As a satellite engineer, I got to be close to the action. I had a lot of great experiences during my 13 years with NASA. I worked as a satellite controller – including the Hubble – and even built and tested rocket launching systems. It’s something I will never forget!
When my shuttle site was deactivated in 2012, that left me needing to find another job. I ended up moving from Florida to Wyoming to work as an engineer for a satellite TV company for a year. After experiencing a harsh winter and a nearly fatal car accident, I was ready to move back.
I was excited to be coming back to what I considered my home state. I wasn’t born there, but Florida felt like home from the instant I arrived. It’s also where I wanted to start life with my soon-to-be husband. It was easy to make the decision to move back, but what I didn’t expect was how hard it would be to start a brand-new career there.
I was very fortunate to have had a solid work history and had even spent eight years in the Army supporting communications for the Pentagon and the White House. I thought I had a great background that would help me easily find a new career, but I was trying to find a new job right when unemployment was high. It was hard for everyone to find work. I went on interview after interview, a lot of them hourly jobs, each one telling me that I was overqualified. What none of them understood was how badly I wanted to work and contribute to something bigger. It was hard being without a job and to be continually told no.
I
applied at Walmart, but expected the same answer. It was an hourly job in a
store – there was no way they’d tell me yes when so many others had said no.
I’m so glad they proved me wrong.
Because Walmart gave me a chance, I can make Florida my permanent home and build a life here. They knew that the leadership and problem-solving skills I’d learned in the Army and at NASA would help me be a great associate. My experiences taught me how to manage people well and get them focused on the task at hand. And being in the Army taught me how to take the resources I had, analyze the situation and create quick and efficient solutions. All of these things really help you when working in a store.
I was hired as an electronics associate at store 1172 in Jacksonville,
Florida. It was challenging and fast-paced. I loved helping people and I
brought that attitude to work with me every day. After only a year, I was
promoted to Homelines department manager. I’ve been with Walmart for just over
two years now. I tell every associate that if you work hard, are conscientious,
use initiative and quickly take care of the problems you see – you’ll be
recognized. I only see opportunity here – there’s no limit to where you can go.
What’s my next step? I love people and leading teams, so I hope to work my way
up to be an assistant store manager soon.