She's amazing. So I know that I had a positive experience in a very broken system. So that was my second year with AmeriCorps. I stayed on as a program coordinator, it's still in this office. And one of the parts that made my experience very positive is that I was able to connect with everybody who worked there, connect with the faculty who was working in the Civic Engagement Office on campus. And that's how I met a lot of different faculty. And that's how I've met my next career role model. She was a department chair. And I was telling her, hey, you know, like, I saw that you worked with this nonprofit, that's where I did my first year of AmeriCorps, you know, but I don't, I don't want to do nonprofit education anymore. I feel like I have this vision of kids coming in a conveyor belt with their problems, you know, and then we put a bandaid on the kids, and then the conveyor belt gives us the exact same kid and we just put another bandaid on the kid. And I had that vision, I communicated it to her. And it was like, you know, like, how, I just don't want to put band aids on kids anymore. I want to solve the issue. And she says, okay, Carla, this is gonna sound very biased, because I'm a community psychologist, but you sound like a community psychologist. And I was like, what is that? And she said, Well, she told me a little bit about it. Basically, Community Psychology looks to solve complex issues by getting to the root of the issue. So obviously, we are we're going to need people in soup kitchens, you know, like that ameliorated service. But let's take a step back and figure out what are the causes? What are the systems? What are the barriers that causes someone to have to go to a soup kitchen, and let's solve that, let's work on that. And so I love that I have been looking at grad programs I had been looking into like Business, School and corporate social responsibilities and B Corps, because remember, I always wanted to help people. But I didn't want to put band aids on kids anymore and not solve the problems. So I went from wanting to sell help people, like immediately to like wanting to solve problems that help people. And as I learned more about community psychology as I continued to look into different programs, that was what kept resonating with me. And so I joined the community psychology program, and continued working at UNM, I began a grad assistant job advising students. And it was amazing. And so after about four and a half years, two of which I was in grad school, I left u m. So I completed my graduate degree and then I left you M for a different role in higher ed and civic engagement.
Norma Reyes:Yeah, tell us about that and then lead us up to your current role. Okay,
Unknown:so I went back to my one true love my everyday college. Yeah, they the tagline for DC actually, opportunity changes everything. And they knew specially as somebody who had to take time off after high school, and then they welcome me back with open arms, I knew that opportunity did change everything. And so when I was working there was, you know, promoting civic engagement and economic service learning and voter education, and absolutely loved the work that I was doing. Again, working with students working with faculty work with community partners, working with campus leaders, to really, again, help students be involved in their community, help students see themselves as community members who have agency to create the world that they want to live in. And I love that and it was there for a couple of years. Unfortunately, there was some mishap, you know, it's, it's a bureaucratic institution, it's, you know, funded by the state, there was some mishap when I was hired, and I ended up realizing that I had not been paid what I was supposed to be making. And the system that they had in place said, Sorry, we, there's nothing that we can do. So I ended up having to, well, I chose to leave, I could have stayed, you know, I love the job. But I chose to love myself more and honor myself more. Because I knew like, it was a moment where I had to say, as much as I love this job, I love myself more. As much as I love this job. My parents didn't move to the United States, for me to stay in a job where I am underpaid. You know, like, my grandma didn't give up the ability to see her grandkids every single week, because my grandma was among Buddhists. And, you know, for me to be a pay being in a job where I'm underpaid. And so I left MTC and I transitioned careers, and I'm now diversity, equity and inclusion are, and I think, along the way, I've always been a dei practitioner, you know, like, I've always had this internal sense of equity and internal sense of fairness. And I remember, as a kid, I used to be told, like, I used to say, that's not fair. And my teacher would say, life's not fair. And guess what, here I am now as a DI practitioner making working to make systems fair. And so I do that, as well as I have a coaching practice, where I help a first gen women really tap into their strengths, look inside themselves, tap into their skills, and really be confident in their career. And leaving my previous role, transitioning into a corporate setting, and launching my coaching practice all happen in like one weekend. So kind of a kind of a very busy weekend. But that's where I am now.
