I registered for classes last Friday. It was probably one of the biggest hassles I’ve had with academia from the student standpoint. This will be my third degree and all I wanted to do was register for classes and get the ball rolling. What I first got was a quick lecture about how ridiculous it is for working professionals that already have a high level of education to go back to school for the lowest degree because industry tells them to – he didn’t really listen to me when I said I was switching industries and why this degree was a great fit.
Anyway, moving on.
I started my new job on Monday and I think it’s going to be a good fit. It’s at a supplement store and it’s part time. It’s more than a sales associate position and for me, this job means flexibility with school and coaching. It also means I have a chance to learn more about supplements – more than just protein and creatine, but various vitamins too. That’s not something I’m going to learn in school, but can be helpful when talking to future clients. Currently, the only supplements I take are protein powder and a fiber supplement as necessary. I do use protein bars too, but I consider those more food than the powders. So, my own personal knowledge of other nutritional supplements is pretty limited at the moment, but I can’t wait to change that.
Coaching. Well, I never thought I would want to help people in this way. I knew that I wanted to make an impact on the world around me and that’s how I saw my role as a fundraiser. As a fundraiser, I was assisting the next generation in obtaining their education. I was helping connect alumni to the institution and figure out how they could partner together to make a better tomorrow for those who wanted to dream big and get their degree. Somewhere along the road, the fire went out and I didn’t think that I was making an impact that was meaningful or making an impact the way I truly wanted to.
My social media presence has always been to keep me accountable. I’ve always had one instagram account and I always will. It’s a lifestyle account and I share so much of my life with you. I know a lot of people have said that my journey is inspiring, my drive and goal setting process – the follow through is inspiring, but remember that’s not the purpose, that just a byproduct. One that still has me question how I convinced so many people I’m doing something interesting or cool. But I’m starting to see my presence as a way to connect with others and have a better understanding as to why we think the way we do and take action the way we do – or for that matter, lack of action in some cases.
Coaching has allowed me to engage with individuals with varying goals and help them discover their fire. Help them feel empowered to take true control of their goals, their life and figure out the path that is right for them, even if it means trying something brand new or finding someone with more expertise than me. Partnering with them rather than telling them what to do because that’s not real life, you can’t go through your whole world on a meal plan or following strict directions. You at 20 is different than you at 35, married with two children. What works at one point in your journey or life doesn’t always continue working, and this is something that we talk about and work on as they accomplish and develop new or different than planned goals.
Coaching is the dream I didn’t know I had. It’s what my day dream of changing or impacting the world around me became. I kept saying “I want to help people” and I thought that meant helping students figure out their potential with a college degree. By opening the door for high school students to go to college maybe fundraisers like me were helping shape tomorrow’s thinkers. My desire to leave a mark somehow has become helping people figure out their potential by examining their every day lives now and reaching for the possibilities six months from now.
At the beginning of 2016, I never thought I would quit my job, go back to school and start my own business -ever, let alone at the same time. Right now though, this is the only clear path. For the first time in months, I feel like there are endless possibilities if I work hard. I feel excited about the challenges that will be coming up the next few months. I feel excited to be busy again and to be taking on so many new things.
Things are falling into place and even when it gets hard, I know it’s going to be worth it.
Tomorrow is my second day at work and this is just the beginning.
<3 Cristina
