In hopes of generating the element of surprise along with inspirational content, I’ve decided to create a series of material that will showcase some of the talented people who have been thrown into my life and made me look at life through a different lens.
Now some of the “creatives” as I like to call them featured during this series will not have the society stamped approval of success from a typical perspective. These are not “suit and tie” sistas and brothas who’ve graduated from ivy league colleges and gone on to climb the latter of endless dollars. Instead, these are young millennials who are creating a path to what success and power look like to THEM.
From quitting jobs to starting a small business, each person presented throughout this installment of “Money Moves Monday” has a story to tell.
Here we go…
Describe a time where you felt uncomfortable in life? Whether that was in a job you hated, a living situation, or a life-changing occurrence? How did these situations make you feel, and what did you do to change the circumstance?
My name is Shanyce Collins and I am 25 years old from Philadelphia, PA. A time in my life where I felt uncomfortable was a little while after I had my son in 2013. I was 21 years old at the time. When my son was about 6 months old I decided it was time to head back to work. I started working at Walgreens and I knew immediately after working there that I didn’t belong in that type of working environment. It was only after a few months of working there that my son had some health issues that caused me to be out of work a few shifts. Of course, that turned into a problem with my manager and I had to make a rapid on the spot decision about my future.
Having to be forced to choose between being a mother or making money to provide for my child made me feel like I wasn’t doing something right. It was an uneasy feeling that I hated and knew I had to do something differently.
One night at the end of my shift at Walgreens I came to the conclusion that where I was at in my life was not where I wanted to be, so I quit. My plan was to go to Job Corps which is a program designed by the United States Department of Labor which offers free-of-charge education and vocational training to young men and women ages 16 to 24, and hoped for the best. A few months later I was accepted into the program and my journey to a better life would soon begin.
I attended Job Corps for a year and picked up a few credentials one of them being an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Before this program, I’ve never done anything as challenging in my and I was about to change my trade because I was doubting my abilities to pass the EMT course. With the encouragement of one particular teacher, I decided to stay, and I passed the course! I was and still am so proud of myself for sticking it through and staying in the trade I originally chose. Two weeks after becoming a certified EMT I was hired to work at Mercy Hospital of Philadelphia working in the ER, which was a dream come true!
Two years later with a promising career, I am still working at Mercy Hospital. I am a firm believer in using the gifts that God has given me to make a way for my family and to help people.
Recently, I coordinated a mini-workshop where I provided braiding hair services to ten young girls at a discounted price for “Back to School”.
While doing so, I put my fears of failing to the side and while in the process finally started my own small business of selling cakes!
I’ve considered selling cakes for a while but was doubting myself simply because I do not like to fail. I love reading things that inspire me to do and be better than the person I was yesterday. Since I have started selling cakes my business has been booming! I am so surprised at the amount of support that I have been receiving.
Doing something that I second-guessed and being successful in the process has been the best feeling thus far. I have learned that there’s no better cheerleader than yourself. I am truly grateful for all the support that I have received over the years with any service that I’ve provided. I can honestly say that I have loyal customers which is hard to come by in the city of Philadelphia.
One thing I am still learning is that I should have more faith in myself. If there’s a will, there’s a way. My advice to myself and to others would be if you want to do it, go for it! You’ll never know what you’re capable of until you try. Positive vibes are so important. Be positive, think positive even when it’s hard to, and surround yourself with positive people and things. It makes life so much easier.
To learn more about Shanyce and her cake business follow her on Instagram @shan_jas .
This was such a inspirational blog love it and I love her so proud of her success in her journey she also supported my Hair business grwatfuk to ha e came across her in middle school -lady Q
Thank you for reading!
Yes Shanyce is truly a force to be reckoned with. It’s an honor to have known her and to see the growth!