Coaching, Modern Career
Modern Career Woman – Heather
HELLO
My name is Heather and I am a 30-year-old American female fighting hard to build a career life abroad. It is quite the challenge amidst the bureaucracy, living situations, job availability, financially, and let’s not forget doing this alone as a single female. But I never wanted that to stop me from pursuing my dreams. I fell in love exploring different cultures and languages when I first stepped onto Spanish soil when I studied abroad for six months at the age of 20 in Valencia, Spain. I really didn’t know what to expect or how I would feel, but my whole world opened up after that experience. I came back to Oklahoma (where I am from) to finish my University degree in International Business and Marketing with a plan to move overseas right after I graduated. Before Spain, my ‘goals’ in life revolved around the typical desires: meet the man of my dreams in college, get married shortly after graduation, build a home, adopt two or three children (no desire to have any of my own – maybe my first clue), travel some, and who knows after that. Well, that clearly changed after NOT meeting someone special three years into college (I was doomed I thought, my plan was not going accordingly) and then Europe happened that changed the course of my life forever.
EDUCATION
During my last semester of school, I did some research to find a way to go abroad quickly without going through a corporation waiting years for an overseas assignment. I came upon Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) – there were many options to get certified whether online or through a course. I had never taught before and I didn’t have an Education degree, but I did have the native English language as my mother tongue, a university degree, and an adventurous spirit. So after many applications, the online course, Skype interviews, and deciding on where to go, I landed a teaching job in Xi’an, China. I was 22 years old and packed my bags for a whole new world – still so surprised to this day of how supportive my parents were. I think they had given up on trying to hold me back in Oklahoma – they knew I would be so unhappy and I couldn’t thrive there.
VOLUNTEERING
After a year of ups and downs, many learning experiences, a completely new culture, and doing things totally out of my comfort zone, I then had the opportunity to do volunteer work in Uganda, Africa and in Costa Rica the following year with my then boyfriend and his mother. It was incredible and life changing – these experiences have shaped me so much and hence, never being the same.
RELATIONSHIPS
We dated for two years. He is from England so our options were quite limited in order to be together unless we continued teaching in other countries (or got married). I opted for the latter but that was not going to happen anytime soon – and so thankful it didn’t happen in the end. In 2011, we packed our bags to go teach English in the Czech Republic. We taught in China with an American guy who had just come from teaching in the Czech Republic. He loved it so he told us that if we ever wanted jobs there, he would help us. So we did it!
VISA ISSUES
It ended up being a three month stint for me due to visa complications – the reality of trying to live abroad long term. I was not able to get my working visa within the 90 days that I am allowed to stay in Europe, and money was running out. I had to leave to go back to America, but he stayed to finish out his contract. The ‘plan’ was to get married after that and figure it out together! Isn’t it funny how plans typically never go the way we think? It’s so true and can be heartbreaking, but I am a big believer that something bigger and more amazing is just around the corner.
WHAT NOW?
So after what was such heartbreak for me and losing what I thought I needed most in my life, I had no idea what to do. My heart was torn – I still had such a longing to live overseas but did not want to teach as a career. I wanted to use my degree and work in international business in some capacity. I also missed my family and loved being around them during this hard time in my life. I found that sometimes when I met people teaching abroad, they typically were running from something, had no idea what to do in life, or they were not close to anyone back home. I felt quite odd because I was so opposite in that way, but yet didn’t have a clear direction as to what really do with my life. I had passions and desires but nothing that seemed super clear just yet.
DIVINE INTERVENTION
After months of looking at different jobs mainly in the United States, my previous university advisor emailed me out of the blue about a Master’s Program in Italy to get my MBA within two years while working as a Study Abroad Coordinator for that same program. By getting the job, I also received paid tuition, car, free-shared apartment, and a food stipend per month. What an incredible opportunity that I could not pass up!
ITALY
I left that August in 2011 for a two-year contract in Italy. One of the best and huge growing experiences of my life after what I was going through with the breakup. I am so glad I said yes despite the pain I was feeling at that time.
I graduated with my MBA in July of 2013, not really sure what was next. It was a packed two years and unfortunately, the networking aspect of the program was not very strong. About 30 of us graduated with uncertainty as to what the future held. Again, I found myself desiring to live a life overseas but also wanting to be near family. I knew I couldn’t just pick up and move overseas again unless it was teaching (I had no other clear direction), but I knew I didn’t want to do that for the long term. So after nine months of living at home with my parents, applying for jobs, working part time, networking, and taking time to reflect on where to be (and just wanting to get started), I landed a great managing job in Florida working at the World Golf Hall of Fame. However, after ten months of being there and not sure if it was totally right for me, I was then recruited to another golf organization with what I thought was my dream job. I took it and within eight weeks, I realized it was not it at all – and I quit before I got too far into it.
REFLECTION
So after many beach walk days, journaling, reflecting, and praying, my heart yet longed to be overseas. Looking at my options, I specifically wanted to build my life in Europe. I knew teaching was a great way to at least start somewhere and now I had some connections in the Czech Republic – I had friends there as well and I love the capital city, Prague. I had never gone through an actual TEFL course in person, so after a lot of research, phone calls, and emails (and making sure I could get my visa in time), I signed up with a 4 week intensive course to teach English and then use it as a way to be in Prague and eventually apply to work in an international company.
VISA ISSUES (AGAIN)
Well, long story short, the visa process became super intense due to the refugee crisis and other misleading information. I had enough money saved for about 4 months there, but not more than that. My visa did not come in time, I couldn’t work without my visa, I had to travel to the UK after my 90 days was up (to get out of the Schengen), and then in the end, my time and money seemed to be up. After many days of writing and looking at all aspects, I made the decision to go back to Oklahoma. It felt like I was giving up a bit, but there was nothing I could do in regards to money and other things that seemed to go against me.
CAREER COACHING
Right at this time was when I met Beata, a wonderful lady from Coachify. I needed some help and guidance as to what to do next and how to go about it the right way. We met for coffee and she basically explained the concept of coaching (specifically career coaching) and how we can truly go after what we want and make it happen with the right steps. I have loved working with someone from an objective perspective and can help me start on my career path – especially as an American female desiring to live abroad and see the world, but finding ways to do so without forcing it.
OKLAHOMA
I have just moved back to Oklahoma – my visa did come through in the end (life is funny, isn’t it?), but I do not find the pull to go back just yet. Maybe it’s because I know teaching isn’t what I want to do and perhaps I am being given the chance to get on the right path in the right way. Beata is walking me through key steps that will change the course of the rest of my life, and help me to not give up on my dreams, but get to the heart of them.
NEXT CHAPTER…?
So here we go….. I am excited to see what the next chapter holds and how career coaching can help me for the next page. Life is definitely a journey – A huge learning journey. Knowing that, I want to enjoy the ride no matter now bumpy it can get. A smooth ride can get too boring after a while anyway, right? I hope you come along with me and are inspired and encouraged to take the next right steps for you! Ideally with Coachify.
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