Restarting Your Career with Upwardly Global – Monica’s Story

By Mary Voelbel

Monica came to the US in 2006 from Columbia with a Masters degree in Child Abuse Prevention and years of experience in public health. Originally an ESL student, she spent 5 years working minimum wage jobs until she learned about Upwardly Global and how to rebuild her career.

“El que persevera alcanza”

My father told me this when I was a child: “el que persevera alcanza.”  In Colombia, my home, this phrase means that if one has the courage to do something and believes they can do it, they will. From when I was young, I always wanted to help people especially children. I studied dentistry because I wanted to work with children and, in Bogota dentists have the advantage of seeing patients more often than physicians. So, I spent seven years studying at Pontifical Javeriana University to earn my Doctor of Dentistry and Masters in Child Abuse Prevention. 

“Helping families was always the goal. I wanted to help people and it didn’t matter the angle. With my education, I designed a program to teach dentists how to diagnose and prevent child abuse.”

I came to the US with years of experience in public health, health education, and clinical practice.  I moved here to study English, then met my future husband and decided to stay in the US to be with him. I had no idea getting back into my field would be so hard.  When I settled here, back in 2006, my first thought was to go to dental school. But, then you start finding out about all the obstacles – the cost, the years of study, the fact that you have go to University all over again.

“Emotionally it was also difficult. I got really sad and disappointed. I thought I won’t make it – it’s too hard.”  

I truly thought that the only position I was qualified for without aUS medical license to practice dentistry, was as a dental assistant.  I knew it was a big step down but I figured I had to start somewhere. For five years I looked, but I didn’t get called for a single interview.

“I didn’t get interviews because of my resume. I didn’t know how to represent myself in the American way. I just didn’t know how things worked here.”

Eventually, I found a minimum wage job as an ESL Lab Assistant and from the lab, I learned of Upwardly Global. In October 2011, nearly 5 years from the day I arrived, I decided it was time to try again after all – el que persevera alcanza. I attended UpGlo’s two-day intensive career training workshop, worked with them to write a new resume, and started my professional job search again.  

“Upwardly Global taught me to appreciate what I have. They gave me the strength to believe that I was qualified and helped me to raise my professional self-esteem.”

In November, Jessie [an UpGlo alumni], shared a job description with me for a Behavioral Specialist at her organization, where they had been looking for someone with exactly my skill-set. Jessie opened a new door for me; she and UpGlo helped me reach my goal. On January 3^rd I began work at the Hume Center as a behavioral specialist working with the Spanish speaking population in the South Bay. I provide behavioral management therapies for children with autism or developmental delays. All of it is what I did in my master’s program from Colombia. I teach parents how to understand their children and how to reduce their stress. I’m helping them better their lives. I’m doing what I want to do again.