November 19, 2024 • 30 mins
Amidst the joyous chaos of the holiday season, we often forget to pause and appreciate the blessings right under our noses. On this episode of Coffee and Career Hour, we reflect on the blessings we have in our careers and what we appreciate most about the work that we do. We discuss the magic of witnessing growth in our clients and the beauty of working in a space where we can continue to explore, learn, and grow. We share personal stories of how childhood experiences shaped our views on stability and career paths, which has led us to the work that we do today.
We explore how stepping out of comfort zones can be a catalyst for growth, both personally and professionally. Fueled by supportive relationships, we've found inspiration in using modern tools like social media and podcasts to connect with and inspire diverse communities. It’s a celebration of character, resilience, and the transformative power of sharing knowledge and passion widely. Join us as we express gratitude for the wealth of opportunities available today that make such impactful connections possible.
This episode is an invitation to embrace gratitude, celebrate personal and professional achievements, and acknowledge the positive impacts we can make in our world. As the year draws to a close, we hope you'll join us in honoring the journey and the milestones along the way.
CareeRise: www.careerrise.org
CareerConfidence: www.careerconfidence.online
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- @ careerise_
- @ careerconfidentlatina
Follow Us on LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-jos%C3%A9-hidalgo-flores/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/akulikyan/
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi everybody, Welcome back to Coffee and Career Hour.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Happy November.
It's the middle of November.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Yes, how insane is that?
We were literally just talkingabout how it was the beginning
of November yesterday.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
And now it's like the middle of November by the time
you're listening to this podcastand Thanksgiving is the next
week.
If you celebrate Thanksgivinghere in the US, that is insane.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Yeah, yeah, truly so.
Time is flying.
The year is coming to an end,which is scary, yeah, scary, but
with that being said,thanksgiving being around the
corner and kind of starting off,kicking off the holidays.
This is a very reflective timefor a lot of folks and it's a
(00:49):
time to kind of, you know, thinkabout your past year, how
things have evolved, and expressgratitude for the blessings
that we have in our livesabsolutely.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
I think we don't do this enough in our lives.
I'm someone who you know,unfortunately does it when I
have long periods of likesilence in my life.
I don't do it amidst the chaos,and I need to do it more often.
So moments like this I reallydo take to heart to list out and
always reflect independently onthe things that I'm grateful
(01:24):
for in my life, because there'sso much, so much to be thankful
for.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Yeah, I know I wish it was something that was more
natural to us as human beings tojust think about the blessings
we have.
But I think it's a commonexperience that most folks don't
.
We were always running aroundfrom one thing to the next and
don't have that much time to sitdown and and reflect and
(01:51):
appreciate.
But I think it's so healthy todo that and at least you know
this.
This can be a space for us tomaybe create that time to do
that.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
A hundred percent and in career development,
self-assessment, knowing who youare reevaluating, assessing
your goals, your values, yourperson, is such a huge part of
the process as you're growingand becoming who you are and
with that it really comes downto us looking at you know, like
our gratitude, amongst ourcareers and how much we've grown
(02:23):
, changed and evolved over timeas well.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Yeah, yeah.
So today we want to really kindof reflect on that and the
things that we're grateful forin our work.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
What are you?
Speaker 2 (02:35):
grateful for MJ.
Yeah, I for me, I'm such apractical person in this sense
of I am so grateful for jobsecurity.
I'm someone who kind of grew up, you know, my dad owned his own
business for a time, for a longperiod of time, and my mom my
(02:56):
mom has bounced around fromfamily to family taking care of,
you know, the children andthings like that, and I was
constantly around this likeunderlying stress of will, will
one of my parents like not havework?
Even though it wasn't said orspoken, I grew up always
thinking that because I wouldhear conversations amongst them
(03:18):
and job security.
And my mom always told me whenI was younger, pick something
where you're going to have a job, no matter what's going on in
the world, something whereyou're going to have a job, no
matter what's going on in theworld, something where you're
going to have a job.
And the pandemic really was atestament to what type of
opportunities, what type of workis available in like one of the
worst times of humanity.
So, job security, waking upevery day and not having to
(03:42):
think like am I going to work,where am I going to work, how am
I going to make money, ends meall of that.
All of that really for mebrings a lot of peace, because
I've always grown up with thattype of anxiety.
So in the practical sense I'mbeyond just grateful to call the
place we have work and thenjust so much more for what we do
.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Yeah, I so resonate with that because I too am a
practical person and I actuallygot the same message as my
parents of like, pick a job thatis gonna be secure and that
you're gonna be able to knowthat there is stability in your
life.
And so I resonate with that.
And also that was one of thereasons why I was always so
(04:25):
afraid of entrepreneurship inthe beginning stages of
developing Career Rise.
And I remember asking mybrother when he started his
architectural company, like howdo you get clients and how do
you not worry about like what ifyou don't have another client
coming?
And he kind of like was baffledbecause to him he's always been
(04:48):
the entrepreneurial type and hewas, you know, he's like
opposite of me in that sense oflike wanting that freedom and
creativity, right, so notnecessarily seeking the nine to
five, and so for him he wasbaffled, Like you just do the
work and you do it well, andpeople, word of mouth, it comes
to you, and so forth.
(05:08):
And I was like, OK, well, I amso uncomfortable with that, but
I see it now as I become anentrepreneur and I understand
that mentality too.
