Then and Now

When I graduated high school, I wasn't sure I was going to go to college. It didn't sound realistic because no one in my family ever had. But I knew if I wanted to pursue an ambitious career path, college was the way. SLCC was close to home, affordable, and—working two part-time jobs at a gym and a department store—it was financially doable for me.

I was clueless and totally unprepared for what college was about, but SLCC made it an easy integration into higher education. I got so much support in figuring college out and how to afford it. I made a lot of friends and even started a hip-hop club.

"Committing isn't just the idea—it is staying loyal to what you said long after the mood in which you said it has passed."

After SLCC, I decided to put all my eggs in one basket and pursue acting. For 6 years I performed in commercials, films, and TV shows. The pay was good but inconsistent; when I got married, I wanted something with more financial stability. I had read a book by Tony Robbins, Money, The Master of the Game, and it really sparked my interest in finance. After a bunch of research, I applied to the U of U to earn a finance degree.

When I set my mind on something, I overly commit, and I make it happen. Committing isn't just the idea—it is staying loyal to what you said long after the mood in which you said it has passed. Now I'm a Senior Analyst of Global Banking and Markets at Goldman Sachs. It's intense and a challenge. It would not have been possible if I had not returned to school.

Advice

Find out what it is that you like. It doesn't have to be a passion—it can be something you're highly interested in that you believe could also be lucrative. That combination can't go wrong. Even though it is going to be a mysterious journey, experience can help you along the way, so talk to people who have already gone down that path. Find a mentor. I had to learn so much myself. I could have used a cheat coach—it would have cut the time in half.