Norma Reyes:Yeah. So I like that you share that right? You loved yourself more. That is something that I don't know if I've shared in the podcast before, but I know that I've talked about it with others. In regards to, we feel we as first gens maybe not just first gens, but maybe in the Latino community, that we have to give back to the community that we are required to give back to the community. And that can mean sacrificing how much we get paid. Because if you go into the corporate world, and you change or you're no longer giving back in the sense of being present and showing you know who you are, then you are a disservice to others. And I say this because for the longest time, I didn't move from the south side of San Antonio, which is traditionally mostly Hispanic, probably like 99% Hispanic down there. And I felt really rooted in stuck there until I decided like, you know what, my kids deserve a better education. No one cares that I'm here, no, one kid's going to miss me that I'm not part of the community anymore. I am just there because I have this belief that I need to, to stay there for whatever it is, right. I'm not really doing anything in regards to changing the community anyway, just by being there. And with just my presence. That's what I mean. And I was like, my kids are more important and their education is more important. And I'm more important, right in regards to you know, they say that they always say Right, like, the five people around you are, you know, what you're like, right? And then I took that and I applied it to my neighborhood. I'm the top earner in the neighborhood and most of the neighborhood has two three people household putting into the you know, the income of the household. And my income alone is still way above there's like, you know, like there's just that there they are not at the same places I am and that's not any been saying negative about them. It's just I can can't move forward, I can't grow, if I continue to stay in a place that I've outgrown,
Unknown:right? Oh, yes. So stop trying to shrink yourself, you know, to fit into a place that you've outgrown. Yeah, I, I feel that that resonates with me. I mean, I don't think I'm the top earner, and I just moved up. But what resonates, but what you know, deeply is this belief of like, we have to give back, we have to give back. And that's something that even as a nine year old, 10 year old, I want it to go and go back to Honduras and give back, you know, like, that's so deeply rooted in our psyche, that, as an adult, for me, it manifested into thinking, I want to give back to my community, I want to help others. And that means I have to take a low paying job. And it wasn't until about a year ago, that I realized how I mean, it's a limiting belief, but like, looking back, I'm like, what sort of arrogance, you know, like, it's, it wasn't just a limiting belief, it was also like this arrogant belief, this sense of like, you know, like, it's like what you said, or no one's gonna miss me, like, sometimes we forget, we forget that. There is a sense of arrogance and thinking that you are the one holding everything together. You know, like, there would be fine without you, girl, you know. And so I had to let go of that belief for myself, that the only way that I could help my community is by having a low paying job, I let go of that belief. And I've worked with clients, when I when I shared that, you know, to help them, you know, let go of their beliefs. And I'm never gonna forget, because one of them said, I feel so seen, you know, we had similar similar backgrounds of working with nonprofits and you know, trying to improve our communities, and then feeling like we have to be tied to these low paying jobs. So now my goal is to help as many first gen women as possible, make powerful career transitions, that let them use their skills, while making the world a better place. And guess what, you can do that beyond the nonprofit world? Okay, you can do that and earn a high income. Like they're not mutually exclusive.
