I Had 30 Jobs Before Turning 30
How to embrace a nonlinear path and the value of sharing your side quests.
Last week, I met up with a college friend for a quick long-distance-bestie-bonding trip in Chicago. Like many of my chosen-family, she is a multi-passionate person (with a full-time science career and many passions, including as a food/ lifestyle content creator and real estate agent).
As we wandered about the windy city, booked last-minute tickets to see Broadway’s Hamilton, admired the frescoed ceiling inside the historic Palmer House, and browsed Eataly to assemble a DIY charcuterie experience back at our hotel (think: red wine in paper cups and crackers from the box), we talked about many things.
One topic in particular mirrored conversations I’ve had with many of you. That is: how to celebrate and share one’s multitudes.
While at our corporate jobs, how do we share that we’re also building a jewelry business on the side…without sounding unserious or uncommitted about work? Contrastingly…
While connecting with those in our creative communities, how do we open up about a very fulfilling 9-5 job in higher education or tech…without sounding like a “sellout”?
Even though it should be quite obvious that every single human has many interests, passions, skills, callings, and intellectual curiosities, it can be difficult to feel comfortable bridging these narratives and allowing others to see many different sides of us all at once. Actually, it was only after I was laid off from my 9-5 job last year that my ex-colleagues shared openly about how they were finally going to open up that yoga studio they’ve always dreamed of, or start submitting their illustrations to art shows.
Me: “Wait what? You practice yoga?? You draw??” How did I not know these things after years of working together?
If I learned anything in my 20s, it is that experimentation, non-linear journeys, and parallel paths are all part of our becoming. We are nudged every day to lead a straight, vertical path. But, many of us dream of a side-quest (or two). And, the truth is: even the most “random” side-quest is never a waste. Each life experience will just alchemize itself into something else in the next chapter of our lives.
Recently, I did the math: I turned 30 last December and, in total, I’ve worked 30 different jobs (since I was 15). They each gave me something valuable. Some taught me the value of a dollar (of a hard-earned paycheck); others allowed me to express myself creatively. Still others gave me a sense of purpose, and insight into my inner world and the world at large.
So, this is 30 Jobs Before 30
(A.k.a, your permission slip to take the scenic route too, and be loud and proud about your squiggly, multi-passionate path.)
The Ones that Taught Me the Value of a Dollar
Barista & Food Server: I was the machine of protein shakes and chicken caesar wraps.
Dog Sitter: Ask me about the client with the glass house. 😬
Catering Staff: I can still smell my uniform.
Department of Public Safety Staff: I worked the Lost & Found Office
(so made a lot of people’s days).
The Ones Supporting Children
Camp Counselor at a summer camp for children with life-threatening illnesses (e.g., liver & kidney transplant).
Applied Researcher: Studying biomarkers in children
living with autism spectrum disorders.
Non-Medical Assistant: Providing aid to surgical teams treating kids in under-resourced communities.
The Musical Ones
Wedding Violinist: “Canon in D” & “All of Me” on repeat.
Pit Orchestra Musician: 100+ live shows & counting.
Music Therapist at hospitals & assisted living facilities.
The Ones that Taught Me How Institutions Work
Staff for a Former U.S. Senator: Oh, the dread of answering the phone (aka mostly verbal abuse).
Notetaker for students with physical disabilities.
Business Consultant at an architecture firm.
Civic Service Designer advising federal agencies.
The Ones that Nurtured Communities
Special Olympics Staff: a truly special experience.
Social Club Manager hosting events to combat loneliness in cities.
Dog Handler providing animal-assisted therapy to those in high-stress environments.
Resident Assistant: basically my entire personality 🙃
Library Advisory Member: Advocating for local library projects & programs.
The Ones in Public Health
Epidemiologist supporting state & federal initiatives.
Environmental Health Researcher implementing menstrual health interventions in low-resource settings.
Clinical Pharmacy Staff in Taipei (ask about the paper I wrote entirely in 中文! 😨)
Global Health Conference Coordinator: Convening experts around the world.
The Ones that Showed Me the Complexity of the Human Condition
Psychopharmacology Researcher studying the impact of nicotine products.
Health Services Designer at a major U.S. hospital.
Tobacco Advertising Researcher: Flagging harmful practices by Big Tobacco.
Health Design Strategist at a studio where I was the only design staff without a design degree.
The Ones Where I Learned to be Scrappy
Handywoman: Who knew years of shadowing my dad would land me 5 stars on TaskRabbit?
Head of Operations at a Startup: Basement vibes (iykyk).
Entrepreneur: A.k.a., the greatest self-discovery journey of my life thusfar.
So, I’m here to tell you (in my just-turned-30-and-still-naive-but-at-least-a-bit-wiser voice): your path doesn’t have to make sense to you right now. Let alone to anyone else...
We can be many things all at once. And then? We can also change our minds.
So, I’m curious: How many different jobs (side-quests?) have you had? What’s a surprising one? Pop in the community chat and join the conversation! ↓
With zeal and gratitude for this creative life,
Vanessa
