Deferred Dreams to Bold Realignments

An honest reflection on finding my path through setbacks, self-doubt, and the unexpected turns that led me to career alignment

Today’s edition is going to be a bit different.

I’m setting aside the usual format to share something deeply personal—a story I once felt ashamed to tell. I’ve come to realize that sometimes our mess is our message. By opening up, I hope my journey resonates with you and help you to feel less alone.

If you find this post helpful, please restack it. As a Substack creator, I need to know that the content I create resonates and makes a difference! ♻️

The Rough Start: A Dream Deferred

My career journey began with a dream that was abruptly deferred. I was accepted into Virginia State University before even graduating high school, but I never got to attend. As the daughter of a self-employed single parent, I couldn’t secure the financial aid I needed because my father hadn’t kept up with his tax documentation. Overnight, my future was reduced to two choices that didn’t feel like choices at all: I could become independent student or try to pay my own way, which was impossible given our financial circumstances.

Feeling defeated, I stopped hoping for more; it was too painful. Instead, I accepted life as it was. The dream of becoming a psychologist, a career that I wanted since I was 12 years old no longer seemed possible. From there, I drifted through life for years, not because I wanted to, but because I didn’t believe I was capable of anything more. I doubted myself —always feeling like I was never enough, like I was always a few steps behind everyone else. I went from one low-paying job to another.

A Spark of Possibility

Then, in 2013, I had a conversation that sparked a shift. After years of bouncing from job to job, I found stability in a customer service role at a bank, but still felt restless and unfulfilled. During a church job fair, I met someone who spoke about building a corporate training company. As he talked, something clicked inside me, and I realized I was meant for a field like his. For the first time, I could see possibilities for myself. I asked for his card and we had a more in-depth conversation later. During that call, he listened intently as I shared my feelings of dissatisfaction and disconnect at work. He encouraged me to tap into my gifts and gave me some practical steps to take in terms of research, requirements for becoming a corporate trainer, and some books to check out. Before ending the call, he reassured me that:

“your gifts will make room for you.”

That conversation ignited a curiosity I hadn’t felt before. I dove into research and discovered that I had too many skill gaps to transition from being a customer service rep to a corporate trainer. On the bright side, I found a role that was more feasible to shift into— instructional design. The possibility made work more tolerable and I could feel hope rising, but life wasn’t done throwing challenges my way.

Personal struggles piled up— first, a car accident with a deer, then my daughter fell ill, and then my younger sister, who was living with me at the time, was going through struggles that impacted me. Naturally, my attendance was affected as I tried to care for my family, manage stress and be present for my job. The company wasn’t flexible on attendance as it had a strict point system, and in February of that 2014, I was let go.

Rebuilding From Rock Bottom: Discovering Alignment

Losing my job sent me spiraling, but after the emotional storm settled, I asked myself a question I’d never dared to ask:

What do I really want from life?

It was a terrifying and exhilarating question. I began exploring, reading, and discovering more about myself. An assessment revealed that my work in customer service was misaligned with my strengths, and suddenly, I could see why I constantly felt drained and underutilized. This insight marked a turning point—I wasn’t doomed to a life of drifting afterall. I could find work that suited my strengths. From that moment on, the right people, resources, and situations began to appear.

I came across a virtual internship with a company called Keelworks. They were looking for instructional design interns. I had a really good conversation with the founder. Because the interview went well, he wanted me to join. It was a virtual unpaid internship, and I had the opportunity to learn the basics of instructional design. He gave me books to read and instructional designer blogs to follow. Working on those projects allowed me to create my first few work samples and some semblance of a portfolio. 

After many struggles, setbacks, and temporary roles, by 2015 I landed a paid internship in instructional design, eventually progressing to roles such as learning specialist, eLearning Developer and Senior Instructional Designer, building my skills further. By January 2020, after years of challenges and setbacks, I finally landed my dream role as a senior trainer. My life was finally aligning in a way I had never thought possible. Since taking this role, I’ve facilitated training sessions, designed training programs, and presented at conferences. In 2024, my deferred dream became a reality as I received my M.S. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. It has been a surreal, full-circle moment and extremely gratifying for the 18 year old me.

Looking back, I realize my transformation wasn’t about changing jobs. It was about finding the resilience, resourcefulness, and creativity I didn’t know I had. I realized that I was stronger than the doubts, braver than the insecurities, and capable of much more than I’d ever allowed myself to believe. I’ve also learned that alignment isn’t a one-time achievement; it’s a journey. Life changes, industries shift, and our priorities will evolve too.

The experiences I faced helped me develop a framework to guide others in charting a career path that’s grounded in their unique strengths and values, helping them position themselves for opportunities that fit.

Thank you for being here and allowing me to share this. My hope is that my story reminds you of your own resilience, strength, and potential. No matter where we start or how many times we stumble, we all have the power to realign and thrive.

With gratitude,

Shannon

What part of this story resonated with your own career journey? I’d love to hear your story, too! Leave a comment and share!