Adapt, Overcome, and Thrive

When I graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2024 with a degree in epidemiology, I only had one career pathway in mind: work in the health department with a government entity, track diseases, and make suggestions for policy change. Early in 2025, it looked like I was going to achieve the goals I set for myself when I was hired into the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a remote data analyst. However, changing priorities within the federal government had effectively eliminated my position, and thus, I was once again in search of a job and purpose. As luck would have it, a former classmate of mine recommended that I check out a job listing with High Sierra AHEC. "Community Health Worker Coordinator" it said. The job was local, and the organization was still dedicated to improving public health. However, the job description was initially very different from the skills I thought I was going to apply when I graduated. Nevertheless, I took the opportunity and 1.5 years later, I am still with the company. Better than that, I have molded my skillset to fit and improve the position, and I am thriving in my current role as a CHW and healthcare workforce subject matter expert.

Skills and knowledge were always meant to set you free to explore new horizons and apply yourself however you see fit. Saying it aloud, this point sounds obvious. However, reflecting on how I felt back then with my career goals and how I ended up at High Sierra AHEC, it was very clear that my understanding of purpose was extremely warped. This degree and training I received from UNR became my entire identity, purpose, and worth in life. A little piece of advice; don't make all of your value and personality revolve around your knowledge and perceived purpose because it sours everything around you. I committed the cardinal sin of self-image and because of that, everything felt just a little bit off. I spent the first nine months with High Sierra AHEC unlearning all of those bad habits and there were a lot of growing pains. Some may think the saying "don't make your knowledge and skills your entire personality and worth" is too cliche. It may be cliche, but it's the truth and it's something we all have to meaningfully separate if we don't want to burnout or lose perspective.

Now, as the "Workforce Development Coordinator" for High Sierra AHEC, I've come into my own with this position. Sure, I still work within the responsibilities of my job to maintain my sanity and to prevent burnout. But, I find ways to integrate my other skills into the everyday routine of the position so that projects can be completed more efficiently, problems can be solved more quickly, and my teammates can breathe easier. It makes the day-to-day less monotonous, keeps me excited and invigorated for the future, and frankly makes the job more interesting when I can improve on things. Contract boundaries protect you from overstepping, but they shouldn't inhibit you from innovating. Thankfully at High Sierra, I can bring up innovations as they come; and if I ever feel overwhelmed, I can step back into the lines again.

Don't lock yourself into a singular path just because "it's all you've ever known". Embrace the unknown a bit; your knowledge and experience can carry you way further than you think. It's a tough job market out there, but be open to new and foreign experiences. Sometimes, the things that make you feel fulfilled are found in the areas that you weren't looking in. You just have to accept those opportunities when they come.