Welcome to Brazen Careerist!

About Me

I have been in school for about 24 years of my life. Yes, I know that is a very, very long time. This does not mean I do not have work experience. On the contrary, I have an exceedingly strong work ethic. During my high school years my family and I moved from Guadalajara, Mexico to Austin, Texas. After turning sixteen, I always went to school and had one or two jobs on the side. At the time, I sold silver for a Mexican woman named María. I also began tutoring in Spanish, it was my first language and it seemed like a great source of income. It was, I still do it. Thank you Mom and Dad for teaching me both Spanish and English as I was growing up.

My college and MA years in Boston allowed me to dabble in all sorts of professions: nanny, house cleaner, fashion designer, carpenter, painter, web designer, ER volunteer, medical interpreter, assistant editor, sales clerk, event organizer, community outreach associate and teaching assistant. I remember there was a point where I would wake up at 4:30 am and open Healthworks (the gym I used to work at), then at 9 I would go to my classes until 1, around 2 I go work at Mazer Corporation until 5, at 6 I would go take care of baby Pablo, finally around 10 I would tackle any school work that needed to be done or hang out with friends. I look back sometimes and truly amaze myself. I don’t know how I did all that and managed to excel in graduate school.

When I finished my MA, my professors suggested I continue on to a PhD program, which I did. In the summer between my new program and leaving Boston, I was given the opportunity to work at the Boston Area Health Eduction Center. This was truly and incredible opportunity to learn a great deal about community education centers, and the problems that face lower-income communities in Boston. I almost decided not to go forward with my PhD program, but I was taught education opens many doors.

I examined my options and moved back to Austin to attend UT and work towards a PhD. It was an exhilarating experience at first. I got a teaching fellowship and was responsible for two classes of 25 students each. I was 22 at the time, but that did not stop me from always keeping a professional relationship with students that were 1 to 4 years older than me.

Five years later, I am ready to leave academia and explore new paths. I have decided to refocus my energy in finding a career where I can learn, grow, and also contribute the skill-set I have developed throughout my education and varied employment opportunities. Don’t get me wrong–it’s not like I dropped out of my program. I will defend my dissertation sometime in the fall. I don’t like leaving things unfinished (it’s that work ethic!).