But with the work that we do atUCLA, I'm very, very grateful
for the job security.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Yeah, job security, and I think one of the things
that comes with this is thatthat sense of you and I do do a
job and have a career that we'repassionate for, that we don't
necessarily have to think likeor put an extra thought of like,
do I have to go into anindustry or what type of
industry do I have to go intothat could lay me off right or
(05:47):
could lack in some type of way,or currently one of the themes
in our world is is AI going totake over our job?
And you and I don't have toworry about that for now, right,
like for now.
So that, like practical sense,is something that I constantly
think about, because I come froma very collectivist family.
(06:07):
I come from a very collectivistfamily right and a culture
where there's a lot ofresponsibility and taking care
of others and all those types ofthings.
So just knowing that I havesomething to wake up, to look
forward to and, most importantlyfor me, like make a difference,
is just huge.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Yeah, I love that and the ability to be able to take
care of the people that you loveis so huge in a lot of first
gen folks, right, both of us canresonate with that.
Where you're like the first onein your family to get that
stable job and get that like theone with the benefits and
(06:46):
everything, and then you canlike extend that to your family,
is huge, it makes a differenceand those are the types of
experiences that allow us tokind of break those generational
patterns of maybe being lowincome or being in poverty and
not having the resourcesavailable to us, right?
So being first gen and beingthe first one in your family to
(07:07):
be able to provide that to thepeople that you love literally
changes people's lives.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
A hundred percent.
I can't tell you how manypeople from my family, but like
my partner's extended family andlike people that I've known who
are like what?
Like you have like a full-timejob and you have an office and
you have all these differentthings and they're like well,
well, can you help me in thisway and you just get to really
expand what is yours into somuch more than you would have
(07:34):
thought and that, like we we'rein a career of service and
service to others and that, forlike for me that's my purpose is
to serve um, it's just huge.
So, like that sense is justamazing for me.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
I agree.
That is such a beautiful thingto feel about your career, right
?
What are some other things thatyou are grateful for, for our
jobs.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Oh, if we think like the actual work.
Something I'm not grateful foris emails, but something I am
grateful for is, honestly, theindependence and freedom that we
.
It sounds like very 4th of July, but it's true.
I think in our rolespecifically as educators, we
(08:21):
have the opportunity to educatethe way we see fit for the
topics and areas that we serve,right.
So Armine and I have theopportunity to evaluate the
student populations we work withand say, okay, we're noticing
this need, we're going to goahead and move forward with this
initiative or this program orthis content.
(08:42):
You and I really do get a lotof space to be creative and
strategic and be a leader for alot of these students in ways
where I don't think a lot ofother places give that
opportunity.
And for me, as coming into thisrole specifically at UCLA as an
(09:03):
early and new professional, I'mjust so amazed at how much
trust is put into our decisionsand our strategic vision for who
we serve, so that, for me, isjust huge.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Oh my gosh.
Yes, I mean.
The space that we have to trynew things and be creative,
based on the needs andchallenges we're seeing of the
people that we serve is soimportant, because you know what
it is.
It allows us to be intentionalabout the work that we do and
like to, to really be thoughtfulabout okay, this is what we're
(09:39):
seeing how can we best supportour student population and so
that that allows us to utilizeour skills, our knowledge, to
get creative?
I don't think I could ever workin a space where they don't
allow space for creativity andtrying new things, because I
think that's such an importantpart of like learning and
developing as a professional aswell.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Yeah, I'm thinking about like this is going to be
my third year teaching and I amso grateful that the coordinator
that I have, the person whohired me to teach she's like I
trust you, you know what you'redoing, right, like all of these
different aspects, I am someonewho really values trust.
So when someone trusts me andgives me that sense of
(10:23):
responsibility, I take that likesuper seriously.
So the fact that they like giveme the space to educate these
you know these grad students inthe way that is going to benefit
them for what they want to do,is just a beyond.
Because I think if I were tohave like a micromanager in
different spaces or in differentaspects, I don't know that I
would do like the best type ofwork because I'd be so focused
(10:47):
on making sure that this personis at peace, but it's like space
to to be just awesome and beourselves yeah, yeah, because a
space like that can be verylimiting, where you you can't
even like try out differentskills and figure out what you
do well as a professional ifyou're not allowed that space to
try right.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
So I'm super, super grateful for that as well, in
the spaces that we are in.
Along with that same note, Ireally, really am grateful for
the culture that we have at ourcenter, at our office, because
it is very much focusing on,like, personal development, not
not only professionaldevelopment, but personally as
(11:30):
well.
I think we grow so much.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Yeah, I mean I'm so grateful at the person that I'm
looking at right now.
She has just been an amazingmentor, friend.
Anything you can think ofArminie to me is like family.
So it's my job has allowed meto get super close to certain
people and really just createlike, make them a priority in my
(11:53):
life.
Something that I'll take like aspin on is how this experience
of like developing and creatingmy own brand in the sense of who
I am as a student affairseducator, but also like on
social media and in thecommunity, the communities that
we've been able to build throughthe impact of our work outside
(12:13):
of our jobs has been somethingthat I have always wanted and
never knew I could do until Imet you, never felt capable of
doing until I met you, until,like you, you sparked whatever
what was inside of me to do itand you truly like inspired me
(12:35):
to, to have faith in myself andthe confidence to build career
confident Latina and me that onits own, I like owe so much to
you.
