Career Roadmap
Jama's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Education, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Pleasant Home
Bachelor's Degree
General Studies
Lurleen B. Wallace Community College
Bachelor's Degree
Early Childhood Education and Teaching
Pensacola State College
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Career Pathways Coordinator:
Bachelor's Degree: General Studies
Bachelor's Degree: Early Childhood Education and Teaching
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
Graduated high school with a B+ average. I was a great student in everything but math! Started classes at my community college.
2.
Struggled in math and took time off to work due to losing my Pell Grant funds. Didn't go back to school for nearly 10 years!
3.
Worked for an internet service provider in my home town for 3 years before being laid off during the recession in 2009. Unemployed for nearly a year.
4.
Moved to Pensacola and worked various entry level service and hospitality jobs.
5.
Went back to school as a stay at home mom, but had to drop out (again!) after a divorce so I could work.
6.
Decided to take steps towards changing my life. Began volunteering 1 day a week at my favorite place in the world, the National Naval Aviation Museum.
7.
Hired part time at the National Flight Academy after volunteering 6 months. Hired full time after 1 year, and promoted to Career Pathways Coordinator after 8 months.
8.
Developing my own program in career exploration to help high school students make good choices and avoid the struggles I made. Going back to school to finish my degree!
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Family:
"Teachers don't make money or get benefits. You'll have to get a doctorate to get a decent job!"
How I responded:
I let others talk me out of my passion and spent nearly 10 years "in limbo" after dropping out of college due to financial hardship and a lack of motivation. After trying out many things that didn't work, I finally found a career with purpose in what I'd wanted to do all along; working for an educational non-profit. (And I have great benefits and good pay with no college degree!)
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
ADHD