This story is part of an ongoing series called Voices from the Neighborhood.
When Stability is Not Enough
For ten years, I worked for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a state worker, surrounded by lawyers, examiners, and investigators, buried in paperwork and procedures. It was stable, it was predictable—but it wasn’t fulfilling. One morning, I woke up with a heaviness I couldn’t shake, a feeling that I wasn’t truly contributing to the world around me. I wanted more than just a job; I wanted purpose.
I began searching for new opportunities, but every position I found within the state felt the same—secretarial work, routine tasks, nothing that sparked my passion. I knew I needed something different. That’s when, through a friend of a friend, I found a new path, proving what I’ve always believed: finding the right job isn’t just about what you know—it’s about who you know. That’s why I always say, never burn a bridge—you never know when you’ll need to cross it again.
That connection led me to a role as a community organizer and program assistant, a job that would change my life. For three years, I worked alongside people from all walks of life—students, volunteers, families, and those looking for a second chance. I saw firsthand how people coming together and their efforts could ripple through a community, creating real change.
If you’re looking for a career path, never feel stuck in just one thing. Life will pull you in directions you never expected—sometimes by choice, sometimes by circumstance. I’ve reinvented myself multiple times, and each new chapter built on the last. This blog is a collection of moments from one of my biggest transformations—when I stepped into community organizing and discovered the power of bringing people together. But it was only the beginning. You can be anything you set your mind to, and if one path doesn’t feel right anymore, remember: you can always write a new chapter.
This was only the beginning for me.
In the next story, I step deeper into the work—into the people, the moments, and the lessons that changed me in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
These stories are based on my own experiences and memories. Some conversations and details are recalled as best as I can remember, and a few events may be combined or shifted slightly to help the story flow.
