How Identity Shaped a Senior Behavioral Designer's Career at a Behavioral Design Firm
Marisa, a first-generation college student, initially held a "very narrow" view of career success, shaped by family expectations. However, college and exploration broadened their perspective, leading to the realization that "there are so many jobs out there that I have never even heard of," ultimately inspiring a career path defined by curiosity, a growth mindset, and a potential future of creating their own unique role.
Career Exploration, Overcoming Challenges, First-Generation College Student, Growth Mindset, Creating Your Own Job
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Marisa Nowicki
Senior Behavioral Designer
Behavioral Design Firm
University of North Texas
Carnegie Mellon University: Masters in Public Policy and Management (MSPPM), 2019
Medical, Sciences & Related, Psychology
Climate, Environment, Sustainability & Waste Management, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Consulting
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Being a first-generation college student, Marisa initially had a narrow view of career success, shaped by her parents' expectations. This broadened significantly as she explored different career paths and discovered numerous previously unknown job opportunities.
2. Marisa emphasizes the importance of exploring various career options and not being afraid of uncertainty. She highlights that many dream jobs might be unknown or even nonexistent, suggesting that creating one's own career path is a possibility.
3. Marisa advocates for a growth mindset, continuous curiosity, and pursuing one's interests as keys to navigating a career successfully. She believes that actively exploring and applying to interesting opportunities increases the chances of finding a fulfilling career path and that things will generally work out if one stays curious and persistent.
Transcript
As someone who identifies as a first-generation college student, how has that impacted how you've navigated your career?
As a first-generation college student, I think others can empathize with my experience. Growing up, I was told that success meant being a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. There were very few other options presented.
My perception of a successful career was very narrow when I was younger, simply because that's what I was taught and what my parents perceived as success. However, through college and pursuing other interests, I realized there are so many jobs I'd never even heard of. I was constantly surprised, thinking, "Oh, that's a job. You can do that for work and make money."
It's important to be aware of your options to choose the path that makes sense for you. If you're unsure about what you want to do, that's okay. Your dream job might be something you haven't discovered yet, or you might need to create it yourself.
I'm reaching a point where I love my work, but I can envision pulling from various experiences to create my own position. So, as a first-generation college student, I'd say take solace in knowing that nobody truly has it all figured out.
It's a process of figuring things out, exploring, and pursuing your interests. Be aware of all the opportunities available and apply to what interests you. If you consistently approach things with a growth mindset, stay curious, and pursue your interests, it usually works out.