One
Origin
My family of origin includes many successful individuals. My dad is a well-regarded salesman, and my mother is a nurse. CEOs, lawyers, and doctors are in my immediate circle of connections. I am privileged to have access to every educational opportunity in the world. Since I am job hunting, I may turn to my network via LinkedIn to find a new role.
Two
Early Life
I struggled with math and science during high school and nearly received an F in honor physics. However, I excelled at humanities, social studies, and digital projects. Obviously, I had zero chance of becoming a doctor or engineer, but my talents as a future creative professional were beginning to emerge. I am still Facebook friends with a few of my high school teachers, coaches, and classmates.
Three
Begining College
I started college at Santa Clara University in California, studying political science. After a year of deep diving into this topic, I discovered I did not care about government, politics, or working as a lawyer. I was barely passing my classes and decided an easier, more budget-friendly college would be better for me since I was still finding my path (and partying pretty hard).
Four
Transferring Schools
I returned home to Seattle University and majored in communication studies to complete my Bachelor’s degree in 2016. Luckily, my undergraduate education was only the foundational stepping stone for bigger things to come.
Five
First Professional Experience
During my undergraduate education I had a pivotal internship at a company called PayScale. I wrote several blog articles on HR, compensation, and employment topics. My manager helped to coach me and showed me the ropes of working in a corporate environment. I set up my first LinkedIn account and saw glimpses of a successful future. Before this experience, I had little hope for a successful career.
Six
Toxic Job
I worked in event planning after college, but that job was horribly toxic. The pay was terrible, the people were catty, and the job made no sense. I was offered very little training or support. My mental health was completely shredded after that bad experience. Unfortunately, I was young and naïve and was made to feel like all jobs and companies had a similar work environment. Therefore, it was my fault that the job didn't work out.
Seven
Hitting a Rough Patch
Unfortunately, I had difficulty securing new employment after my first job experience went south. I was not qualified for the types of jobs I was interested in. The silver lining is that I became motivated to pursue a graduate degree because I realized I did not want to work at low-class companies for the rest of my career. My dreams got bigger!
Eight
Full-Time Party Animal
I went through a challenging phase of my life during my early 20s and experienced emotional turmoil after being fired from a toxic job. I got lost in my story, and it took me a while to get back on track. I was living on Capitol Hill and drinking heavily. My life was playful, fun, and chaotic! But ultimately, I planned to move on from this wild lifestyle.
Nine
Brighter Horizons Ahead
I studied for and passed the GRE and was admitted to graduate school. Unfortunately, there was a lot of drama during my MBA program at Seattle University, and I completely burned the bridge with my classmates and professors. However, I did make several connections with the alumni network, which is how I secured my most recent full-time role at CBRE.
Ten
Entering My Building Era
I joined Toastmasters International on December 11, 2020. Our club was completely virtual at the time because we were in a pandemic. I started as a terrible public speaker, but I slowly rose to become a seasoned club member by completing one project at a time. My presentation skills improved substantially, and my club friends have played a critical role in my professional development through their support and guidance. I have agreed to serve as an Area Director this year to visit multiple clubs in my district. This will allow me to meet people who work at top companies in the Seattle Area!
Eleven
Finding Success
My last full-time role at CBRE was a success. I have many new accomplishments to show for my two years of experience. My old coworkers speak highly of me and will serve as excellent references when I (eventually) secure my next full-time role. I am proud of myself for finally excelling in a role and learning to build relationships at work. Currently, I am working on connecting with other CBRE alumni and hosting coffee chats to explore potential companies for which I could work next.
Twelve
Rising
I am excited about earning a degree from my dream school, the University of Washington. It took me years to rise to the academic level needed to be accepted into this school. I hope my new “people first” approach to schoolwork will enable me to build strong relationships with my professors, peers, and alumni. I have already identified a mentor to work with using the Huskies@Work platform.
Thirteen
Seeking a New Role
As a student, I also have access to the Handshake platform, where I can sign up for employer-hosted events. I have attended virtual and in-person events to add more people to my network.
Professional Goal
After working a few entry-level jobs, I feel prepared for the next level of my career. Ultimately, my dream job title would be: Creative Digital Project Manager. I hope that the Master of Communication of Digital Media will help me to build the skills and connections I need to embark on this next chapter of my life.