Norma Reyes:Yeah, definitely. Well, where we moved, I definitely pretty sure that I am not the high earner in his neighborhood right now. We took all right, that's the goal, right? To get up there and get that influence. Thank you so much for sharing all of that I'm sure our listeners are feeling empowered to to step out of that mentality. You know, I think it's just that wanting to give back. And actually, I'll share on my most recent volunteer experience where I went to do a vision board workshop for this teen life center, it's helping young families, it supplies them with a community support, where they can just go I love that they can just go and they get diapers, and they get a dinner. And it's really just they're so support. It's not trying to fit them into some sort of mode. And so they asked me to come to a vision board workshop for them. And I went there, and I went to a stub because, you know, I've just, that's what you do. Right? You're professional, you get dressed up. I had my Michael Kors bag that I never get to take anywhere, but I took it with me. And then you know, I get there. And then I get to see how far I've gone from being I wasn't a teen parent, but being in that community, you know, being so poor being in poverty. And I go and I share with them, I'm asking them if they know what a vision board is, and they don't. And I was actually kind of surprised. And I realized, like, oh my gosh, like, if they'd asked me at that age, would I even know what it is? Would I even have had anybody ever talked to me about it before. And it just really reminded me of like one that I love giving back in that way, or sharing my knowledge. And that was the whole reason why I went into this direction, but then to how disconnected I've become from the community. And that I also still placed myself as a low income impoverished person, like as if I am still that same person. But I'm not like, I'm like worlds apart from them. And I think that can, you know, show up in a whole lot of different ways, especially when you're navigating your career, right? You still think of yourself as that poor kid that was growing up in that neighborhood? You know?
Unknown:Yes. Oh, yes. And then that identity, it's something like only 40% of women, all women, not just Latinos, not just women of color, only 40% of all women that think in the US at least negotiate their salary. You know, because I think I think part of it is that feeling of like, Oh, I'm just grateful for what they offered me. Like, I'm just grateful. But when, you know, when we look back and think, oh my God, look at how far I've come. You know, like, and what I love about your story is that you're still giving back, which reminded me one of the most empowering, I guess, beliefs that I have adopted is that the more I have, the more I have to give, you know, so I always I grew up with that mentality of give back to my community, give back to my community. Well, guess what, if you can barely pay your student loans? How much are you going to have to give back? You know, if you are so overworked and burned out, you don't have any time to volunteer? Like, how much are you really going to give back? So I don't mean that in like a greedy, greedy way of like, gimme, gimme, gimme everything. But I mean, in the way that like, I am worthy of more. And guess what, because I am a good person, I will use all of my resources to give back. So isn't it my responsibility, then, to elevate my stance so that I can help others with more time with more knowledge with more skills with more money? You know? So yeah, so I hear you with the giving back. But for me, I've adopted, the more I have, the more I have to give, and it's been so freeing to let myself pursue a career that pays more, you know, and to free myself from these beliefs that really, were not serving anyone.
Norma Reyes:Right? Yeah, definitely your success is serving someone, your success is, is important to everyone. Right? We all grow. And so now back to the official questions. On a whole big tangent, but can you tell us which I think you may have already shared with them. But what has been your most influential experience in your career so far,
Unknown:interning for the US House of Representatives through the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. So I truly when it when I said earlier, it wasn't until much later in college that I realized that there was more to careers than Doctor lawyer teacher. It was when I was an intern at ch AI. So let me tell you, how. I didn't know what the word congressional meant, like, tough poor civics education I'd had. I don't know why. Obviously, congressional means Congress. I just don't understand.
Norma Reyes:Yeah, no. Now you have any question? Do I know I'm like the Congress?
Unknown:Yeah, it does. It does mean Congress. I don't really know what I what. I don't know what the confusion was? I don't know.
Norma Reyes:We don't know what we don't know. It just happens. There's plenty of stuff that I didn't know and probably still don't know.