But to do that through thislens of career development is
just truly amazing to see howmany people have grown, how many
people have been impacted, howmany people have been empowered
(12:57):
just by, like me, posting randomthings about my life and my
everyday career.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Yeah, yeah.
First of all, you continue toinspire me every day, literally
seeing you I actually wastelling my husband this the
other day I was like MJ isnaturally the type of person who
goes above and beyond foreverything.
I'm thinking of a particularsituation that recently happened
that we won't get into in thissession, that is, is not
(13:25):
necessarily work-related, butaround our work setting, and
literally you went above andbeyond and you didn't have to.
It was not something whereanybody was gonna see it or give
you credit to it or anythinglike that, but it was out of the
goodness of your heart and itjust shows character in you that
you want to do things reallywell and you want to do it
(13:47):
because you care about thepeople that you're doing it for
and that inspires so many peoplearound you.
You don't even realize that,and me included, because every
day I'm like I want to be thebest version of myself because
of MJ, because she yeah, it'strue, and so I owe that
gratitude to you, my dear.
But with that being said, andlike developing Career Rise as
(14:10):
well, I'm so glad to know thatit inspired at least one person
you know to go out and like dothe things that they want to do
and get out of their comfortzone.
Because, ultimately, careerdevelopment is about trying new
things and getting out of yourcomfort zone, and so it sounds
like just with you and tryingyour own business.
Career Rise was able to inspireyou to do that.
(14:32):
So I'm really grateful to beable to have that reach and like
bring in all that careerknowledge and share it with the
general population, with anybodywho wants and needs this kind
of content, because it's greatto do it in a work setting with
the targeted population, becauseit's great to do it in a work
setting with the targetedpopulation that's amazing in and
(14:53):
of itself already.
But to have the tools andresources and actually really to
be living in a time where wecan do a podcast and talk about
whatever we want to talk about.
I think about this a lotsometimes when I'm seeing more
and more people come out withpodcasts and people come out
with businesses, and I'm likeit's amazing the way the world
of work is evolving in thatsense, because it gives people
that freedom and ability toactually do good for the world
(15:16):
in these ways when we didn'thave these resources 20, 30
years ago.
So I'm grateful to be living inthis time and have those tools
and resources to actually sharethat knowledge and passion with
the general population.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Yeah, I, I, I honestly I don't know how hard I
can second that, but like theability that the way the world
is now and how people receiveinformation and resource, it's
at the, it's at the touch oftheir fingertips, and this, like
the ability to speak here andit can go across countries, like
countries and, and and andpeople will take whatever we say
(15:53):
.
And you know like we do this forreal, like we're not just like
two random people who just givecareer advice, but like take
this and create actual changeand purpose in their life is
just beyond beyond me, and andsomething that I think our
listeners can take from this too, is, if you've ever had the
feeling of wanting to dosomething and you're like, oh, I
don't, you know, like it'ssilly, or it's going to take too
(16:14):
much time, or I don't havewhatever excuse, don't let that
stop you.
Go for it.
You're, you're giving, you'reforcing yourself, like Armani
said earlier, to be limited inthat aspect.
If you're learning anythingfrom what we're saying now, just
go for it.
See where it takes you and, atthe end of the day, you're going
to grow and learn from whateverlessons happen 100%.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
I mean that's what career development is all about,
right?
We talk a lot about the careerdevelopment cycle.
We've talked about it on thepod, we've talked about it in
our presentations before,whether it's at UCLA or it's
through our like businesses.
When we present, we talk aboutthe career development cycle and
we always say it's a lifelongcycle, that we're continuously
going to go through this cyclewhere we reevaluate every few
(16:59):
years Like where am I now?
What are my values now?
What is my lifestyle now?
And things are going to evolveLike you don't want to be in the
same place for 30 years.
I mean that's probably notideal, right?
As a human being, you want todevelop, you want to grow.
We are dynamic.
So going through that cycle andallowing yourself the space to
(17:20):
try and learn and fail and growis really what life is all about
right.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
It's funny you say that as weirdly, as weird as
this can sound, I have.
A lot of interesting thingshave happened to me this year,
in 2024.
And the opportunity to make amistake fall, learn from it or
not make a mistake, be blamedfor it.
It learn from that experience,like all of that combined and so
(17:51):
many other things that I'vejust been like I don't know, I
don't.
I know this.
This stuff is happening for areason and there's a purpose
behind it.
But the opportunity really tolearn so much this year and grow
, I feel it in bones, but I feelit in, like my career heart
even more because I've changed alot in the last, in the last
(18:11):
year, where I I don't, likesomeone said just yesterday,
like where's the old MJ, likewhere did she go and who is this
new person.
And that's just because I'vegrown so much from how I've
developed throughout my earlyyears of my career and I'm now
moving in a different direction,same path up, but just as a
(18:31):
different human.
I think, with so much that I somuch baggage in a positive way,
not baggage in a negative waythat I can carry in and pull and
use at any moment in time.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Yeah, we were literally talking about how much
you've changed and the way youdo your work has evolved in the
past year, and we werereflecting on when you first
started your job at UCLA and howthings have shifted.
So it's just amazing, amazing,how much one year can change.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Truly.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Yeah.
So, with that being said, someother things that we are
grateful for, like we're talkinga lot about.
You know our own growth andseeing our own growth right and
through our perspectives asfriends, as colleagues.
