Fish Out of Water: A Career Story

Howdy and welcome back!

Today I want to share why I almost named this blog and business Fish Out of Water. It all comes down to my career path - one that has been filled with left turns, new beginnings, and more than a few “What am I doing here?” moments.

Smartypants and Science Dreams

In high school, I was in the “smartypants” track. I assumed I’d end up in something science-y or math-y. My dad is an engineer, and looking back, my brain is totally wired for that kind of work. But somehow, that path never clicked for me.

When it came time to choose a college, I knew I needed to stay in Texas and go to a public school to keep costs down. I narrowed it down to two very different options:

1. Attend Texas A&M and become a veterinarian for exotic animals (zoo animals, ideally), or

2. Go to the University of Texas and study film production.

I don’t actually remember where the idea to study film came from -  maybe a career quiz? Either way, I looked at the requirements for vet school, saw the mountain of chemistry classes, and said “Absolutely not.” I hated chemistry and was terrible at it (seriously, LOL). Plus, I’d visited A&M and didn’t vibe with the super rigid and conservative culture there.

UT Austin, on the other hand? Never been there, but I knew instantly I’d fit in better with its laid-back, “everyone’s welcome” energy. And I was right.

Film School Fish

But let me tell you, I was a fish out of water in film school. Most of the students had AV experience, had made videos for fun, and spoke passionately about obscure indie films. Meanwhile, I was just over here loving Disney and barely understanding what a boom mic was.

I didn’t fit in. Not even close.

But I learned. A lot. I learned how to plan and execute a project, how to make art on a budget, how to wrangle logistics, and most importantly - how to manage all kinds of personalities. It was wild and eye-opening and valuable.

The Recession Hits

Then came the 2008 recession. I graduated right into the middle of it.

A professor told me I had two options: move to New York and try TV, or move to LA and try film. But I couldn’t stay in Austin and make a career in the industry. Problem was, I couldn’t afford either move.

So I stayed. And I struggled.

I applied to over 400 jobs in a year. Went on more than 50 interviews. Couldn’t get hired anywhere. Turns out, being a college grad with a film degree and no experience in a recession wasn’t exactly an employer’s dream. Go figure.

The Corporate Detour

Eventually, a friend landed a job at a local tech company in event marketing and gave me a heads-up when they were hiring. I applied, and somehow, I got it. Just like that, I went from “wannabe director” to Corporate America rookie.

I brought nothing with me - no experience, no desk decor, just a willingness to learn and a whole bunch of transferable skills. And I did learn. I grew a lot in that job and started to find my footing in event planning.

Soon after, my parents and sister began talking about moving to Arizona, and I made the decision to go too. I left that job and started a new one with a local transit agency doing community relations. It was semi-governmental, completely unfamiliar, and once again, I was back to feeling like a fish out of water.

But I kept bringing what I had: detail-oriented planning, time management, budget tracking, and a drive to keep learning.

The Pandemic Shift

After the pandemic, I got a taste of working from home, and there was no going back. I shifted to a telecommunications marketing role that let me work remotely full-time.

That was a blessing - but eventually, even that wasn’t enough. I didn’t just want the flexibility. I wanted the freedom. That’s when I started to pursue writing, coaching, and building something of my own.

Let me tell you, it sounds neat and tidy when you say it in a paragraph like that, but it was not. It was messy. Uncertain. Humbling.

Embracing the Awkward

The Bible says God calls us to humility - and that lesson has hit me over the head more than a few times. It’s not my natural state. I’m a know-it-all by default. A problem-solver. A person who likes to feel competent, even if I have no clue what I’m doing.

But God has used every one of those “fish out of water” seasons to shape me. Each time I thought I had nothing to offer, He reminded me:You don’t have to know everything. You just have to be willing to learn.

And that’s what I want to share with you today.

If I’ve learned anything, it’s that being open to learning, being vulnerable, and asking for help are some of the most important things you can do. It’s hard to override that inner voice that says “I’ve got this” or “I’m right” or “I can do this on my own.”

But when you do? You grow. You learn. You form deeper relationships.

We’re not the only ones feeling out of place. We’re part of a whole school of fish, navigating new waters and figuring it out together.

What areas of your life have made you feel like a fish out of water? How did you learn to swim through it and embrace the weirdness?