The Importance of Taking the Road Less Traveled
Late last year, I had the honor of photographing Christina Stanton in our New Jersey studio. I asked what piece of advice she would give those entering the workforce today.
She shared, “It’s ok to go the nontraditional route - as long as you have a support system and people who will be honest with you. My support system always told me this, and encouraged me no matter what route I took.”
“My parents divorced when I was really young—my father moved to Illinois and I lived in New Jersey with my mom. My stepdad came into the picture a few years later. After graduating High School, I went to college in Illinois closer to my father, in order to rebuild our relationship. Unfortunately, shortly after starting college, my father passed away from cancer.
After my father's passing, college became a real challenge for me, and I needed my support system which was back in NJ. Moving back home forced me to take a hard look at my situation, and decide if I wanted to stick with the college route or try something else - clearly my original plan wasn’t working out.
My parents helped me through a lot of those tough decisions. At the end of the day, I ended up working full-time while going to a trade school. In less than 2 years, I became a Certified Echocardiographer, Registered Medical Assistant, and Certified Pharmacy Technician. Unfortunately, that path didn’t work out as expected, as internships in my field were not readily available and wouldn't be for quite some time... so I had to pivot again.
Luckily, I was able to secure a position with a local Speakers Bureau company where I stayed for about 5 years. Then I shifted to the agency side for a time, but now I’m back home in the Speakers Bureau world. While watching me grow my career, meet my husband, and move out, my stepdad passed in 2013. My mom and my husband have been steadfast throughout this time. They have been my sounding board and calm throughout the storm. Without them, I wouldn't be as successful as I am today.
Not only did I learn a lot during those years, I realized that what might seem like an insurmountable challenge, is all attainable and part of the growth process. So when I secured a senior leadership role, I knew Alissa's stellar work would elevate the world's perception of me as a leader."
Thank you, Christina, for sharing your journey and reminding us that it’s ok to take the road less traveled.