Unknown:Yes, you know, and I think you know, what, I think part of me must have tuned it out. Because I thought, well, I can't vote, so this doesn't matter. But anyways, so thankfully, I applied, because guess what the insert the application questions, or something like, what issues affect the Latino community? And it's like, oh, I got you, you know, like, let me tell you what issues affect the Latino community, what role the civic engagement or giving back to the community play, I'm like, Oh, I got you, you know. So even if I didn't necessarily know what it meant to be a congressional intern, I knew what it meant to want to solve those problems. And so I was accepted, which is why it also took me five years to finish my undergrad, because it was one full semester in DC. And it was fully funded. So this is why I said most influential because, again, it opened my eyes. Had I not had that funding opportunity, I wouldn't have gone I can't afford a semester in DC, you know, at the time, I knew that. But I you know, fully paid semester in DC Yes, please. And, again, opened my eyes, not just to the limitless options of career opportunities, but also to the ways in which I personally make a difference in the world. And so prior to that I wanted, like I had envisioned myself in the classroom or working one on one with, you know, pre K students as a speech pathologist. But I, I had this shift of like, wait, I can influence more people like I can. I can have a career that goes beyond the four walls of a classroom. And don't get me wrong. I love teachers, teachers, like every teacher across America could get $30,000 increase in pay and they would still be underpaid. Very much love at appreciate teachers but I knew that I and you know, we talked earlier about how I am a visual manifester, or that's part of my human design. I realized that the these key moments have come with visions, like I visualized myself in the classroom, and the four walls of the classroom felt so limiting. And they knew that that couldn't be my career. I knew that I needed Did something bigger? And I mean, that's where I am now. So influential experiences definitely. My internship with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, I am still in touch with the my intern cohort to this day, you know, and it was like, what, eight years ago, still part of the alumni network very involved. I tried to mentor as many students as they can, just because it was so life changing for me. And because they gave me that exposure. Remember, I did have a lot of role models growing up. And then all of a sudden, I was in the US House of Representatives, me this poor kid from Honduras, in the US House of Representatives walking past the Capitol building every single day. I everyday now that I think about it every day, it was breathtaking. Not a single day in those four months, that I ever think, oh, yeah, it's just a capital. No, it was like, wow, that's the capital. So definitely the most influential experience.
Norma Reyes:Thank you for sharing. It sounds amazing. And yes, going to DC is beautiful. So now to him two more fun questions, but also not so fun. Because the question is, what are some of the worst career advice that you've received? So this
Unknown:was so fun, because I think that for some people, it would have been the best career advice they received. But for me, it was the worst. I don't know what the context of the question was, I was oh, yeah, I know what I was trying to pick a grad program, you know, like, I was exploring different things. And so I talked to someone who was a PhD candidate. And she said, yeah, just where do you see yourself in 40 years, and I was like, I'm Secretary of State, you know, and she's like, alright, so just map yourself. Just map out. backwards plan. I don't know what the word is, I think it's called backwards planning or reverse engineer, the choices that you have to make in order to become Secretary of State. And so I did that. And then I went to talk to her and she was like, from what you're saying, like, you don't want to become Secretary of State, you want to become a college professor. That was like, Oh, well, yeah, like, I mean, I didn't give the example of Elizabeth Warren. But yeah, like Elizabeth Warren, be a college professor, and then go to the Senate and then become Secretary of State like Hillary Clinton. But anyway, so I realized I didn't necessarily want to be Secretary of State, I definitely wanted to be in academia. And the reason that this was terrible career advice is because then it made me so scared to do anything. It made me so scared to choose the wrong grad program. It made me so scared to choose the wrong school. It made me so scared to do anything that might take me off my trajectory of becoming like a college president, you know. And I was so paralyzed for the longest time because I was so scared that I would make the wrong choice. And then my 40 year life plan would go away. First of all, that's kind of crazy, like, who makes a 40 year life plan? And again, maybe some people, also some people, like who want to become doctors or people who are drawn to politics, they understand that, yeah, maybe I'll run for city council, and then they'll run for state senate. And then, you know, maybe 40 year lifetimes will work for people in politics. But clearly, my heart was not in politics. And so it wasn't, yeah, it was, it was bad, because it just made me just so scared of, of choosing the wrong trajectory. And it shook my confidence. And that also, for some reason, made me believe that I had to stick to that plan. I think that was the most damaging part of it. Not just that it completely froze me. But that it, it was like I was signing that, like the back of a scrap agenda. You know, like that was somehow my blood that this was a blood contract that I had to adhere to. Otherwise, I had, like gone wrong in life. I don't know. I don't know why it just it threw me That was terrible. I spent like six months in misery until somebody gave me the best career advice, which was, you don't have to figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life. You just have to figure out what you want to do now. And I was like yeah, I felt like it was the first time that I was breathing normally, in six months. And I was like, okay, that feels so much better. Because I don't know what I want to do in like, five years, you know, let alone 40. But I know what I'm gonna do now. And that is, you know, that's just where I am now. Like, I take the next step that feels right to me, and continue in that trajectory. until there's another step that feels right to me.
