I was a member of and scholarship recipient from PUCLA between the years of 2015-2019. After graduating with a degree in Journalism & Public Relations from the University of Oregon, I moved back home to Los Angeles and pursued a career in the music industry. However, when COVID hit, the industry was nearly eradicated, and I was forced to pursue my knowledge and passions elsewhere. As the world was struggling to adjust to what we would consider a new normal, I was submitting job applications on a daily basis. Yet, I wasn’t successfully securing any of the roles. For many months, I felt as though I was failing, myself and my family, because I couldn’t find a stable job. I didn’t feel like I deserved any grace facing all of those rejections, despite living in such tumultuous times.
Several months went by — still nothing. I was getting to a point of desperation. One of my colleagues from school posted on her Instagram story that her staffing firm was hiring for a digital operations role. I thought to myself, “What do I have to lose?” So I responded to her. Within a few days, I had sent in my resume, had a debrief, and had a panel interview scheduled. The company I was interviewing for? Nike.
I don’t think I ever prepped as much for an interview as I did for that one. I spent hours on end studying various campaigns, learning corporate jargon, and doing mock interviews with anyone who offered. I got through the interview, and within 48 hours, I was hired as an Associate Technical Producer on the Global Content Operations team.
At a time when I thought I had drained all of my resources and my energy, I landed a dream role that I never even had in my line of sight. I went through dozens of interviews with companies that, to be frank, I did not care for. I felt hopeless and inadequate, but I persisted because I knew there had to be something for me on the horizon. And now, almost two years later, I am living in Portland, OR, and am the Service Operations Manager of a team of 16 people at Nike – the same team that I started on in September of 2020.
Everyone, at some point in their lives, is going to be rejected. I am so incredibly happy that I was told “no” all of those times, because now I get to work for an amazing company, with brilliant coworkers, on a beautiful campus, in a breath-taking city. Don’t take rejection as a sign of weakness, but rather, take it as an opportunity to hone in on your skills and passions and pursue them with all your might. Then, what’s meant to be yours will come.
I would like to extend my gratitude to PUCLA for providing past and future generations with the ability to pursue higher education. Attending the PUCLA events, connecting with colleagues, and watching the new generations of students come in was always a great pleasure of mine. I am so grateful to be a part of a community that cares – I would not be in the place I am today without PUCLA’s support. Thank you.