But another big piece of thework that we do is actually
witnessing other people's workand, oh my gosh, that's probably
(19:48):
also in interviews, too, whenpeople ask, like, what is your
favorite thing about the workthat you do?
Anytime anyone does like aninformational interview with me
or somebody in an actualinterview setting asks me that
is my answer is witnessing thegrowth and development of the
people that I am working with,like students, whether it's
student staff or students whocome into the Center for
Services, because when you seethe light bulb go off, you see
them coming to realizations, yousee them evolving and gaining
more clarity over time.
It's just the best feelingwhere they come back to you and
they tell you I got the job or Igot into graduate school.
It's like you have been therewith them from step one and your
(20:08):
heart has been there with them.
You literally think about themafter work hours too, like, did
they submit their application,what happened?
So hearing them come back andtell you the next steps and that
they've reached that nextmilestone is just like beyond.
It's so amazing.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
It's one of those things where it warms my heart
and we see thousands of clientslike I.
We've seen over the collectiveyears that we just blossom into
who they're meant to be throughcollege after college and where
(20:53):
they're.
Where they are now is justsomething where I'm like, oh my
gosh, like I, I was a small partof that person's journey, right
like like a small part who saidsomething or helped them with
whatever question they had.
And now like look where theyare.
And it's something I'mrealizing this year,
specifically when I started myjob at UCLA, all my second years
(21:17):
are now seniors and they'regraduating.
And they were babies when I metthem and we talk all the time
about how I was, like do youremember our first appointment
and all these different thingsand where they are now.
But I think that's just humandevelopment and it's it's a
beautiful, beautiful part of ourjob because, yes, the technical
things of career, but just lifeand and growth overall is is
(21:40):
one of the best things.
I think I agree with you fromthis job too.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Yeah, no, it's truly magical.
I think that's the magic andthe appeal for why many, many
people actually becomecounselors and work specifically
in higher ed, but also maybe inother healthy professions too,
is really helping and seeingthat growth in the clients that
they work with.
And yeah, it's like sometimeswhen they come back as a senior
and they're like laughing atthemselves like two years ago
(22:07):
and the issues that they werefacing and now they were
freaking out so much about thesmallest thing, but it felt so
big for them at that time, andthen they come back to you and
they're like, oh my gosh, Ican't believe, like that's how I
was thinking back then, andlike they laugh at themselves.
Those are like I love thosekinds of conversations because
I'm like, you see, like it's beokay, we've had, we've talked
(22:28):
about that, and now they'verealized and it all has worked
out in one way or another andthey're seeing the bigger
picture and things and that'sjust beautiful.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Yeah, recently.
So my first, my first evercareer career confidence client
was looking to apply to gradschool.
I met with them over a seriesof time and I remember like they
were coming from a space wherethey were nervous about applying
and were completely unsure.
And the first time we met itwas more like informational
(22:57):
interviewee.
And then they started gradschool this fall and I remember
texting them on their first daybeing like you know, like good
luck, I'm excited for you, I'mso proud of you all these
different things.
And recently I got a messagebeing like MJ.
I just want to tell you like Ilove my program and I wouldn't
be here without you and I'vegrown so much and all these
different things, and I was like, oh, a year ago this person was
(23:20):
doubting, right, like washesitant to even do this or was
thinking about it, and now herethey are, like so different and
in a program that suits them andin meeting new people and just
growing in all sorts ofdifferent ways.
It's just beautiful.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Yeah, it truly is.
And you know what else?
It's also really inspiring.
So I think about this a lot too.
It's, yes, it's amazing to seethe growth, but also there have
been so many times I've beeninspired by my students and
clients, specifically when Ihear their life stories and the
challenges that some folks havefaced.
(23:55):
I've read personal statementsthat have made me cry.
I've sat in a session with astudent and started crying with
them because of the challengesand the experiences they've had
and they've still persevered.
They're still doing the best tomove on, like, to the next step
in advance in their career.
(24:17):
There's one particular studentthat you and I have both worked
with.
Literally every time I meetwith this person, I want to like
, I get inspired and I'm moved.
I'm moved by how much howresilient they are and how much
they're persevering despite somany challenges they face and I
have many different experienceswith other students like that
(24:37):
too, and it only is so humblingfor me as a counselor to see
time literally anytime someonein my personal life talks about
not being grateful or likethings being not ideal in their
life, I will tell them do youhave any idea the challenges my
clients have faced and theamount of perseverance they have
(25:01):
.
So you know, like looking atlife and in that capacity, like
the bigger picture of things andand seeing how other people can
persevere, and it's inspiringreally.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
I couldn't agree more , and I'm thinking about how you
know, in our roles, like, if wethink about it traditionally,
we should be the ones who areinspiring and helping them and
doing all these things.
But in reality, when you're inthis profession, you're learning
more.
You learn so much more everytime you meet with someone new
and the clients, the experiencesthat we've heard, the stories
(25:37):
we've heard I just stand in aweand I'm like I am so privileged
I sit in such a privileged seatat so many different tables,
just to be the person thatserves this community and is
responsible for educating them,for them to get to their next
step right.
So it's just.
It really is an honor and aprivilege to be on their side,
always cheering for them andjust witnessing their
(26:00):
achievements, right From wherethey come from, where they are
and where they end up beingwhere they end up being.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
Yeah, it is.
It's magical.
