I joined the workforce when I was 16 years old. This job was my introduction to working while balancing school. It taught me valuable skills such as teamwork, customer service, and time management. Juggling both responsibilities for the first time helped me develop a strong work ethic and a sense of accountability.
This experience came during the COVID-19 pandemic. I worked two jobs to help support my family during the pandemic. Working two jobs simultaneously taught me about responsibility, independence, and time management, as I often had to shift from one job to the other on the same day. Eventually, I transitioned to only working at Chipotle, where I was promoted to certified trainer. In this role, I trained new hires and helped team members transition to different stations. This opportunity allowed me to take on more responsibility and become a reliable member of the team. It also reinforced my love for customer service and showed me how a positive work environment can significantly impact employee satisfaction and retention.
I started this role midway through my senior year of high school and continued into my freshman year of college. Here, I learned how to manage data sets, respond to emails, and order supplies for the company. I also learned the importance of supporting my colleagues, asking for help when needed, and prioritizing my mental health. This job further developed my organizational and communication skills.
I transitioned into healthcare as a Certified Nursing Assistant for a home healthcare organization. I had obtained my CNA license through my high school nursing program, which gave me the clinical experience I needed. In this role, I learned the true value of empathy and how to cater to the emotional and physical needs of patients. I loved building relationships with my patients and providing patient-centered care, ensuring they felt valued and supported. This experience helped me expand my communication skills and taught me the importance of compassionate care.
Working at CVS taught me how to handle conflict with both customers and coworkers, and it exposed me to the challenges of working in a fast-paced environment. I frequently worked extra shifts, especially when the store was short-staffed. It was a demanding job, but it honed my time management skills and helped me learn how to prioritize tasks effectively. I became adept to de-escalating tense situations, which was invaluable both in customer interactions and in managing my own stress.
This job was more responsibility intensive, especially while attending school full-time. It was a tough role, requiring late hours every day of the week, but it taught me the importance of balancing work, school, and personal well-being. To manage this, I began waking up at 4:30 AM to focus on my mental health, complete homework, and study before heading to class and then work. This experience helped me recognize when I was approaching burnout and taught me when to step back and prioritize self-care.
I worked for Sparta Sales for a summer job, which took me out of my comfort zone. I went door-to-door to gather donations for causes such as disaster relief, war aid, and healthcare initiatives like breast cancer research. This role pushed me to develop resilience, as I learned to handle rejection without taking it personally. It also taught me how to motivate others, adapt my approach based on the person I was speaking to, and improve my public speaking skills. By the end of my time there, I had increased my donations from zero to ten in a few hours, setting a record for the team.
Finally, I landed a job at Eskenazi Health, my dream organization. In this role, I've been able to focus on time management and commitment. I value the people I work with and have developed a greater appreciation for how different departments within a healthcare system collaborate to provide excellent patient care. Through this experience, I've seen firsthand how small acts of kindness can make a big difference, especially when it comes to supporting healthcare workers who may be having a tough day.