Career Roadmap
Bertha's work combines: Education, Non-Profit Organizations, and Teaching / Mentoring
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
Some High School
None
Bachelor's Degree
Sociology, General
University of California-Riverside
Graduate Degree
Social Work
University of Southern California
Doctorate
Organizational Leadership
University of Phoenix-Knoxville
Certification
AA
Riverside City College
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors:
Bachelor's Degree: Sociology, General
Graduate Degree: Social Work
Doctorate: Organizational Leadership
Certification: AA
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
I needed to learn to speak English but I didn’t have a high school diploma. Everyone said “You can’t go to college”.
2.
I learned that my community college had a daycare center and I enrolled my daughter so I can attend classes
3.
College was challenging and complicated -I began to ask questions regarding student support services.
4.
I met with college counselors and applied for scholarships to work less hours and to attend college full-time
5.
In my third year in college I joined the Puente Program, where I was assigned a mentor who was a social worker and who inspired me to become one
6.
Despite of all the pressure and negativity I experienced I made it my goal to stay in community college and while it took me seven years to transfer to a four-year college I did it.
7.
While in College my car was stolen I figured that if I left the house at 6 AM -walk for an hour And take 3 buses I can get to school - that experience made me stronger!
8.
While completing the masters in social work I drove 86 miles to my part-time job and 86 miles the apposite direction to school- while taking 12 units and doing an internship of 20 hours per week.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
I didn’t belong in college because I didn’t speak English and I am a high school dropout
How I responded:
Value and respect your opinion when it comes to your future, at the end of the day you know yourself better than anyone else. You know your strengths, challenges, opportunities, abilities, and weaknesses better than anyone else you know. Follow your intuition and make it count. Laugh at yourself, learn from your mistakes and yes.... take risks to move out of your comfort zone. I wanted to quit college so many times, but I always told myself “you can do it”. Last, I had many mentors who helped.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
Get a mentor - or join a program in college that offers a mentoring component, such as Puente Program at California Community Colleges.
I learned to observed, asked questions and gather resources.