So we are super grateful forthe work that we do and, with
Thanksgiving around the cornerand just the holidays overall
around the corner, we wanted toreally just reflect on the
amazing things about the workthat we do and why we're so
thankful and happy to be doingthis work.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Yeah, If you are out there feeling any types of ways,
we invite you to reflect on amoment of gratitude, whether
that's in your career, in yourjob, in your life, whether
you're doing what you want to door maybe not yet.
Whatever that looks like foryou, take a moment to kind of
reflect, let us know how, whatyou're thinking about, what
(26:49):
you're grateful for.
You can DM us, you can messageus, you can find us on all
different platforms, and we lookforward to hearing your
thoughts on your gratefulness inthis month.
Hi everybody, Welcome back to Coffee and Career Hour.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Happy November.
It's the middle of November.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Yes, how insane is that?
We were literally just talkingabout how it was the beginning
of November yesterday.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
And now it's like the middle of November by the time
you're listening to this podcastand Thanksgiving is the next
week.
If you celebrate Thanksgivinghere in the US, that is insane.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Yeah, yeah, truly so.
Time is flying.
The year is coming to an end,which is scary, yeah, scary, but
with that being said,thanksgiving being around the
corner and kind of starting off,kicking off the holidays.
This is a very reflective timefor a lot of folks and it's a
(00:49):
time to kind of, you know, thinkabout your past year, how
things have evolved, and expressgratitude for the blessings
that we have in our livesabsolutely.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
I think we don't do this enough in our lives.
I'm someone who you know,unfortunately does it when I
have long periods of likesilence in my life.
I don't do it amidst the chaos,and I need to do it more often.
So moments like this I reallydo take to heart to list out and
always reflect independently onthe things that I'm grateful
(01:24):
for in my life, because there'sso much, so much to be thankful
for.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Yeah, I know I wish it was something that was more
natural to us as human beings tojust think about the blessings
we have.
But I think it's a commonexperience that most folks don't
.
We were always running aroundfrom one thing to the next and
don't have that much time to sitdown and and reflect and
(01:51):
appreciate.
But I think it's so healthy todo that and at least you know
this.
This can be a space for us tomaybe create that time to do
that.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
A hundred percent and in career development,
self-assessment, knowing who youare reevaluating, assessing
your goals, your values, yourperson, is such a huge part of
the process as you're growingand becoming who you are and
with that it really comes downto us looking at you know, like
our gratitude, amongst ourcareers and how much we've grown
(02:23):
, changed and evolved over timeas well.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Yeah, yeah.
So today we want to really kindof reflect on that and the
things that we're grateful forin our work.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
What are you?
Speaker 2 (02:35):
grateful for MJ.
Yeah, I for me, I'm such apractical person in this sense
of I am so grateful for jobsecurity.
I'm someone who kind of grew up, you know, my dad owned his own
business for a time, for a longperiod of time, and my mom my
(02:56):
mom has bounced around fromfamily to family taking care of,
you know, the children andthings like that, and I was
constantly around this likeunderlying stress of will, will
one of my parents like not havework?
Even though it wasn't said orspoken, I grew up always
thinking that because I wouldhear conversations amongst them
(03:18):
and job security.
And my mom always told me whenI was younger, pick something
where you're going to have a job, no matter what's going on in
the world, something whereyou're going to have a job, no
matter what's going on in theworld, something where you're
going to have a job.
And the pandemic really was atestament to what type of
opportunities, what type of workis available in like one of the
worst times of humanity.
So, job security, waking upevery day and not having to
(03:42):
think like am I going to work,where am I going to work, how am
I going to make money, ends meall of that.
All of that really for mebrings a lot of peace, because
I've always grown up with thattype of anxiety.
So in the practical sense I'mbeyond just grateful to call the
place we have work and thenjust so much more for what we do
.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Yeah, I so resonate with that because I too am a
practical person and I actuallygot the same message as my
parents of like, pick a job thatis gonna be secure and that
you're gonna be able to knowthat there is stability in your
life.
And so I resonate with that.
And also that was one of thereasons why I was always so
(04:25):
afraid of entrepreneurship inthe beginning stages of
developing Career Rise.
And I remember asking mybrother when he started his
architectural company, like howdo you get clients and how do
you not worry about like what ifyou don't have another client
coming?
And he kind of like was baffledbecause to him he's always been
(04:48):
the entrepreneurial type and hewas, you know, he's like
opposite of me in that sense oflike wanting that freedom and
creativity, right, so notnecessarily seeking the nine to
five, and so for him he wasbaffled, Like you just do the
work and you do it well, andpeople, word of mouth, it comes
to you, and so forth.
(05:08):
And I was like, OK, well, I amso uncomfortable with that, but
I see it now as I become anentrepreneur and I understand
that mentality too.
But with the work that we do atUCLA, I'm very, very grateful
for the job security.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Yeah, job security, and I think one of the things
that comes with this is thatthat sense of you and I do do a
job and have a career that we'repassionate for, that we don't
necessarily have to think likeor put an extra thought of like,
do I have to go into anindustry or what type of
industry do I have to go intothat could lay me off right or
(05:47):
could lack in some type of way,or currently one of the themes
in our world is is AI going totake over our job?
And you and I don't have toworry about that for now, right,
like for now.
So that, like practical sense,is something that I constantly
think about, because I come froma very collectivist family.
(06:07):
I come from a very collectivistfamily right and a culture
where there's a lot ofresponsibility and taking care
of others and all those types ofthings.