Tessa Land
Tessara Smith
Created on October 30, 2024
Community and Network Map
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Transcript
One
Origin
My family of origin includes many successful individuals. My dad is a well-regarded salesman, and my mother is a nurse. CEOs, lawyers, and doctors are in my immediate circle of connections. I am privileged to have access to every educational opportunity in the world. Since I am job hunting, I may turn to my network via LinkedIn to find a new role.
Two
Early Life
I struggled with math and science during high school and nearly received an F in honor physics. However, I excelled at humanities, social studies, and digital projects. Obviously, I had zero chance of becoming a doctor or engineer, but my talents as a future creative professional were beginning to emerge. I am still Facebook friends with a few of my high school teachers, coaches, and classmates.
Three
Begining College
I started college at Santa Clara University in California, studying political science. After a year of deep diving into this topic, I discovered I did not care about government, politics, or working as a lawyer. I was barely passing my classes and decided an easier, more budget-friendly college would be better for me since I was still finding my path (and partying pretty hard).
Four
Transferring Schools
I returned home to Seattle University and majored in communication studies to complete my Bachelor’s degree in 2016. Luckily, my undergraduate education was only the foundational stepping stone for bigger things to come.
Five
First Professional Experience
During my undergraduate education I had a pivotal internship at a company called PayScale. I wrote several blog articles on HR, compensation, and employment topics. My manager helped to coach me and showed me the ropes of working in a corporate environment. I set up my first LinkedIn account and saw glimpses of a successful future. Before this experience, I had little hope for a successful career.
Six
Toxic Job
I worked in event planning after college, but that job was horribly toxic. The pay was terrible, the people were catty, and the job made no sense. I was offered very little training or support. My mental health was completely shredded after that bad experience. Unfortunately, I was young and naïve and was made to feel like all jobs and companies had a similar work environment. Therefore, it was my fault that the job didn't work out.
Seven
Hitting a Rough Patch
Unfortunately, I had difficulty securing new employment after my first job experience went south. I was not qualified for the types of jobs I was interested in. The silver lining is that I became motivated to pursue a graduate degree because I realized I did not want to work at low-class companies for the rest of my career. My dreams got bigger!
Eight
Full-Time Party Animal
I went through a challenging phase of my life during my early 20s and experienced emotional turmoil after being fired from a toxic job. I got lost in my story, and it took me a while to get back on track. I was living on Capitol Hill and drinking heavily. My life was playful, fun, and chaotic! But ultimately, I planned to move on from this wild lifestyle.
Nine
Brighter Horizons Ahead
I studied for and passed the GRE and was admitted to graduate school. Unfortunately, there was a lot of drama during my MBA program at Seattle University, and I completely burned the bridge with my classmates and professors. However, I did make several connections with the alumni network, which is how I secured my most recent full-time role at CBRE.
Ten
Entering My Building Era
I joined Toastmasters International on December 11, 2020. Our club was completely virtual at the time because we were in a pandemic. I started as a terrible public speaker, but I slowly rose to become a seasoned club member by completing one project at a time. My presentation skills improved substantially, and my club friends have played a critical role in my professional development through their support and guidance. I have agreed to serve as an Area Director this year to visit multiple clubs in my district. This will allow me to meet people who work at top companies in the Seattle Area!
Eleven
Finding Success
My last full-time role at CBRE was a success. I have many new accomplishments to show for my two years of experience. My old coworkers speak highly of me and will serve as excellent references when I (eventually) secure my next full-time role. I am proud of myself for finally excelling in a role and learning to build relationships at work. Currently, I am working on connecting with other CBRE alumni and hosting coffee chats to explore potential companies for which I could work next.
Twelve
Rising
I am excited about earning a degree from my dream school, the University of Washington. It took me years to rise to the academic level needed to be accepted into this school. I hope my new “people first” approach to schoolwork will enable me to build strong relationships with my professors, peers, and alumni. I have already identified a mentor to work with using the Huskies@Work platform.
Thirteen
Seeking a New Role
As a student, I also have access to the Handshake platform, where I can sign up for employer-hosted events. I have attended virtual and in-person events to add more people to my network.
Professional Goal
After working a few entry-level jobs, I feel prepared for the next level of my career. Ultimately, my dream job title would be: Creative Digital Project Manager. I hope that the Master of Communication of Digital Media will help me to build the skills and connections I need to embark on this next chapter of my life.