Norma Reyes:Yeah, it's so important to think that I don't know that I ever had anybody asked me that question of like, where do you see yourself in that many years? By it, I can see how that can be really paralyzing. I think for myself, what made it my worst advice was really just anything that went against what I wanted to do. So for example, I wanted to take dual credit courses in high school, because to me, it made sense, you know, I'd get college credits. But then I was told no, you should do this instead. Because dual credit courses don't always transfer to universities. And of course, I don't know any different because no one that I know has ever gone to college to raise that question. And so I, you know, took their advice. And so I think that for me, that's, that's it right? Not following my own inner guidance. And so, but yeah, the 40 years, I would definitely feel stuck to and funny story. The walls in my office, I was stuck for like, I don't remember, I picked the color. And that was pretty easy. But then I was scared to paint the walls, because I kept thinking, what if I hate it once I see it in the whole room. And I didn't do it. I think for a couple of weeks. Because of that, even though the wall was like half like splotches everywhere have different colors of paint. And then finally, I had the epiphany of like, well, if I don't like it, I can just change it. Right? And that's exactly what I would tell anybody any advice to anything? Yeah, that's great. But it goes back to that that poll, right, like of this wasted time? And that's what clients say, right? Like, I don't want to waste my time doing something I don't like or what if I make the right wrong decision? Well, you're never going to know what feels right for you until you actually try something. And it's not the end of the world. If it's the wrong decision, you're not really ever going to know until you do something about it.
Unknown:Yeah, I agree. Absolutely. I love that. I think I need to write that down. Before I forget, you know, if you don't like it, you can just make a different choice. You know, there are very, very few things that are permanent. And I also don't necessarily believe in the wrong decision, you know, it was a decision. And as long as you learn from it, like what is really like, right or wrong, like it was either a success or a learning experience. So for a long time, I haven't really believed in like the wrong decision. Like it's just, you know, our journey, what we learned along the way.
Norma Reyes:I love that it's so true, there isn't any wrong decisions, because eventually you'll get where you need to be going. So what career advice do you want to share with my audience today?
Unknown:I would say, Trust yourself, trust your community. Don't put your faith and trust in institutions. Because they can fail. They're not perfect, maybe. And I felt this way. Multiple times. I know lots of people have like, put a specific company in a pedestal and oh my god, I've always wanted to work for them. I've always wanted to, you know, work in like a big foreign law firm, and then they get there and expectations is different than reality. And when you place your your trust into something external, it's just asking to, to be let down. But when you put your trust in your intuition, when you put your trust and your values, when you put your trust in your in yourself, you will know what the right thing to do is what the right career move is to, you know, is to take next. So Trust yourself, trust your community. And you can't go wrong.
Norma Reyes:Thank you. Thank you. How can our community get in touch with the headline or if they want to work with you?
Unknown:Oh, sure. So I offer one on one coaching, also group coaching. And I have a podcast, the first gen coach, and I am on Instagram at Carla, the first gen coach.
Norma Reyes:Yes. And I'll have everything in the show notes. Guys. Thank you so much for being with us. Carla.
Unknown:Thank you. Thank you so much, Norma, I love the thank you for this insightful questions and really for the opportunity that you gave me to to think about my journey and how far I've come. I appreciate it.
Norma Reyes:You're welcome. Yes, I love doing these cars, and then you have the recording forever. Really. Great. Thank
Unknown:you.
Norma Reyes:You're welcome. Thank you for listening to the manifest your career podcast with me your host Dr Norma Reyes a career and mindset coach Learn more today on manifest your career.com