So just knowing that I havesomething to wake up, to look
forward to and, most importantlyfor me, like make a difference,
is just huge.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
Yeah, I love that and the ability to be able to take
care of the people that you loveis so huge in a lot of first
gen folks, right, both of us canresonate with that.
Where you're like the first onein your family to get that
stable job and get that like theone with the benefits and
(06:46):
everything, and then you canlike extend that to your family,
is huge, it makes a differenceand those are the types of
experiences that allow us tokind of break those generational
patterns of maybe being lowincome or being in poverty and
not having the resourcesavailable to us, right?
So being first gen and beingthe first one in your family to
(07:07):
be able to provide that to thepeople that you love literally
changes people's lives.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
A hundred percent.
I can't tell you how manypeople from my family, but like
my partner's extended family andlike people that I've known who
are like what?
Like you have like a full-timejob and you have an office and
you have all these differentthings and they're like well,
well, can you help me in thisway and you just get to really
expand what is yours into somuch more than you would have
(07:34):
thought and that, like we we'rein a career of service and
service to others and that, forlike for me that's my purpose is
to serve um, it's just huge.
So, like that sense is justamazing for me.
Speaker 1 (07:49):
I agree.
That is such a beautiful thingto feel about your career, right
?
What are some other things thatyou are grateful for, for our
jobs.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
Oh, if we think like the actual work.
Something I'm not grateful foris emails, but something I am
grateful for is, honestly, theindependence and freedom that we
.
It sounds like very 4th of July, but it's true.
I think in our rolespecifically as educators, we
(08:21):
have the opportunity to educatethe way we see fit for the
topics and areas that we serve,right.
So Armine and I have theopportunity to evaluate the
student populations we work withand say, okay, we're noticing
this need, we're going to goahead and move forward with this
initiative or this program orthis content.
(08:42):
You and I really do get a lotof space to be creative and
strategic and be a leader for alot of these students in ways
where I don't think a lot ofother places give that
opportunity.
And for me, as coming into thisrole specifically at UCLA as an
(09:03):
early and new professional, I'mjust so amazed at how much
trust is put into our decisionsand our strategic vision for who
we serve, so that, for me, isjust huge.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Oh my gosh.
Yes, I mean.
The space that we have to trynew things and be creative,
based on the needs andchallenges we're seeing of the
people that we serve is soimportant, because you know what
it is.
It allows us to be intentionalabout the work that we do and
like to, to really be thoughtfulabout okay, this is what we're
(09:39):
seeing how can we best supportour student population and so
that that allows us to utilizeour skills, our knowledge, to
get creative?
I don't think I could ever workin a space where they don't
allow space for creativity andtrying new things, because I
think that's such an importantpart of like learning and
developing as a professional aswell.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Yeah, I'm thinking about like this is going to be
my third year teaching and I amso grateful that the coordinator
that I have, the person whohired me to teach she's like I
trust you, you know what you'redoing, right, like all of these
different aspects, I am someonewho really values trust.
So when someone trusts me andgives me that sense of
(10:23):
responsibility, I take that likesuper seriously.
So the fact that they like giveme the space to educate these
you know these grad students inthe way that is going to benefit
them for what they want to do,is just a beyond.
Because I think if I were tohave like a micromanager in
different spaces or in differentaspects, I don't know that I
would do like the best type ofwork because I'd be so focused
(10:47):
on making sure that this personis at peace, but it's like space
to to be just awesome and beourselves yeah, yeah, because a
space like that can be verylimiting, where you you can't
even like try out differentskills and figure out what you
do well as a professional ifyou're not allowed that space to
try right.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
So I'm super, super grateful for that as well, in
the spaces that we are in.
Along with that same note, Ireally, really am grateful for
the culture that we have at ourcenter, at our office, because
it is very much focusing on,like, personal development, not
not only professionaldevelopment, but personally as
(11:30):
well.
I think we grow so much.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Yeah, I mean I'm so grateful at the person that I'm
looking at right now.
She has just been an amazingmentor, friend.
Anything you can think ofArminie to me is like family.
So it's my job has allowed meto get super close to certain
people and really just createlike, make them a priority in my
(11:53):
life.
Something that I'll take like aspin on is how this experience
of like developing and creatingmy own brand in the sense of who
I am as a student affairseducator, but also like on
social media and in thecommunity, the communities that
we've been able to build throughthe impact of our work outside
(12:13):
of our jobs has been somethingthat I have always wanted and
never knew I could do until Imet you, never felt capable of
doing until I met you, until,like you, you sparked whatever
what was inside of me to do itand you truly like inspired me
(12:35):
to, to have faith in myself andthe confidence to build career
confident Latina and me that onits own, I like owe so much to
you.
But to do that through thislens of career development is
just truly amazing to see howmany people have grown, how many
people have been impacted, howmany people have been empowered
(12:57):
just by, like me, posting randomthings about my life and my
everyday career.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Yeah, yeah.
First of all, you continue toinspire me every day, literally
seeing you I actually wastelling my husband this the
other day I was like MJ isnaturally the type of person who
goes above and beyond foreverything.
I'm thinking of a particularsituation that recently happened
that we won't get into in thissession, that is, is not
(13:25):
necessarily work-related, butaround our work setting, and
literally you went above andbeyond and you didn't have to.
It was not something whereanybody was gonna see it or give
you credit to it or anythinglike that, but it was out of the
goodness of your heart and itjust shows character in you that
you want to do things reallywell and you want to do it
(13:47):
because you care about thepeople that you're doing it for
and that inspires so many peoplearound you.
You don't even realize that,and me included, because every
day I'm like I want to be thebest version of myself because
of MJ, because she yeah, it'strue, and so I owe that
gratitude to you, my dear.
But with that being said, andlike developing Career Rise as
(14:10):
well, I'm so glad to know thatit inspired at least one person
you know to go out and like dothe things that they want to do
and get out of their comfortzone.
Because, ultimately, careerdevelopment is about trying new
things and getting out of yourcomfort zone, and so it sounds
like just with you and tryingyour own business.
Career Rise was able to inspireyou to do that.
(14:32):
So I'm really grateful to beable to have that reach and like
bring in all that careerknowledge and share it with the
general population, with anybodywho wants and needs this kind
of content, because it's greatto do it in a work setting with
the targeted population, becauseit's great to do it in a work
setting with the targetedpopulation that's amazing in and
(14:53):
of itself already.
But to have the tools andresources and actually really to
be living in a time where wecan do a podcast and talk about
whatever we want to talk about.
I think about this a lotsometimes when I'm seeing more
and more people come out withpodcasts and people come out
with businesses, and I'm likeit's amazing the way the world
of work is evolving in thatsense, because it gives people
that freedom and ability toactually do good for the world
(15:16):
in these ways when we didn'thave these resources 20, 30
years ago.
So I'm grateful to be living inthis time and have those tools
and resources to actually sharethat knowledge and passion with
the general population.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Yeah, I, I, I honestly I don't know how hard I
can second that, but like theability that the way the world
is now and how people receiveinformation and resource, it's
at the, it's at the touch oftheir fingertips, and this, like
the ability to speak here andit can go across countries, like
countries and, and and andpeople will take whatever we say
(15:53):
.
And you know like we do this forreal, like we're not just like
two random people who just givecareer advice, but like take
this and create actual changeand purpose in their life is
just beyond beyond me, and andsomething that I think our
listeners can take from this too, is, if you've ever had the
feeling of wanting to dosomething and you're like, oh, I
don't, you know, like it'ssilly, or it's going to take too
(16:14):
much time, or I don't havewhatever excuse, don't let that
stop you.
Go for it.
You're, you're giving, you'reforcing yourself, like Armani
said earlier, to be limited inthat aspect.
If you're learning anythingfrom what we're saying now, just
go for it.
See where it takes you and, atthe end of the day, you're going
to grow and learn from whateverlessons happen 100%.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
I mean that's what career development is all about,
right?
We talk a lot about the careerdevelopment cycle.
We've talked about it on thepod, we've talked about it in
our presentations before,whether it's at UCLA or it's
through our like businesses.
When we present, we talk aboutthe career development cycle and
we always say it's a lifelongcycle, that we're continuously
going to go through this cyclewhere we reevaluate every few
(16:59):
years Like where am I now?
What are my values now?
What is my lifestyle now?
And things are going to evolveLike you don't want to be in the
same place for 30 years.
I mean that's probably notideal, right?
As a human being, you want todevelop, you want to grow.
We are dynamic.
So going through that cycle andallowing yourself the space to
(17:20):
try and learn and fail and growis really what life is all about
right.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
It's funny you say that as weirdly, as weird as
this can sound, I have.
A lot of interesting thingshave happened to me this year,
in 2024.
And the opportunity to make amistake fall, learn from it or
not make a mistake, be blamedfor it.
It learn from that experience,like all of that combined and so
(17:51):
many other things that I'vejust been like I don't know, I
don't.
I know this.
This stuff is happening for areason and there's a purpose
behind it.
But the opportunity really tolearn so much this year and grow
, I feel it in bones, but I feelit in, like my career heart
even more because I've changed alot in the last, in the last
(18:11):
year, where I I don't, likesomeone said just yesterday,
like where's the old MJ, likewhere did she go and who is this
new person.
And that's just because I'vegrown so much from how I've
developed throughout my earlyyears of my career and I'm now
moving in a different direction,same path up, but just as a
(18:31):
different human.
I think, with so much that I somuch baggage in a positive way,
not baggage in a negative waythat I can carry in and pull and
use at any moment in time.
Speaker 1 (18:41):
Yeah, we were literally talking about how much
you've changed and the way youdo your work has evolved in the
past year, and we werereflecting on when you first
started your job at UCLA and howthings have shifted.
So it's just amazing, amazing,how much one year can change.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Truly.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Yeah.
So, with that being said, someother things that we are
grateful for, like we're talkinga lot about.
You know our own growth andseeing our own growth right and
through our perspectives asfriends, as colleagues.
But another big piece of thework that we do is actually
witnessing other people's workand, oh my gosh, that's probably
(19:48):
also in interviews, too, whenpeople ask, like, what is your
favorite thing about the workthat you do?
Anytime anyone does like aninformational interview with me
or somebody in an actualinterview setting asks me that
is my answer is witnessing thegrowth and development of the
people that I am working with,like students, whether it's
student staff or students whocome into the Center for
Services, because when you seethe light bulb go off, you see
them coming to realizations, yousee them evolving and gaining
more clarity over time.
It's just the best feelingwhere they come back to you and
they tell you I got the job or Igot into graduate school.
It's like you have been therewith them from step one and your
(20:08):
heart has been there with them.
You literally think about themafter work hours too, like, did
they submit their application,what happened?
So hearing them come back andtell you the next steps and that
they've reached that nextmilestone is just like beyond.
It's so amazing.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
It's one of those things where it warms my heart
and we see thousands of clientslike I.
We've seen over the collectiveyears that we just blossom into
who they're meant to be throughcollege after college and where
(20:53):
they're.
Where they are now is justsomething where I'm like, oh my
gosh, like I, I was a small partof that person's journey, right
like like a small part who saidsomething or helped them with
whatever question they had.
And now like look where theyare.
And it's something I'mrealizing this year,
specifically when I started myjob at UCLA, all my second years
(21:17):
are now seniors and they'regraduating.
And they were babies when I metthem and we talk all the time
about how I was, like do youremember our first appointment
and all these different thingsand where they are now.
But I think that's just humandevelopment and it's it's a
beautiful, beautiful part of ourjob because, yes, the technical
things of career, but just lifeand and growth overall is is
(21:40):
one of the best things.
I think I agree with you fromthis job too.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Yeah, no, it's truly magical.
I think that's the magic andthe appeal for why many, many
people actually becomecounselors and work specifically
in higher ed, but also maybe inother healthy professions too,
is really helping and seeingthat growth in the clients that
they work with.
And yeah, it's like sometimeswhen they come back as a senior
and they're like laughing atthemselves like two years ago
(22:07):
and the issues that they werefacing and now they were
freaking out so much about thesmallest thing, but it felt so
big for them at that time, andthen they come back to you and
they're like, oh my gosh, Ican't believe, like that's how I
was thinking back then, andlike they laugh at themselves.
Those are like I love thosekinds of conversations because
I'm like, you see, like it's beokay, we've had, we've talked
(22:28):
about that, and now they'verealized and it all has worked
out in one way or another andthey're seeing the bigger
picture and things and that'sjust beautiful.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Yeah, recently.
So my first, my first evercareer career confidence client
was looking to apply to gradschool.
I met with them over a seriesof time and I remember like they
were coming from a space wherethey were nervous about applying
and were completely unsure.
And the first time we met itwas more like informational
(22:57):
interviewee.
And then they started gradschool this fall and I remember
texting them on their first daybeing like you know, like good
luck, I'm excited for you, I'mso proud of you all these
different things.
And recently I got a messagebeing like MJ.
I just want to tell you like Ilove my program and I wouldn't
be here without you and I'vegrown so much and all these
different things, and I was like, oh, a year ago this person was
(23:20):
doubting, right, like washesitant to even do this or was
thinking about it, and now herethey are, like so different and
in a program that suits them andin meeting new people and just
growing in all sorts ofdifferent ways.
It's just beautiful.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Yeah, it truly is.
And you know what else?
It's also really inspiring.
So I think about this a lot too.
It's, yes, it's amazing to seethe growth, but also there have
been so many times I've beeninspired by my students and
clients, specifically when Ihear their life stories and the
challenges that some folks havefaced.
(23:55):
I've read personal statementsthat have made me cry.
I've sat in a session with astudent and started crying with
them because of the challengesand the experiences they've had
and they've still persevered.
They're still doing the best tomove on, like, to the next step
in advance in their career.
(24:17):
There's one particular studentthat you and I have both worked
with.
Literally every time I meetwith this person, I want to like
, I get inspired and I'm moved.
I'm moved by how much howresilient they are and how much
they're persevering despite somany challenges they face and I
have many different experienceswith other students like that
(24:37):
too, and it only is so humblingfor me as a counselor to see
time literally anytime someonein my personal life talks about
not being grateful or likethings being not ideal in their
life, I will tell them do youhave any idea the challenges my
clients have faced and theamount of perseverance they have
(25:01):
.
So you know, like looking atlife and in that capacity, like
the bigger picture of things andand seeing how other people can
persevere, and it's inspiringreally.
Speaker 2 (25:12):
I couldn't agree more , and I'm thinking about how you
know, in our roles, like, if wethink about it traditionally,
we should be the ones who areinspiring and helping them and
doing all these things.
But in reality, when you're inthis profession, you're learning
more.
You learn so much more everytime you meet with someone new
and the clients, the experiencesthat we've heard, the stories
(25:37):
we've heard I just stand in aweand I'm like I am so privileged
I sit in such a privileged seatat so many different tables,
just to be the person thatserves this community and is
responsible for educating them,for them to get to their next
step right.
So it's just.
It really is an honor and aprivilege to be on their side,
always cheering for them andjust witnessing their
(26:00):
achievements, right From wherethey come from, where they are
and where they end up beingwhere they end up being.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
Yeah, it is.
It's magical.
So we are super grateful forthe work that we do and, with
Thanksgiving around the cornerand just the holidays overall
around the corner, we wanted toreally just reflect on the
amazing things about the workthat we do and why we're so
thankful and happy to be doingthis work.
Speaker 2 (26:28):
Yeah, If you are out there feeling any types of ways,
we invite you to reflect on amoment of gratitude, whether
that's in your career, in yourjob, in your life, whether
you're doing what you want to door maybe not yet.
Whatever that looks like foryou, take a moment to kind of
reflect, let us know how, whatyou're thinking about, what
(26:49):
you're grateful for.
You can DM us, you can messageus, you can find us on all
different platforms, and we lookforward to hearing your
thoughts on your gratefulness inthis month.
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